The California cannabis industry was in shambles when the LA Times, in collaboration with WeedWeek, published a report that found alarming levels of pesticides in cannabis products across the state. The LA Times is now reporting that California regulators failed to address the evidence of widespread contamination following the June report. Given the higher prices of legal cannabis compared to illicit cannabis, the industry fears consumers will return to unregulated cannabis. A sign of this can already be seen in September's four-year low in sales, which even a smaller state like Michigan was able to surpass.
In an interview with KCBS Radio, LA Times investigative reporter Paige St. John pointed out that the pesticides used in cannabis are the same as those used in general agriculture. However, as she put it, "you don't smoke strawberries." When you vape cannabis, those pesticides not only become concentrated but also enter your lungs and bloodstream, reaching the heart, brain, and kidneys. St. John emphasized the dangers, including cancer, kidney failure, and genetic and neurological harms, saying, "You don't want to inhale those products."
She went on to explain that since the June report, the Department of Cannabis Control has recalled only a few products, addressing just two of the chemicals the LA Times identified. But that wasn't the only fallout. "The head of the laboratory filed a lawsuit after she tried to get her superiors to deal with the problem." Instead of action, she faced harassment and criticism, and when she sought to involve law enforcement, she lost her job within 24 hours, St. John noted.
As cannabis companies fear consumers will lose confidence in regulated products, they have started their own "shadow regulatory campaign." In other words, they conduct voluntary testing and are creating stickers and other ways to inform consumers that their products are tested and clean.
One of the main reasons California regulators are struggling to take action, according to the LA Times journalist, is the delicate balance they must maintain. Since they are creating a market out of something that was previously illegal, they are "caught in between—they want to build this market but don't want to be too tough on it."
However, the illicit market is still thriving in California. St. John points out that when recreational cannabis became legal in the state, illicit growers saw it as an opportunity. They began expanding significantly, anticipating they would be competing with a market whose prices would be higher due to taxes.