Marijuana Retailers in Colorado Offering Edible Products with Less THC

Marijuana retailers in Colorado are responding to reports of tourists who have had bad experiences after consuming large amounts of THC by offering products with lower amounts, the Associated Press reports.

One study suggested tourists make up 40 percent of customers in Denver-area recreational marijuana stores, and up to 90 percent in ski towns, the article notes.

“No one buys a handle of Jim Beam and thinks they should drink all of that in one sitting,” said Tim Cullen, who owns two Denver-area marijuana dispensaries. “But people do want to eat an entire cookie, an entire piece of chocolate. So these products allow you to do that and not have a miserable experience.” He added, “We still get people walking in here saying, ‘What’s the strongest thing?’ But more and more they’re asking about flavor, the experience, the whole nine yards.”

THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. A “serving” of marijuana is 10 milligrams of THC under Colorado rules. It can be difficult to tell exactly how much THC is in an individual cookie or brownie. Many marijuana edibles contain 100 milligrams of THC, and are meant to be broken into multiple pieces to avoid overdosing.

Edible marijuana products have become a popular alternative to smoking marijuana in Colorado this year, since retail sales of the products became legal on January 1. Adults 21 and over can legally purchase marijuana edibles at state-licensed stores. Marijuana is now available in products ranging from candy to soda and granola.

Earlier this year, health officials reported legal marijuana edible products were linked to two deaths and an increase in emergency room visits in Colorado. The amount of marijuana in edible products varies widely. In some cases, products contain levels so high that people experience extreme paranoia and anxiety.