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Do we need stricter packaging regulations for cannabis products in Arizona?

Packaging limitations may need further expansion

Posted: 1:00 PM, Feb 18, 2022

Updated: 2022-02-18 16:37:48-05

By: Caleb J. Fernández

Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

FILE - This photo from Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020, shows cannabis growing at Revolution Global's cannabis cultivation center in Delavan, Ill. New York has failed in recent years to pass marijuana legalization, but a state senator said lawmakers have reached an agreement to legalize marijuana sales to adults over the age of 21. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center andBanner Poison Control Center recently reported a 90% increase in pediatric calls related to cannabis.

This follows Arizona's first full year of cannabis legalization.

According to Proposition 20, laws have been put in place with the purpose of reducing appeal to children.

A MARIJUANA ESTABLISHMENT MAY NOT:
PACKAGE OR LABEL MARIJUANA OR MARIJUANA PRODUCTS IN A FALSE OR MISLEADING MANNER
MANUFACTURE OR SELL MARIJUANA PRODUCTS THAT RESEMBLE THE FORM OF A HUMAN, ANIMAL, INSECT, FRUIT, TOY OR CARTOON
SELL OR ADVERTISE MARIJUANA OR MARIJUANA PRODUCTS WITH NAMES THAT RESEMBLE OR IMITATE FOOD OR DRINK BRANDS MARKETED TO CHILDREN, OR OTHERWISE ADVERTISE MARIJUANA OR MARIJUANA PRODUCTS TO CHILDREN

The Smart and Safe Act also addresses child-resistant packaging as necessary. So, in theory, the legislation should be enough to keep young children from overdosing.

"CHILD-RESISTANT" MEANS DESIGNED OR CONSTRUCTED TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFICULT FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVER YEARS OF AGE TO OPEN, AND NOT DIFFICULT FOR NORMAL ADULTS TO USE PROPERLY.

However, the Clinical Toxicologist Director of Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center Dr. Steven Dudley PharmD, DABAT points out the majority of accidental consumption involved edibles that look like typical candy and snacks.

"Many of the accidental ingestions that we hear about involve little kids getting into edible marijuana products that look like candy or other snacks," he shared. "Learning about safe storage can save parents a ton of grief and prevent a trip to the hospital."

When compared to other states, Arizona's safety regulations are pretty much on par with them, such as California's extensive labeling requirements.

The passing of Proposition 20 also limited the amount of THC milligrams an edible package and serving may have at 100mg and 10mg, respectively. This mirrors other states' limitations as well.

Thus, the question remains: do we need stricter packaging regulations for cannabis products?

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