State audit finds vague cannabis packaging rules; lawmakers press DCC for clearer standards to keep products from appealing to children

A state audit released this year found that the Department of Cannabis Control’s (DCC) rules on packaging and labeling are sometimes vague and unevenly enforced, and lawmakers on the Joint Legislative Audit Committee urged the department and industry to adopt clearer, enforceable standards to reduce the risk that products will attract children.

The audit, presented to the committee by State Auditor Parks, reported that auditors reviewed 120 products, 29 public complaints and 51 inspector referrals and noted disagreements with DCC’s conclusions in about 13 of 80 product reviews the audit examined. “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 told the panel, summarizing why the office recommended clearer statutory and regulatory language.

Lawmakers cited rising poison control calls as the core public‑health concern behind the hearing. Committee members cited audit figures and legislative staff notes showing calls to poison control for cannabis ingestion among children under 5 increased sharply since 2016; the audit's presentation cited roughly 148 calls in 2016 and 842 calls in 2023.

Auditors illustrated the problem with images of packaging that used cartoon faces, candy‑style fonts, and dessert‑like imagery. The audit recommended the legislature consider…