SACRAMENTO - PRESS RELEASE - Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) introduced legislation Sept. 11 demanding more stringent quality control and testing practices for cannabis products. AB 1833 tasks the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) with creating the “Good Cannabis Manufacturing Practice Certification” program which creates higher production standards for cannabis manufacturers.
On Sept. 6, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a notice discouraging the use of vaping products after six confirmed deaths and 450 possible cases of pulmonary disease linked to the smoking device – 60 of the reported cases are in California.
Vape cartridges are the most popular cannabis product behind traditional flower. Current regulations require all cannabis products to be tested; however vape cartridges do not have the same testing requirement. Industry testing laboratories are reporting that some vape cartridges are testing positive for lead and other heavy metal contamination.
“We are in the midst of a public health crisis,” Assemblyman Lackey said. “Individuals who consume cannabis through vaping have no idea what they are ingesting and many ending up in the hospital.”
AB 1833 is pending referral to a policy committee.
