Politics
Colorado audit finds gaps in cannabis product testing and public warnings
A state audit says Colorado’s marijuana oversight leaves major gaps in testing products for contaminants and potency, inspecting businesses and warning consumers about health risks. Auditors issued 14 recommendations; the Marijuana Enforcement Division agreed to partially implement them by December 2027.
Colorado consumers may have limited protection from unsafe marijuana products because the state’s testing and oversight systems have significant gaps, according to a state audit released Monday, Oct. 19.
The audit found that most marijuana products sold from 2023 through 2025 were not consistently tested for contaminants or potency. It also found that potentially harmful products remained available for months during 2025 before the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) issued a public health advisory.
Colorado does not have a fully functioning state safety lab, the audit said. Instead, businesses select private laboratories to test products, a system auditors said increases the chance that unsafe products will not be properly identified.
The MED licenses marijuana businesses and monitors product safety, while the state health department assists with cannabis testing. Auditors also found that MED inspections were inconsistent and sometimes left key information unavailable for review, limiting the division’s ability to identify risks.
The findings raise questions about whether Colorado’s regulatory system can reliably protect consumers as the state’s marijuana industry faces economic pressure. The audit made 14 recommendations, including strengthening MED’s safety oversight framework. The division agreed to partially implement the recommendations by December 2027.