Site icon Vermont Daily Chronicle

Vermont doctors take to radio to describe risk of high-THC pot

Guy Page

Vote on eliminating THC caps on legal sales set for Friday

Parents of Johnny Stack say legally-purchased high-THC marijuana led their son into mental illness and suicide.

By Guy Page

In the battle over the THC cap on legal marijuana products, Vermont doctors argue the risk to mental health if the caps are raised or eliminated. The marijuana industry claims not eliminating the cap will be bad for business.

The House Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee has scheduled a vote this Friday on H.612, which would (among other changes to regulated marijuana sales) eliminate the THC caps on some marijuana products. 

Physicians for Healthy Communities, a group of Vermont doctors concerned, has purchased advertising on WDEV, Vermont’s community radio station, to express concern about proposed legislation to remove the THC cap on marijuana sold legally in retail stores.

The first ad tells the story of Johnny Stack, who died by suicide after developing paranoid psychosis as a result of ingesting large amounts of high-THC marijuana purchased legally in Colorado. The narrator is his mother, Laura Stack, says Johnny told her three days before his death:

“I just want you to know you were right. You said marijuana would hurt my brain. Marijuana has ruined my mind and my life and I’m sorry.” Days later, convinced the Mob was after him and that everyone could read his thoughts, he threw himself off the sixth story of a garage.

The second Physicians for Healthy Communities ad states plainly the absence of peer-reviewed medical literature supporting the use of high-THC products for treating medical conditions. In fact the Vermont Psychiatric Association recommends warning labels indicating the risk of “psychosis, suicide ideation, addiction, impaired driving, and more.”

H.612, introduced by Committee Chair Mike McCarthy (D-St. Albans) and Vice-Chair Matt Birong (D-Vergennes). At the request of the marijuana industry, which says high-concentrate THC is much in demand, the bill would “eliminate THC caps on cannabis flower and solid and liquid concentrates.”

The Vermont Medical Society argues that high THC has a strong negative mental health impact, with no unique positive effect. Some Vermonters testified on the pain-relief benefits of marijuana consumption. 

“In terms of the medical cannabis program, researchers like the Yale School of Medicine are questioning the therapeutic value of high potency products and publishing the increasing adverse effects and risks related to regular use of dabs and high THC concentrates. There is also increasing evidence that chronic pain is best managed with products with THC potency that is less than 10-15% THC,” Vermont Medical Society (VMS) Jill Sudhoff-Guerin testified to Gov Ops on February 22.

Industry testimony, however, indicates concern about lost market share (and therefore, lost state tax revenue) if THC caps remain.

“Of the 24 states that have legalized cannabis, only Vermont and Connecticut impose statutory limits on the potency of flower and concentrates,” lawyer and Vermont Cannabis Action Fund spokesperson David Silberman testified January 12. “These arbitrary caps do not provide any public health benefits, drive consumers to neighboring states or the unregulated “legacy” market, and endanger the health and safety of cannabis users. There are no known safe diluents for inhalable cannabis concentrates…..THC Edibles account for nearly 20% of the overall cannabis market. Only Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts limit edibles to 5mg of THC per serving; all other states cap servings at 10mg. With Upstate NY stores now open, Vermonters seeking 10mg edibles have safe and legal access a short drive away. Increasing the limit to 10mg will support local businesses and the tax base.” 

Committee members may be contacted at the State House at 802-828-2228 or by email:

Exit mobile version