Arizona marijuana lab fined nearly $500K for intentional, inaccurate results
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- OnPoint, a laboratory that tests marijuana in Arizona, has been fined nearly a half-million dollars for repeated violations. OnPoint Laboratory reached the agreement after the state threatened to pull the lab’s certification.
Inspections show violations go back to September 2020. A report prepared by the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) states deficiencies and violations were “committed intentionally” and “are a risk to the health, safety, and welfare of the public and medical marijuana qualifying patients.”
During inspections, OnPoint was found to have incomplete records and documentation for inventory, marijuana disposal, maintenance records for equipment, chemical storage, and employee training.
In testing for contamination, inspectors found machines not properly calibrated to detect levels accurately, including:
pesticides & herbicides
solvents including propane and butane
heavy metals including lead, mercury, and arsenic
E.coli & Salmonella
OnPoint was tied to a marijuana recall over possible Salmonella contamination. Inspectors found an OnPoint employee trained to use a technique that produced inflated potency results. The higher the potency of a product, the more dispensaries can charge.
Security lapses were also documented. According to reports, inspectors witnessed a FedEx driver walk through the building’s front door and into the lab where marijuana and marijuana products were stored.
During a separate inspection, a workman walked through the unlocked front doors. Inspectors also found inner doors propped open, providing access to a storage area for marijuana products.
Issues have not gone unnoticed by some in the industry. Curaleaf, a national chain with more than a dozen dispensaries in Arizona, confirmed they stopped accepting products tested at OnPoint eight months ago.
In Nov. 2021, the state issued a notice of intent to revoke the laboratory’s certification. On Feb. 18, 2022, AZDHS and OnPoint reached an agreement to allow the lab to keep its certification. Terms of the agreement include OnPoint implementing Corrective Action Plans, and the lab will also pay a $468,000 civil penalty. However, OnPoint did not admit to any liability or wrongdoing.