A lawsuit has been filed against two marijuana companies in Colorado by the family of a woman murdered noting that they failed to warn about the dangers of their products. The woman was shot and killed by her own husband in 2014.
According to 9 News, the murdered woman was identified as Kristine Kirk. Her family filed the lawsuit and claimed that the companies made marijuana-laced candies. They then sold it to the husband, Richard Kirk, and they failed to warn him about their effectiveness and the possible side effects such as psychotic behavior.
The lawsuit was filed by the parents of Kristine, Marti and Wayne Kohnke, on behalf of her three sons, who are ages 9, 13, and 15.
The defendants named in the lawsuit are Nutritional Elements Inc., which is the store where the candy was bought, and Gaia's Garden LLC, which is the producer. They are accused of intentionally not warning the customer about the effects' intensity. The lawsuit noted that the packaging of the marijuana edibles did not include a safety warning listing the possible side effects, The Rocky Mountain Collegian reported.
Officials said that THC was found in Richard's blood after partially eating a piece of marijuana candy called "Karma Kandy Orange Ginger" that was found in his house. Accordingly, each serving contained 10 milligrams of THC, Law Newz reported. THC is known to cause paranoia and hallucinations in some individuals.
Richard, 49, was charged with first-degree murder but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Denver prosecutors, however, argued that the actions of Richard were intentional as there was a financial problem that the family was facing. Also, his marriage to his late wife was in an emotionally unstable state during the time of the shooting.
The lawyers of the family, Greg Gold and David Olivas, argued that edible marijuana is not evil but the failure to warn and tell the consumer how to safely use them is what is evil.
A spokesman for Gaia's Garden LLC said in a statement that they will "vigorously defend" themselves against the attempt to shift responsibility away from the murderer.
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