Weed so wacky it comes with a warning

I recntly purchased weed so potent it came with a warning.

The State of Colorado apparently has decided that marijuana concentrates can be harmful. Dispensaries are now required to hand out a pamphlet to customers ordering concentrate.

The pamphlet isn’t created by the health department. It comes from the Colorado Department of Revenue.

It is titled, “Use of Regulated Marijuana Concentrate.”

‘Start low, go slow’

The pamphlet is black and white, no pictures, four pages. It is not inviting.

It describes a “serving size for each type of concentrate.” For vaping, it’s just one puff off a pen lasting two seconds. “Start Low. Go Slow,” the pamphlet warns.

For other concentrates, the pamphlet offers a black dot on the pamphlet. The size of the concentrate you dab or otherwise use should be no larger than the tiny dot.

You may feel sick

I had a terrible experience with concentrate once. Although I am a seasoned marijuana smoker, I spent almost a year in a mental hospital. During that time, my body sobered up from everything, including weed.

The first time I smoked upon release from the mental hospital, I did dabs. After about 20 minutes of several dabs, I had to lie on the floor while sweat poured out of me. My heart was beating really fast. I never had such a reaction to marijuana before.

For that reason, I do believe it’s a good idea to be careful with concentrate. I tend to top my flower with it to punch up the potency.

Problems from smoking concentrate

According to the pamphlet that the Department of Revenue, not the health department, published:

• Concentrate use may lead to psychosis, including delusions, hallucinations, or difficulty distinguishing reality.

I never have had any of these reactions. I have sweat like a pig and been unable to move from concentrate when I wasn’t used to it.

• Using marijuana concentrate can lead to other mental health problems

• Marijuana concentrate use may cause cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. This is “uncontrolled and repetitive vomiting,” according to the pamphlet. The only time I ever felt nauseated smoking pot was when I hadn’t eaten recently. In fact, I never have met anyone at all who has this mysterious syndrome.

• Because of its super high THC concentrate, concentrate will get you addicted to marijuana fast. This can include “physical and psychological dependence,” according to the brochure.

High hits you fast

The brochure is honest in that it warns “consuming concentrate via inhalation will cause immediate effects.” This is true. When I share my pipe with concentrate atop flower, some people cannot handle the rush of the high.

The brochure warns you should stay away from concentrate if you’re not an experienced marijuana user. This makes good sense, based on my experience.

‘Not supported by FDA’

The brochure also reminds concentrate users:

• The FDA does not approve Marijuana concentrate “and claims of medical benefits are not supported by the FDA.” Of course they’re not. Marijuana research only recently has begun to get funded.

• Marijuana concentrate is not recommended for anyone under age 25 unless recommended by a doctor. This kind of contradicts the previous claim that the FDA does not support medical benefits.

• Dispensaries can’t offer medical advice. Ask your doctor is you have questions about weed.

Don’t drive intoxicated

The pamphlet warns concentrate will get you so stoned it will raise your blood THC level to above 5 ng. A blood test can be used to convict someone of driving under the influence.

Driving stoned is never a good idea. I sold my car when I received my medical cannabis card. I used to wait for stop signs to turn green while driving high. It’s not safe.

Feels like the first time

Whatever the plant’s healing properties, marijuana concentrate amplifies those benefits. Many doctors recommend high doses of THC for certain conditions.

For old stoners, concentrate can make you feel like you’re smoking for the first time. It takes an experienced smoker a lot longer to get high on flower alone.

For the seasoned marijuana enthusiast, responsible concentrate use leads to everything from increased creativity to a good night’s sleep. It’s a shame the State of Colorado is exploiting fear of the unknown as it pertains to concentrates. The pamphlet also should include benefits to using concentrates, from pain relief to mood stabilization, for some people.