Marijuana products in Michigan may soon carry a warning label.
Legislation approved by the state House Judiciary Committee Tuesday would slap labels on marijuana products warning against use by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
“When you are pregnant, marijuana use is not…the best thing you can be doing. And I believe everyone agrees with that,” says Rep. Graham Filler (R-DeWitt), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists discourages marijuana use during pregnancy due to concerns about an increased risk of underweight and premature infants.
But a 2018 random survey found two-thirds of marijuana dispensaries in Colorado recommended marijuana to combat morning sickness.
The legislation also would require cannabis businesses to provide informational pamphlets to their customers concerning safety information on marijuana use by minors and the poison control hotline number.
Not everyone agrees the warning is a good idea.
Rep. Beau LaFave (R-Iron Mountain) was one of two state lawmakers on the committee who voted against adding the warning label to marijuana products.
“If you warn everyone [about] everything, the warnings themselves become less helpful,” says LaFave.
The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association took a neutral position on the labeling bills.
“People need to take caution when consuming any product whether that’s marijuana or any other medications,” says Hovey.
Currently, only licensed patients can purchase medical marijuana products in Michigan. However, later this fall, the state of Michigan will begin accepting applications from businesses interested to selling to recreational customers.
