Quirk Bill Creates Parity in Testing of Cannabis Plants
Quirk Bill Creates Parity in Testing of Cannabis Plants
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
SACRAMENTO – Identifying a gap in current law regarding cannabis testing, Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) authored AB 2721 to allow individuals, 21 and over, to have the cannabis they grow for personal use tested by a laboratory. Today, this bill was signed by Governor Brown.
Current law requires that cannabis be tested, but cannabis testing laboratories can only accept cannabis from either licensed commercial entities or from primary caregivers or patients who grow cannabis for their own medical use.
With California legalizing cannabis for personal use, there is a serious gap in public health. This is because most adverse reactions to cannabis are a result from the presence of hazardous materials, such as mold, which laboratories test and detect.
“Consumers who grow cannabis for personal use are arbitrarily prevented from accessing necessary information about the safety of the cannabis they will be consuming,” explained Assemblymember Quirk. “The inability for recreational consumers to get their personally grown cannabis tested for safety poses a potential health risk for many across the state.”
AB 2721 allows adults (21 years and older), who grow and consume cannabis for personal recreational use, to have their cannabis tested by a laboratory to ensure it meets minimum safety standards. A testing laboratory would be prohibited from certifying samples for resale or transfer, and all tests would be recorded with the name of the person submitting the sample and the amount of cannabis or cannabis product received.
"The California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA) is very thankful that Governor Brown has signed AB 2721 into law. This bill increases public safety and health by providing a pathway for all consumers across California to test cannabis and cannabis products, and CCIA would like to thank Dr. Quirk for his leadership in prioritizing the protection of cannabis consumers,” stated Lindsay Robinson, Executive Director for CCIA.
“Allowing individuals who grow cannabis for personal use to have their cannabis tested ensures there is equal opportunity for consumers to be informed about what they ingest, and helps prevent unnecessary adverse reactions,” said Assemblymember Quirk. “I am proud that Governor Brown recognizes the need to protect our state’s cannabis consumers from unintended health risks, and has signed AB 2721 into law.”
AB 2721 will go into effect on January 1, 2019.