Liquor Control Board to adopt rules to include marijuana concentrates

Earlier this week, the Liquor Control Board adopted a Revised Interim Policy on Recreational Marijuana. This policy is needed to implement ESHB 2304 which was passed during the 2014 legislative session. The interim policy will be in effect until permanent rules are adopted.  The interim policy may be read here.

The law changes the definition of marijuana to include concentrates: 

"Marijuana concentrates” is defined as resin extracted from the Cannabis plant with a high THC concentration, in contrast to “marijuana,” which includes the entire Cannabis plant.  The definition of “marijuana-infused products” is changed to include marijuana or marijuana extracts with between 0.3 percent and 60 percent THC concentration.

Under state law, during one transaction adults can buy: 

• one ounce of usable marijuana (leaf form);
• 16 ounces of marijuana-infused product in solid form (foods including candies); 
• 7 grams of marijuana concentrates (oils, waxes);
• 72 ounces of marijuana-infused product in liquid form (beverages).

What does that look like?

By Greg Farrar, Appearing in Issaquah Press

The picture above is of one ounce of usable marijuana.  Depending on who you ask, an ounce can produce 30 to 50 joints.

Analytics 360 is a state-licensed cannabis testing lab.  Their website contains test results for marijuana products that include photos.  The above photos is of a caramel which is listed as weighing 17 grams, about 0.6 ounces.  This particular caramel seems to contain 8 servings according to the Liquor Control Board's definition of serving size.

The orange soda analyzed by Analytics 360 is in a 12 ounce bottle.  It appears to contain 3-4 servings according to Liquor Control Board rules.  

The above concentrates are advertised on a Seattle marijuana dispensary's website and are listed as weighing 0.5 grams each.  Concentrates are highly potent and they are used for "dabbing" because "a dab will do ya."  

Minors make up 24% of current marijuana market

The average marijuana user consumes about 123 joints per year, according to an article in today's Seattle Times.  While the article discusses consumption data which the Liquor Control Board is using to determine what the new commercial marijuana market will look like, it does not provide a complete picture of who is currently using marijuana.

According to the Liquor Control Board, 24% of current marijuana users are under the age of 21.

For those 24%, the law that concerns them is not changing and they likely will continue to get marijuana the way they currently get marijuana: socially.  Virtually none of the proposed Liquor Control Board rules address preventing social distribution to minors.  Rules and already established laws that do address social distribution continue to rely on local police for enforcement.  In Seattle, current police policy is to not enforce marijuana laws and many jurisdictions state that they do not have sufficient resources to implement and enforce the new law.

The Seattle Times' article also touches on the issue of concentrated marijuana products, that was blogged about yesterday.

But the state recognizes that the joint is losing popularity, particularly with younger stoners. A panel discussion at the Drug Policy Alliance’s upcoming biennial conference is even titled: “Is the joint obsolete?”

Edibles, topicals and concentrates, such as hash oil, have become so popular that the state figures the market for those products will be as large as the more traditional buds and flowers combusted in joints and pipes.

This is what marijuana looks like

Earlier this month, the U.S. Cannabis Cup was held in Seattle.  Here are a few photos of award winning marijuana.

Winner: "Best Concentrate"
Contains 66.4% THC

Second Place: "Best Concentrate"
Contains 58.5% THC

Winner: "Best Edible"
Contains 26.4 mg THC, 4.8 mg CBD

Winner:"High CBD Award"
Contains 159.6 mg CBD, 60 mg THC

Concentrates are condensed marijuana that have little plant matter left and have a concentrated amount of THC or other cannabinoid.  One form of marijuana concentrate is hash oil and during the Cannabis Cup hundreds of vendors gave out free hash oil hits.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board's proposed rules for a commercial marijuana system define a single serving of marijuana equaling 10 mg of THC or Delta 9.