As THC percentages reach all time highs with improved plant breeding, there are growing concerns that marijuana in Colorado is too strong. 

It’s not just the flowers, nowadays extracts and edibles are getting stronger too, with extracts getting above 50% THC and other cannabinoids.

Now there is a proposal to limit THC to stop a potential problem getting worse. Others say that any changes would hurt the booming cannabis industry in Colorado.

The proposed ballot initiative would create an amendment to a bill in the state House.

The amendment would cap THC at 16%, while average THC amounts in Colorado cannabis flower is already at 17.1%.

Marijuana extracts weigh in at 62.1 percent. These numbers are according to a state study.

Republican state Rep. Kathleen Conti introduced the legislation, saying that being cautious until more research has been done is the way forward. Opponents have reacted by saying that the measures are unreasonable considering there have been no great problems so far.

“All the studies that have been done on THC levels have been done on THC levels between 2 and 8 percent,” said Conti, whose district encompasses parts of Greenwood Village and Littleton.

“Most of the marijuana coming in now, the flowers are being rated at a THC count of about 17 percent on average, so this is dramatically over, and we really don’t know that we’ve gotten the true feel on the health risks associated with that marijuana.”

Marijuana industry compliance professional Mark Slaugh considers the proposed THC limit “unconstitutional.”

“This bill threatens to wipe out most infused product manufacturers, and its language is unclear as to what to do with edibles,” said Slaugh, who is also the executive director of the Colorado Cannabis Business Alliance.