In a concerning development for cannabis consumers in Massachusetts, multiple testing laboratories are reporting that mold contamination in cannabis products is far more prevalent than acknowledged by state regulators. The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) recently issued a consumer advisory regarding mold in select products but did not initiate any recalls or report any related illnesses, prompting calls for increased oversight and regulation.
Christopher Hudalla, founder of ProVerde Labs, one of the state-licensed testing facilities, asserted that the extent of mold contamination is significant and has been a pressing issue for years. “We sent [the commission] hundreds, close to a thousand data points of samples that were either exceeding the microbial limits established by the state of Massachusetts or that were not tested appropriately,” Hudalla stated. However, he expressed frustration over the lack of responsive action from the CCC until the recent advisory.
Danny Carson, an advocate for cannabis workers, echoed these concerns. He described firsthand experiences of dealing with moldy cannabis at various facilities, where he was instructed to remove moldy portions from products to prepare them for sale. Carson’s advocacy intensified following the tragic death of a colleague, Lorna McMurrey, who died after an asthma attack linked to mold exposure in 2022.
The issue is compounded by what some labs refer to as “lab shopping,” where producers choose testing labs that report favorable results. As competition among testing facilities heats up, some labs may underreport mold contamination to attract business, leading to a misrepresentation of product safety. Hudalla noted that newer labs have shifted to a less rigorous testing method, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), which may pass more products than traditional culture-based methods, potentially compromising consumer safety.
The CCC has stated that it conducts regular inspections of all marijuana establishments, including testing labs, and is currently investigating the recent mold alerts. While the commission has issued an order requiring companies to submit samples to a single lab for compliance testing to prevent lab shopping, critics argue that this is not enough to address the systemic issues within the testing industry.
The competition among labs has escalated to legal disputes, with MCR Labs filing a lawsuit against eight competitors for allegedly manipulating test results to conceal mold and falsely inflate THC levels. The lawsuit emphasizes that this fraudulent testing poses significant health risks to consumers, as products containing harmful levels of mold may still be available on the market.
As the cannabis testing landscape in Massachusetts becomes increasingly fraught, calls for more stringent regulations and standards have intensified. Core concerns include the need for consistent testing protocols and transparency in lab results to protect consumers from potentially hazardous products.
The CCC awarded a contract to ATOZ Laboratories for a “secret shopper” program to test products purchased from dispensaries, but as of now, no samples have been collected for this purpose. There is an urgent demand from laboratories for the commission to standardize testing practices and improve regulatory oversight to ensure consumer safety.
As the situation evolves, the need for accountability and rigorous testing in the cannabis industry remains paramount. With growing consumer awareness and advocacy, there is hope for improved standards that protect public health and ensure the integrity of cannabis products sold in Massachusetts. For more updates on this ongoing issue, stay tuned to GBH News.
