State audit finds unclear cannabis packaging rules; lawmakers and health experts push for clearer standards

A State Auditor's report and a Joint Legislative Audit Committee hearing on May 20 examined how current rules and enforcement practices by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) may leave children exposed to cannabis products that resemble sweets and beverages.

State Auditor Parks told the committee the audit found three core problems: prohibited design elements are not well defined and are applied subjectively; products can enter the market without prior review, leaving enforcement reactive; and DCC's oversight practices and data systems make it difficult to identify and escalate repeat violators. "The department's regulations on prohibited design elements are not always well defined or commonly understood, leading to subjectivity and at times inconsistent enforcement," Parks said.

Why it matters: Lawmakers and public-health witnesses linked vague packaging rules to a sharp increase in calls to poison-control centers for young children. The transcript records poison-control calls for children age 5 and younger rising from 148 in 2016 to 842 in 2023, a near fivefold increase cited by committee members as the impetus for the audit.

Key audit findings and evidence

- Subjective enforcement: The auditor's team reviewed packaging decisions on dozens of products and said staff often reached different conclusions about whether designs were…