GOING TO POT? WEED SAFETY WARNING IN STATE AUDIT

By Colorado Newsline

Colorado’s regulatory framework to test marijuana for contamination and warn consumers about risks has significant gaps, a state audit found.

The audit focused on problems with product testing and inconsistent monitoring from the Marijuana Enforcement Division. Auditors did not find evidence of widespread health and safety risks, but the framework is not airtight.

Colorado voters approved recreational marijuana in 2012. MED, within the state’s Department of Revenue, licenses businesses and oversees compliance with marijuana rules and laws.

“It’s really a combination of factors that impacts MED’s ability to identify public safety risks and to ensure that businesses comply with safety requirements,” audit supervisor Catherine Friday told members of the Legislative Audit Committee on Monday. 

“As a result, there’s an increased risk that marijuana products sold in Colorado may have contaminants or may inaccurately list potency," she said.

Businesses select their own samples, for example, and send them to private labs for potency and contaminant testing. Twenty-four other states with legalized marijuana do not allow self-selected samples and instead rely on a third party.

LINK