PORTLAND, Ore.—(June 14, 2016)— The Oregon Medical Association (OMA) is steadfast in its commitment to keeping pot, legal or illegal, in any form, out of the hands of children.
OMA policy specifically calls for a better understanding of the effects of marijuana use on health and public safety. Considering that Oregon is experiencing a surge in accidental marijuana poisonings of children, the OMA urges caution in the rollout of Oregon's new rules.
Senate Bill 1511, passed in the Oregon State Legislature’s 2016 session, and temporary administrative rules, authorized the sale, from June 2 to December 31, 2016, of a single-serving, low-dose recreational-use marijuana edible (“medible”) containing up to 15mg of THC, once per day, to a non-medical marijuana card holder who is 21 years of age or older, in a medical marijuana dispensary.
While the legalization of recreational marijuana is clearly intended only for adults, and OMA continues to support strong safeguards being built into these policies, the association urges the Oregon Health Authority (OHA, governing medicinal use) and Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC, governing recreational use) to protect families with minor children by adopting a series of more exacting common-sense policies, specifically that:
- The limit be lowered from 15 mg of THC per serving size to 5 mg of THC, and
- Medible product packaging and marketing not be designed to be attractive to children, and
- Medible packaging be child-resistant, single-serving, and clearly labelled.
The OMA submitted its concerns to both state agencies on June 3.
Retail recreation-use edibles will become available in retail marijuana stores as of October 1, 2016.
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The Oregon Medical Association is an organization of over 8,000 physicians, physician assistants, medical and PA students organized to serve and support physicians in their efforts to improve the health of Oregonians. Additional information can be found at theOMA.org.
