If you want to make some marijuana brownies at home to celebrate 4/20 this weekend, state cannabis officials want you to be cautious.
Ahead of the significant date on Saturday, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission reminded those who are making cannabis-infused food. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission sent out a reminder to those making edibles.
“If you are planning to make cannabis-infused food at home to celebrate 4/20 this week, make sure you understand the challenges involved with controlling potency and dosage,” the CCC stated..
Under the Bay State’s marijuana law, individuals 21 and older can make cannabis products at home.
“If you’re considering infusing your own cannabis-infused food, you want to be cautious,” says a CCC video about home production of cannabis-infused food.
“When making cannabis-infused food at home, it can be hard to distribute cannabis concentrate evenly, making it difficult to control the potency and dosage of an edible — and hard to predict how someone will be affected by it,” the educational video adds.
If you are planning to make edibles at home in honor of 4/20 this week, make sure you understand the challenges involved with controlling potency and dosage.https://t.co/AlXusI6YI1
— Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (@MA_Cannabis) April 18, 2024
The CCC was also advising residents before 4/20 to make sure they store marijuana in a closed, locked container, out of reach and out of sight from children and pets.
“If someone in your home accidentally ingests marijuana, call the numbers below: Poison Control Hotline: 800-222-1222; Pet Poison Hotline: 855-764-7661; Serious Reaction? Call 911,” the CCC stated..
Saturday marks marijuana culture’s significant date, as large crowds gather in parks and on college campuses to smoke together.
There will likely be an increase in marijuana use on Saturday, according to New Hampshire officials as they remind residents and visitors that impaired driving is illegal, dangerous and potentially deadly.
“As always, we are urging drivers to ensure they are not impaired when getting behind the wheel,” said New Hampshire Department of Safety Assistant Commissioner Eddie Edwards. “Your decisions don’t just affect you. They affect everyone else on the road, too.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, marijuana can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.
Drivers who are caught operating a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana will be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), per New Hampshire law.
In 2022, there were 146 people killed in crashes on New Hampshire roads. Of those crashes, 73% percent were alcohol and/or drug-related.
From 2016 to 2022, 854 people died in crashes in New Hampshire. Of those 854 people, 515 (60%) were victims of an alcohol and/or drug-related crash.
On 4/20, some celebrations are bigger than others. The Mile High 420 Festival in Denver typically draws thousands and describes itself as the largest free 4/20 event in the world. College quads and statehouse lawns are also known for drawing 4/20 celebrations.
The number of states allowing recreational marijuana has grown to 24 after recent legalization campaigns succeeded in Ohio, Minnesota and Delaware. Fourteen more states allow it for medical purposes.
But marijuana is still illegal under federal law. It is listed with drugs such as heroin under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, meaning it has no federally accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
The report utilized information from the Associated Press.