Siding with the parents here, folks. Maybe because I am one, too.
You've probably heard about the arguments over edibles packaging in Colorado and Washington, and the arguments from all sides regarding max serving sizes, recommended servings and packaging. Arguments–all fair–about the right tack to take when providing an edible product that contains THC. The big issues are sizes, packaging design, max size, portioning, labeling and, believe it or not, the environment.
To which I say: The kids come first. Nothing else comes close.
Yes, the manufacturer has the right to see profit. Yes, the user has a right to know the dosage, and yes, printing chocolate squares with tiny writing on each individual piece of foil showing the dosage amount could add a lot of trash to the hillsides. But nothing comes close to the fact that a THC-laced edible that looks like candy could end up in the hands of a 6-year old who raided Dad's junk drawer looking for a rubber band, and ending up in the hospital with hysterical parents at his or her side, as the effects slowly faded. If this hasn't happened to you, be glad, because it happened to me. Just not with THC.
When my son was nine months old, I had him for the weekend when my wife was out of town. Not knowing any better (and still regretting it to this day) I fed him his first few spoonfuls of scrambled eggs, zipped him up in his fleece jumper, buckled him into his NHTSA-approved car seat and headed to the mall–where he promptly went into anaphylactic shock. It was the grace of an experienced mother who kept my son from dying that day (uh, sir, that child needs to go the the ER NOW!), and as a parent I'll never be able to thank her enough. So eggs and THC are different, you say. They are. But at the same time, they're not. Eggs contain a chemical that can do horrendous damage to a child's health. While THC toxicity can't kill, it can cause huge distress, and some danger, for the parents and child.
In this argument over serving sizes, dosages, packaging and the environmental impact of "over-labeling," let's be honest with ourselves. Nothing comes close to keeping kids safe.
If you don't think that all other issues pale in consideration to child safety, what would you say if grain alcohol was packaged to look like Sierra Mist? How would you feel if your child got into the liquor cabinet and took a few gulps of Daddy's "soda?" And how would you feel on that trip back from the ER with your (hopefully just badly inebriated) child in tow?
Hopefully, that answers the question and settles the issue.
Kids come first. And the packaging, labeling and portioning of edibles should heed this simple phrase.
