*This article first appeared on SFGATE
California regulators are planning to ban animal cannabis products from having more than 1 milligram of THC, a proposal that veterinarians say would make the state’s market more dangerous for dogs and cats.
Dr. Gary Richter, an Oakland veterinarian, called the proposed policy a “step backwards” because the strict rules would effectively eliminate most animal-focused products from dispensaries.
“I think what’s going to happen is you’re going to see very few products specifically for pets in a dispensary,” Richter said. That may prompt pet owners to use products designed for humans instead, which can be “dangerous” if animals are given more cannabis than a veterinarian would’ve recommended, he explained.
There’s increasing evidence that medical cannabis can offer “significant therapeutic potential” to treat a wide range of animal health problems, from seizures to pain and anxiety, according to a 2024 article in the Canadian Veterinary Journal. Cannabis products for animals often contain only CBD, a nonintoxicating cannabis compound, but Richter said some pets can benefit from having THC, an intoxicant found in cannabis, to treat more serious problems.
The Department of Cannabis Control presented the proposed regulations in a rulemaking announcement on May 9. The agency justified the near-ban on THC in animal products by saying that while THC “appears to be well-tolerated in healthy dogs,” there is still a risk that animal consumption of THC “may result in acute toxic harm, adverse effects, and death.”
Richter said the agency’s statement is a misunderstanding of the current science.
“The truth is that in appropriate doses, THC is not toxic for pets and can be very, very beneficial from a medical standpoint. And an ever-growing body of research bears this out,” Richter said. “Like many other drugs and pharmaceuticals, when used appropriately, these things can be incredibly helpful from a medical perspective, and when used inappropriately, they can be dangerous.”
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Dr. Trina Hazzah, the president of the Veterinary Cannabis Society, which Dr. Richter is also a member of, said in an email to SFGATE the Department of Cannabis Control’s proposal disregards the scientific evidence. The 1 milligram THC limit “undermines legitimate medical options for California dogs and cats struggling with cancer, arthritis, seizures, and neurological conditions,” she said.
The proposed regulations apply only to products that specifically say on their packaging or marketing that they are created for animals. That appears to exempt products like VetCBD, a California cannabis company founded by Dr. Tim Shu, a former veterinarian licensed in California who has since retired from clinical practice. The company’s high CBD and low THC tinctures, which can contain up to 50 milligrams of THC and 1,000 milligrams of CBD per package, are widely recognized for treating dogs, but the product packaging does not mention animals of any kind, nor does the company’s website.
Shu did not respond to questions asking how the proposed policy would affect his company but said in a written statement that the company looks forward to working “with the DCC to ensure all Californians have safe, reliable, legal access to the cannabis products they rely on.”
The Department of Cannabis Control is now accepting comments and is scheduled to have a public hearing for the rules on June 24. Moorea Warren, an agency spokesperson, said in an email to SFGATE that the rules are “informed by robust public discussion and based on strong scientific evidence.”