Current U.S. State Cannabis Sales Limits Allow Large Doses for Use or Diversion

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cannabis Regulation
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Recreational cannabis sales are regulated by state-specific quantity limits.
• These limits are often weight-based and difficult to interpret in terms of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) doses.
• Existing regulations may not effectively promote moderate use or prevent diversion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze how state-specific recreational cannabis sales limits translate to THC doses.
• To compare THC doses allowed per transaction across U.S. states.
• To inform public health policy regarding cannabis sales regulations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study of U.S. states with legal commercial cannabis sales as of January 1, 2020.
• Weight-based sales limits for flower, concentrates, and edibles were converted to THC grams.
• Calculations used 2020 median potency values for different cannabis product types.

Main Results:

• Significant variation exists in weight-based sales limits for flower and concentrates across states.
• No state limits cannabis potency, leading to large differences in allowable THC content per transaction.
• Current laws permit sales ranging from 560 to 2,283 (10 mg) THC doses per transaction.

Conclusions:

• All states permit a high number of THC doses per transaction, exceeding typical monthly consumption.
• States should consider lowering sales limits and basing them on total THC content.
• Standardized, THC-based limits could better address public health and diversion concerns.