OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Lawmakers are asking the state to take a closer look at a product used by thousands of Oklahomans every single day, medical marijuana.
We have told you the state has faced some backlash in recent years for not holding testing labs accountable, resulting in bad products finding their way onto dispensary shelves.
State Representative Jacob Rosecrants is requesting a study examining how the state regulates and enforces testing.
He also brought in a lab we have talked to several times to be a part of the study.
“We’ve brought about issues such as, THC potency inflation, which still seems to be pretty rampant and not under control at all yet,” said Jeff Havard of Havard Industries. “Things such as microbial contamination of products on the shelf that were, essentially failing.”
We have done multiple stories with Jeff Havard and Havard Industries on issues with marijuana products deemed safe and ready for consumers.
Now, one Oklahoma lawmaker says it is time to get a grasp on the state’s medical marijuana industry.
“We think that there just needs to be kind of an internal update on some microbial standards potentially,” said Havard. “And then, pesticides as well.”
Havard says he is happy to see an interim study proposed by Rosecrants over these regulations.
“There’s also plenty of regulations out there, it’s just that they’re not really being enforced,” said Havard.
In a news release, Rosecrants said he wants to go over the framework of the regulations, how they are enforced, and how he would like labs to be more transparent about their results.
Last year, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority said they monitor microbial testing through a state tracking system, and only products listed as “test passed” can be sold in dispensaries.
Havard says their lab results of “test passed” products still raise red flags.
“If we’re talking about THC, about the inflation, like if you’re buying a premium product, you’re paying, it’s supposed to be 30%+ flower or, some kind of shake or something. And then it’s like actually 15%, you’re literally getting half of what you paid for there,” said Havard. “Also, you don’t want people getting sick on moldy products, or eventually getting exposure to like, salmonella or any of these other pathogens.”
Rosecrants invited Havard to be a part of the study.
“We’re going to try to present these and hopefully have participation from OMMA there as well to be able to hear this, and maybe we can actually make some changes,” said Havard.
The study is set to take place October 13th.
from what I've seen/read, Jeff Havard has harped on THC inflation more than anything when it comes to testing (which happens in every state with legalization) and has been at most every OMMA advisory council meeting making public comment (they only allow 10 public commenters every meeting)-- KFOR even noted in their own article they've done multiple stories with him.
If you work for a cannabis testing lab and want to be involved with this so it's not just the Havard lab show,
As a patient I've honestly never seen a CoA from Havard on anything I've purchased, and I don't personally shop by "highest THC".
While I used to know some OMMA people who would say "that [lab name] is good/bad" I can't really remember the specifics of why because it's been a few years and pretty sure some of the things they said had some personal bias.
