A pesticide scandal has led many consumers and retailers to distrust the California marijuana testing sector. Regulators say they are now looking to step up enforcement.
A June investigation from the Los Angeles Times revealed the presence of unapproved pesticides in a number of California cannabis products from various state-licensed dispensaries. However, it appears the products were already tested by licensed labs and were given the stamp of approval, leading to concerns that the labs aren’t doing their jobs.
Concerns are especially high for products like pre-rolls and concentrates, which are more susceptible to contamination due to multiple sourcing points. Despite efforts to restore trust through increased transparency and testing, consumer confidence remains fragile, impacting businesses across the market.
Some retailers have reportedly taken proactive measures and are now conducting independent lab tests to ensure product safety.
The California Department of Cannabis Control has issued mandatory recalls for some of the products identified in the report. The agency is now facing pressure to increase regulatory oversight and enforcement.
Dallas to Vote On Decrim
Cannabis advocates in Dallas, Texas collected enough signatures to allow voters to choose in November whether to deprioritize marijuana arrests in the city.
A 2021 policy change already limits the circumstances under which officers can arrest individuals carrying less than two ounces of marijuana, but the new initiative would prohibit police from arresting individuals for possessing less than four ounces of the drug. Advocates reportedly collected nearly 50,000 signatures in support of the measure. They only needed 35,000 to get the measure on November’s ballot.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia recently told reporters that he strongly opposes the ballot initiative, citing concerns that higher quantities lead to illegal sales and associated violent crime.
Similar measures in other Texas cities have faced legal challenges from the state’s attorney general, and advocates anticipate the same will be true if Dallas approves the change.
The Dallas City Council is expected to formally include the measure in August.
Oregon to Consider Pot Workers Unions
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 in Oregon has submitted enough signatures to put a measure on November’s ballot to allow cannabis worker unionization.
The union reportedly collected more than 163,000 signatures — well above the required threshold to put the measure on the ballot. The measure would require cannabis operators to sign a “labor peace agreement” with a union before being licensed, which would ensure that management remains neutral during unionization efforts.
UFCW Local 555 has invested over $2 million in the signature-gathering campaign. The move follows a failed attempt to pass similar legislation last year. Last year, Oregon Business & Industry, the state’s largest business coalition, opposed the bill. If passed, the measure could face objections from certain business interests again.