Law enforcement officers urged state lawmakers Tuesday to ban or restrict the sale of medical-marijuana food and drink products, while cannabis advocates pleaded to keep them legal.

The officers said the products, which include pot-infused brownies, candies and chocolate bars, are appealing to children and are showing up at schools.

"These aren't trivial incidents," Jim Gerhardt, a member of the North Metro Drug Task Force, told lawmakers. "A number of children have been hospitalized because of consuming these products."

But medical-marijuana business owners and activists said the products are vital for patients who can't or don't want to smoke cannabis. If they're getting into the hands of children, the advocates said, it's not the products' fault.

"This isn't a pot issue," said Jessica LeRoux, who owns a company that makes marijuana-infused cheesecakes and other items. "This is a parenting issue."

The clash came during a public hearing for a bill that, in its current form, would ban the sale of any medical- marijuana-infused food or drink item. However, Rep. Cindy Acree, an Aurora Republican who is sponsoring the bill, said she intends to propose amendments that would keep the products legal but impose strict labeling, packaging and marketing requirements on them.

(Source)