Public commenters urge physician representation, free COAs and stronger lab standards at DCC medicinal use meeting

Public commenters at the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) medicinal use subcommittee meeting on July 10 urged the agency to clarify prohibitions on certain delivery forms, add physician representation to medical advisory panels, and strengthen access to testing information after media reports of contaminated products.

During the public-comment period for items not on the agenda, a participant asked the subcommittee to “revisit section 17300…for prohibited use products” and specifically to consider whether metered-dose inhalers might be allowed, saying the goal was a safer, noncombustible delivery option. The speaker requested information on the regulatory basis for the current prohibition.

Several commenters pressed the DCC to increase clinician involvement. Dr. Sharon Yafai, describing herself as a medical cannabis physician and recent DCC grant recipient, told the panel that “we really do need physicians' voices on the DCC, especially in the medical use department,” and said she and other physicians had applied to participate but had not heard back. Multiple speakers recommended clearer outreach to encourage veterinarians and physicians to apply for advisory roles.

Laboratory transparency and product safety were a recurring theme. Dominic of Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs and other commenters said patients and pet owners should have free access to certificates of analysis (COAs). Dominic said, “I think all patients should have free access to COAs,” and described a need for public-facing COAs showing analyte results for pesticides, heavy metals and other contaminants. Commenters referenced reporting by the LA Times and Weed Week alleging contaminated products on retail shelves and asked the DCC to ensure lab independence and stronger testing standards. One commenter said a Weed Week investigation tested 42 products and found 25 with pesticide concentrations above allowed limits.

Concern for lab independence and chain-of-custody processes surfaced in public comments. Kelly McCormick and others urged stronger safeguards to ensure labs are independent from manufacturers and to require swift product removal when contaminants are found. Several commenters asked the DCC to consider proficiency testing (PT) or other method-specific requirements for labs testing pet products.

The subcommittee chair and staff responded that submitted memoranda and written public comments would be posted to the DCC website and reviewed; the chair encouraged clinicians to apply for technical advisory roles. The meeting did not produce a formal decision on any of these requests; the DCC staff said it will consider the submitted memoranda and public comments while drafting regulations.