Part of the legalization effort for marijuana across the country has been a strong emphasis on making the use of cannabis safe.

A change in Colorado law shows that remains an important issue. This is true even in states where marijuana has been approved for both medical and recreational use.

State lawmakers in the Centennial State now require those who make edible marijuana products to include a stamp on the package that clearly indicates it contains THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that causes the “high” feeling.

Much like efforts to protect kids from accidentally eating a cannabis edible, the new law takes a big step in the right direction.

THC Stamping: Avoiding Confusion

Colorado voters were the first to approve marijuana use for both medical and recreational purposes. Thus, they are leading what has become a major trend across the country. Colorado also has been the first to deal with the many side issues surrounding marijuana legalization.

That includes issues such as financing for marijuana-related business startups and the task of collecting the enormous influx of marijuana tax money flooding into the state.

However, no issue has been as important as safety.

The obvious issue with edible marijuana is that people have no way to discern that the food or drink contains cannabis. Accidentally ingesting THC is not something anyone should experience. The issue becomes even more serious when it involves the safety of children.

The state already has experienced the issue of children being hospitalized because they ate a marijuana edible. Some have complained that people cannot tell which products contain marijuana.

Colorado now is the first state to take care of this issue.

The Universal Pot Symbol

The new requirement in Colorado mandates that all edible marijuana products come with a diamond-shaped stamp and the letters “THC.” The branding not only applies to the outer package, but also must be stamped on the edible itself.

The new law took effect Oct. 1.

The new symbol, universal for all marijuana edible products, carries another benefit: all marijuana products can be immediately detected as such by parents or, say, whatever teacher monitors high school kids in the lunch room.

Marijuana edibles also have strict regulations in Colorado in terms of packaging, including childproof zippers and lids as well as warnings to keep the product out of the reach of children.

“We want to ensure that people genuinely know the difference between a Duncan Hines brownie and a marijuana brownie, just by looking at it,” state Rep. Jonathan Singer, a Democrat who sponsored the law requiring stamped edibles, told CBS News.

Next year, Colorado also will not allow marijuana products in the shape of an animal, fruit or human.

All these new rules represent more positive steps in the safe and healthy regulation of marijuana. In this respect, Colorado is paving the way for the rest of the country to follow.