Long Beach, CA – Hold onto your stash jars, folks. California’s cannabis watchdog just dropped the hammer on a big-name testing lab, BelCosta Labs, hitting them with an indefinite suspension. Why? State regulators claim the Long Beach-based lab was playing fast and loose with the rules, potentially endangering public health and misleading consumers about how potent their weed actually is.
The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) sent BelCosta a letter on April 10th, basically telling them to cease all operations immediately , no more testing, no transferring product, nada. The DCC stated BelCosta “engaged in activity that poses harm to public health, safety, or welfare.” That’s some serious language in the cannabis world.
What Did BelCosta Allegedly Do Wrong?
The DCC didn’t pull any punches, listing seven key problems:
- Potency Inflation: This is a big one. The DCC alleges BelCosta jacked up the Total THC numbers on at least two flower samples by more than 10%. In one shocking example, BelCosta reported a batch at 24.5% THC, but the DCC’s re-test found it was only 14.7% THC! That’s a massive 40% difference, blowing past the state’s allowed 10% variance. Inflated numbers can trick consumers into paying more for less potent product. Critics also noted that reporting two different samples at exactly 24.5% THC looks suspicious on its own.
- Letting Bad Batches Slide: Regulators claim BelCosta released samples for sale that should have failed testing. Later tests by the DCC reportedly found “measurable amounts” of pathogenic Aspergillus (a potentially harmful mold) in those same batches. Yikes.
- Sloppy Procedures: The DCC pointed fingers at several operational failures, including not reporting test results on time, messing up chain-of-custody forms (critical for tracking samples), improper sample collection techniques (caught on video!), and even letting a receptionist use the CEO’s account for the state’s track-and-trace system (Metrc).
- Unqualified Staff: The state claims eight BelCosta employees working as lab analysts or samplers didn’t have the minimum required education for those roles.
BelCosta Fires Back: “We Were Singled Out!”
BelCosta leadership isn’t taking this lying down. VP Nate Winokur insisted they believed the lab “was doing everything right” and wasn’t a public safety threat. CEO Myron Ronay hinted strongly at a lawsuit if they can’t get the lab reopened quickly.
In an “emergency podcast” released the same day they got the suspension letter, Ronay and Winokur pushed back:
- They downplayed some issues as “small paperwork errors.”
- They suggested chain-of-custody issues might be the fault of their distribution partners.
- On the unqualified staff charge, they claimed the employees were “lab techs,” not analysts requiring the higher education levels.
- Regarding potency, they deflected, arguing other labs test flower over 39% THC without issue (though this doesn’t directly address the accuracy of their own tests).
- They suggested the Aspergillus mold could have grown after their initial test.
- They claimed the DCC ignored their attempts to discuss testing methods back in August (presumably 2023 or 2024, the source date isn’t clear but context implies prior year).
“We really don’t believe this is right,” Ronay stated, adding they felt “singled out” and promising, “we will be back, better than ever.”
Why This Matters to You (The Consumer)
This isn’t just industry drama. Accurate lab testing is crucial for consumer confidence and safety. When you buy cannabis, you rely on the label to tell you the potency (THC, CBD levels) and whether it’s free from harmful contaminants like mold and pesticides.
Allegations like potency inflation and missed contamination erode trust. This BelCosta suspension is part of a larger trend, with the DCC cracking down on testing labs across California after years of complaints about inconsistent and potentially fraudulent results, a problem plaguing the cannabis industry nationwide.
What’s Next?
The suspension is “indefinite,” and the DCC letter didn’t specify how BelCosta could fix things to get their license back. With BelCosta hinting at legal battles and promising a fuller response soon, this situation is far from over.
For now, one of California’s established labs is sidelined, highlighting the ongoing struggle to ensure reliable and honest testing in the legal cannabis market. Stay tuned to Couch Lock’d for updates as this story develops.
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