How should policymakers regulate the tetrahydrocannabinol content of cannabis products in a legal market?

Abstract

An increased use of high-potency cannabis products since cannabis legalization in the United States, Canada and elsewhere may increase cannabis-related harm. Policymakers have good reasons for regulating more potent cannabis in ways that minimize harm, using approaches similar to those used to regulate alcohol; namely, banning the sale of high-potency cannabis, setting a cap on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content and imposing higher rates of taxes on more potent cannabis products. Given the difficulty that US policymakers have had in regulating cannabis extracts and edibles, governments that are planning to legalize cannabis need to put policies on extracts into enabling legislation and evaluate the impact of these policies on cannabis use and cannabis-related harms.