Oregon House Committee Kills Senate-Backed Bill to Cap THC in Marijuana Edibles
- The proposed Senate Bill 1548 to restrict marijuana edibles in Oregon, including limiting THC to 10 milligrams per edible and requiring separate wrapping, was rejected after clearing the Senate.
- Supporters, led by State Senator Lisa Reynolds, emphasized the need for safeguards to reduce accidental marijuana poisonings among children, citing ongoing pediatric exposure cases.
- The bill was stopped in the House Committee due to concerns that it would impose burdens on marijuana businesses, particularly smaller companies, potentially reducing their revenue.
- Despite the bill’s failure, Senator Reynolds intends to reintroduce marijuana safety legislation in future sessions, keeping child safety and product regulations in focus.
A proposal that would have placed new restrictions on marijuana edibles in Oregon is no longer moving forward this session, with lawmakers rejecting Senate Bill 1548 after it had already cleared the Senate. The measure would have limited individual marijuana edibles to no more than 10 milligrams of THC and required each edible to be wrapped separately. Supporters said the changes were needed to help reduce accidental marijuana poisonings among children, pointing to cases involving minors who consumed high-potency products.
The bill was introduced by State Senator Lisa Reynolds (D), a pediatrician, who argued that stronger safeguards were needed as pediatric exposure cases continue to be reported in Oregon and across the country. She said the proposal was designed to address child safety without costing the state money.
Despite advancing through the Senate, the measure was stopped in the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade. Opponents argued the proposal would place added burdens on marijuana businesses regulated by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, with some saying the changes could hurt smaller companies and reduce revenue.
Testimony submitted in support of the bill included warnings from medical professionals about the dangers of accidental ingestion by young children, including severe reactions tied to high-dose edible products.
Although the proposal failed this year, Reynolds says she plans to bring back marijuana safety legislation in a future session. That means the debate over edible potency, packaging requirements and child-safety standards in Oregon’s legal marijuana market is likely far from over.