By Reynolds Reintroduces Edible Cap Bill
Oregon state Sen. Lisa Reynolds, D-Portland, will propose legislation again to cap individual edibles at 10 milligrams of THC. She introduced this measure earlier this year, and it passed the Oregon Senate. The bill subsequently died in the committee process on the House side.
Reynolds stated she will propose the legislation again with the help of a lobbyist. The Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This new effort follows the previous failure to secure passage in the lower chamber.
Reynolds is also seeking to improve cannabis prevention education in schools. She wants to require manufacturers to provide more warning labels on their products.
Personal Stories Drive Policy Push
Karma Clarke, a Douglas County mother, shared her story at a virtual meeting on Wednesday. State Sen. Lisa Reynolds invited her and public health experts to speak about policy proposals. Clarke described her son’s development of a psychotic disorder after regular marijuana use.
He had previously played sports and maintained good grades in college. Clarke said her son stopped leaving his room and lost the ability to perform everyday tasks. He was admitted to two different psychiatric hospitals after several doctor visits.
His drug tests came back clean, but Clarke said something had switched in his brain.
“I’m hoping that the cannabis industry will take the lead, and they’ll decide they don’t want to be like the tobacco industry,” Clarke said. She added that the industry should stop denying the link between their products and ruined lives. Reynolds cited her own brother’s mental health problems as a personal motivation.
Public Health Data Highlights Risk
Dr. Julia Dilley, a Multnomah County epidemiologist, presented data on youth cannabis use in Oregon. An estimated 13,000 youth between ages 12 and 18 use cannabis in the state. Dilley led a 10-year study looking at cannabis legalization and public health impact.
Studies show that teens using cannabis are at 11 times higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder. Reynolds emphasized that this risk represents a long-term disability rather than a bad experience. She stated, “When we talk about the risk of psychosis, this isn’t just what we would call a bad experience while you are actually intoxicated by cannabis.”
More than 800 calls to the Oregon Poison Center since 2025 were related to cannabis. One-third of those calls were for children younger than 5. Children are increasingly turning up in hospitals after consuming edibles resembling desserts.
