"There's been anecdotal evidence that some of the new consumers in the legalized market were not very well informed in terms of how to safely take that product," said Lewis Koski, Colorado's marijuana enforcement director.

But that's not for lack of information on labels. State law requires specific information on all marijuana packages. In addition, Colorado's been rolling out rules for the edible marijuana sector in batches for almost a year now.

Regulators dropped a big set of what they call "emergency rules" on August 1, which spell out serving sizes limited to 100 milligrams of THC per product, and now, warning labels.

But adding even more notes to packages of THC-infused chocolate and granola bars won't likely increase safety, Koski said.

"If you continue to put other warnings on there, you have to really question whether or not that becomes effective as a means to really educate a consumer," Koski said.

Maka Kalaí, the manager of Organic Alternatives, a recreational and medical marijuana store in Fort Collins, Colo., hands out edible education cards with each purchase. Photo: Luke Runyon/KUNC

So for now, most of the dosage education has fallen to the pot shops themselves. Brendon Greney works behind the counter at Organic Alternatives, a recreational and medical marijuana store in Fort Collins, Colo. Greney is a "budtender," as in marijuana flower buds. Even though labels are packed full of information, Greney says most people don't read them. He views himself as an educator.

For instance, when a customer asks about orange flavored THC-infused liquids in little spray bottles — like a breath freshener – Greney walks them through an appropriate dose.

"I don't know what your tolerance is," Greney says to the customer. "It varies by the individual and metabolism. But 10 milligrams is what we recommend."

The shop is filled with other items, too — granola bars, lollipops and gummy bears. Many edibles stick to the sweets, with candies and chocolates dominating store shelves. But as marijuana acceptance spreads, entrepreneurs are testing the limits of consumer tastes. A pop-up food truck has dished out THC-infused pulled pork sandwiches.

"This is fun. It should be fun," says Greney. "And I think it's safe if consumed and used the right way... It's not some scary back alley thing."

Organic Alternatives is fielding questions from customers all over the globe. Open for recreational sales since the end of June 2014, the store has already had visitors from all seven continents. Yes, even Antarctica. The store says a researcher based at a substation there recently stopped by.

"It's really our job and our responsibility to educate them and let them know, this is a lot different than what your friend made in the '60s," says Organic Alternatives manager Maka Kalaí. That's why the staff hand out industry-developed edible education cards with every purchase, telling consumers to "Start Low and Go Slow."

It's in the best interest of marijuana food manufacturers to make sure first-time consumers have a good experience, says Monique Nobil, director of marketing for Julie and Kate Baked Goods, a Denver-based THC-infused granola producer. The company sells its granola packages with the cards included, as well.

"You want to do it in a way that's responsible," Nobil says. "So that you know your end product is what you say it is. And so your consumer knows exactly what it is."

The relatively young industry of edible marijuana manufacturing is still learning lessons in professionalism and good business practices. Before Jan. 1, these food companies operated in a legal gray area in Colorado, serving medical marijuana patients, not the general public. Now they have to think about new concerns like food safety.

In a Denver conference room, that transition from underground market to a more established, respected one is on display. It's set up like a classroom. The students all have one thing in common. They're making, testing and selling edible marijuana.

"Today is not a cannabis cooking class. It's about food safety," ServSafe trainer Maureen McNamara tells the room. ServSafe is a food safety training used widely in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

For years, McNamara taught kitchen staff how to wash their hands and keep food at the right temperature. But just recently she started a side business to pass along the same information to people making food infused with THC, calling her enterprise "Cannabis Trainers," with classes on food safety and proper in-store education for budtenders.

Trainings like McNamara's are mandatory for pot-infused food preparers. Edibles makers also have to test their products for potency, molds, and foodborne pathogens. Any violations handed out by the state could put them out of business.

With the drug still illegal at the federal level, Colorado is wading into uncharted regulatory territory.

"This is the direct result of taking a product that used to exist on the underground market and putting it into a legal regulated one," said Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association.

"Now we have the impetus to do things like trainings to be sure that everything is being handled in a professional manner," West says. "You don't have that in an illegal market."

Creating a legal, regulated market though has presented some challenges. Regulators worried pot candies would appeal to children, so they forced all foods to be sold in child-resistant packages. Washington state, also working to establish rules for a recreational marijuana industry, has banned marijuana-infused candies, but allows baked goods and bottled drinks.

While Colorado and Washington attempt to create standards for the recreational marijuana sector, other states are watching closely.

"I would think for any state that is looking to go down that path, they'd be crazy not to look at Colorado and look at the successes and look at the places where we've had to tweak things," West said.

Runyon reports for KUNC and Harvest Public Media, a reporting collaboration that focuses on agriculture and food production.

potpot

Feastly Offers Class on The Art of Cooking With Marijuana - Making CannaButter for Edibles Without the Harsh Taste

Way Beyond Brownies: Vice Launches A Marijuana Cooking Show

Colorado's Pot Brownies Have A New Ingredient — Warning Labels

California's Pot Farms Could Leave Salmon Runs Truly Smoked

A View Inside the World of Marijuana-Laced Cookies and Edibles

Washington State Butcher Spikes Pig Feed With Weed