In a decisive move, regulators overseeing the cannabis industry in California have issued stern warnings to state-authorized testing laboratories, urging them to adhere to accurate reporting protocols for cannabis test results, lest they face severe repercussions, including the possible revocation of their licenses.
The newly established Lab Division of the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has taken proactive measures to ensure the reliability of cannabis product testing within the state. It has initiated the process of conducting onsite verifications and cross-checking test results on both flower and other cannabis derivatives that have previously cleared testing, as per the information in an email alert dispatched to certified laboratories last Thursday.
Nicole Elliott, the Director of the DCC, emphasized the significance of maintaining stringent quality checks during an email correspondence with MJBizDaily on Friday. She stated, “Persisting with the strategy of sporadic testing of retail products will further reinforce the trust that consumers place in the verified authenticity of the cannabis products available in the market, reassuring them of the accuracy of the declared test results.”
This communique serves as a stark reminder to laboratories about the prohibitions in place against the manipulation of THC levels and the fabrication of scientific data, both actions being in direct contravention of state regulations.
The warning elucidated, “Engaging in the malpractice of reporting incorrect data or forging information will invoke stringent actions against the culpable license holder, escalating to the extreme measure of license cancellation.”
Furthermore, the DCC cautioned that any disparities found between their verified results and those reported by the lab operators could necessitate a compulsory modification of product labels. The communication noted a graver consequence, stating, “This might also precipitate the recall or even embargo of the implicated cannabis or cannabis-related products.”
This recent directive and the potential consequences it carries have instilled a sense of apprehension among several players in the marijuana industry, especially given the possibility that the burden of remediation might be thrust upon distributors and manufacturers of the products.
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