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Washington wants budtenders to know how to talk about THC risks.

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or many cannabis consumers, quantity is the most importantaspect when picking a product. For the state of Washington, the quality of education surrounding these products is equally important.

Products containing high levels of THC — typically considered to be products containing 35% or more THC by weight — are a contentious issue in the world of cannabis. Since the adoption of cannabis legalization, high-THC products have exploded in popularity among consumers.

Increased research into the consumption of these products has led to concern around negative health effects. In Washington, state agencies have been addressing these concerns through regulation, research and education.

“The whole field of cannabis has progressed really quickly with not a lot of research,” says Kyle Unland, community-based prevention section manager with the Washington Department of Health. “When you look back to the 1990s, the average THC that was available in products was around 5%.”

Recently, the state Department of Health rolled out an online training program to educate cannabis industry workers, particularly budtenders, on the risks associated with high-THC products, and to teach them how to better communicate with consumers about the issue.

“We would love to have budtenders be really knowledgeable about their products,” Unland says.

This educational program from the Department of Health is a result of House Bill 2320, which was signed into law in 2024. HB 2320 focused on regulation of and education about high-THC products, including requiring more visible health warnings at licensed dispensaries and increasing research into the effects of high-THC products.

“Commercial production is well ahead of the research on the health impacts,” Unland says.

The new educational course for budtenders dives into some of the known potential health impacts of high-THC cannabis consumption, from psychiatric disorders to cannabis hyperemesis syndrome — a condition that causes persistent vomiting in some long-term cannabis users. It also teaches budtenders how to communicate these risks with consumers and help guide them to resources provided by the state.

State data shows that 10% of cannabis consumers in Washington sought medical attention for cannabis-related issues in 2024.

The Department of Health is working not to stigmatize use of high-THC products, but to inform consumers of the risks.

“The really important thing to know is that high THC levels could be very harmful to your health, and to know where the resources are,” Unland says.

Educational resources for consumers are available online at the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board websites, doh.wa.gov and lcb.wa.gov.