Arizona requires cannabis to be tested for pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants before it’s sold, but testing is not done by the state, granting a high level of trust to growers and testing labs, an Arizona Republic investigation found.
The Arizona Department of Health Services investigates the labs to ensure they are not falsifying data. But it doesn't spot what's being sold at dispensaries. So while regulators can fine labs that inappropriately test cannabis, they can't confirm whether contaminated products are sold to consumers.
To put it simply, “ADHS does not test the cannabis,” an ADHS spokesman said.
Arizona Republic reporter Ryan Randazzo has been investigating the regulations and their enforcement (or lack thereof) concerning contaminated cannabis in Arizona. He hosted a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) in the r/Arizona subreddit, where he tried to answer as many questions as he could about the state's cannabis industry.
To read the complete article, go to eu.azcentral.com