The Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association on Tuesday testified in support of legislation requiring the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency to regulate hemp-based Delta 8 THC products, which mimic a cannabis high and have flooded the marketplace. The legislation includes state House Bills and House Bill .
One of the guiding principles of the MCMA is to help ensure the health and safety of Michiganders.
“Any product considered medicine should adhere to the same health and safety standards as medicines dispensed in pharmacies,” MCMA Executive Director Stephen Linder told the House Regulatory Reform Committee. “Recently, individuals and nonregulated labs have developed intoxicants that mimic the high of cannabis. Because they are not listed in the MRA’s formulary regulated compound — Delta 9 THC — these products are unscrupulously sold in the open marketplace and are available to anyone. You can find them in gas stations. You can find them in party stores. You can find them in smoke and vape shops. Because they are not illegal, there is no way to enforce their safety and purity. The most recent example is hemp-based Delta 8 THC products, which have comparable intoxicating effects as cannabis.”
“Michigan is not alone in wanting to address this imminent public health crisis. Twelve states have at least temporarily banned Delta 8 THC products, including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island and Utah. North Dakota, Alabama and Oregon are also considering Delta 8 product bans. We are not advocating banning these products. In the interest of protecting public health and safety, we are advocating regulating them and subjecting them to the same testing standards as every product that can get you high. There is nothing worth compromising the purity of our products and the health and safety of our customers and all Michiganders.”