The cannabis industry in California has recently faced heightened scrutiny, particularly concerning the accuracy and integrity of lab results. In the heightened scrutiny, the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) last week denied the annual application of a cannabis testing lab due to alleged violations in its testing procedures. This comes after a report by WeedWeek and the Los Angeles Times highlighting the current state of testing labs and weed in California.
The DCC’s recent actions against California Cannabis Testing Labs (CCTL), first reported by WeedWeek, stem from a series of alleged violations. Some of these allegations include falsifying records, manipulating test results, and failing to follow standard operating procedures. The DCC’s 12-page letter (provided by WeedWeek) outlines numerous breaches, some dating back to a February 2022 site visit.
The DCC tried to set up SOPs as a uniform guideline for all testing labs to follow, but according to Josh Swider and Erik Paulson from Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs, it failed to do so. Non-compliance in cannabis testing labs can have serious consequences. Consumers rely on accurate test results to know that their products are safe and meet regulatory standards. When labs fail to adhere to these standards, it undermines the entire industry’s credibility and can pose significant health risks to consumers.
Cannabis Testing Lab CCTL’s Alleged Violations
One of the most concerning allegations is that CCTL deliberately falsified bench sheet records for residual pesticides and mycotoxins analyses. During a February 2022 site visit, a CCTL analyst admitted to DCC staff that the weights were falsified and explained the creation of fake weights for quality control samples.
The DCC alleges that CCTL failed to accurately detect banned pesticides. For example, a September 2023 certificate of analysis (COA) reported that a vape product met state contaminant requirements. However, independent testing found the vapes contained banned chemicals at levels far above state limits.
Another critical issue is the lab’s alleged practice of reporting inflated cannabinoid results. The DCC’s testing indicated that CCTL engaged in a repeated pattern of inaccurate and inflated THC levels for three months in 2023.
The DCC’s letter forced the immediate closure of CCTL. The lab has 30 days to request a hearing on the closure, but the severity of the allegations suggests that the DCC is taking a firm stand against non-compliance after it was revealed by the LA Times that it hasn’t done its job.
Under state law, CCTL can request a hearing to contest the findings outlined in the DCC’s letter. DCC spokesperson David Hafner informed MJBizDaily in a recent article reporting on the situation that CCTL “has requested an ex parte hearing regarding the status of their license.” He added that the agency “plans to oppose the ex parte application and does not have any additional comment at this time”
