Why N.Y. Legal Weed Might Not Be as Safe, or as Strong, as Advertised

The legalization of cannabis in New York was meant to make shopping at a dispensary as straightforward as buying beer from a supermarket.

Consumers would be able to examine labels to learn what goes into items like joints and vapes and be assured that the products were safe.

To provide this protection, state regulators gave licenses to more than a dozen commercial laboratories to test cannabis products for potency and harmful contaminants. Consumers can view a product’s detailed testing certificates by scanning a code printed on its packaging.

But as weed companies rush to capture greater shares of the New York market, there are growing indications that this testing cannot always be trusted, potentially endangering consumers’ health, according to lab workers, academics and other experts in the cannabis industry.

An analysis of testing certificates from New York and lab tests commissioned by The New York Times suggest that some products sold in licensed dispensaries that are labeled safe could actually contain harmful levels of pesticides, among other unsafe additives, or be contaminated by a toxic fungus.

Researchers say accurate testing and labeling are crucial for consumers to get the desired effects from cannabis and avoid unwanted side effects. Contaminants in cannabis, which is often smoked, can create or worsen severe health problems like lung infections, organ failure and pregnancy complications.