Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist signed two bills into law Wednesday that would regulate safety warnings for marijuana products for pregnant women and minors.
Together, House Bills 4126 and 4127 — sponsored by state Rep. Thomas Albert (R-Lowell) and state Rep. Daire Rendon (R-Lake City), respectively — require the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) and the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to include safety warnings on packaging and provide informational pamphlets at marijuana retailers and provisioning centers.
The warning labels will state that “use by pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by women planning to become pregnant, may result in fetal injury, preterm birth, low birth weight or developmental problems for the child.”
The bill analysis stated that the limited research on the safety of marijuana during pregnancy and breastfeeding and for developing brains is a large concern for the bill sponsors.
A statement released from Albert’s office says that both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advise against marijuana use during pregnancy based on preliminary research.
The new laws also require that the informational pamphlets include safety information on marijuana use for minors and the Poison Control Hotline number.
“These labels will better inform parents of risks they may not have previously considered and serve as an added safety measure to protect vulnerable children,” Albert said.
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