Article Summary –
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is responsible for licensing, regulating, and inspecting marijuana facilities in Arizona, including those that manufacture edible products, with inspections occurring twice a year and resulting in a graded letter based on compliance with food safety standards. While state law prohibits the public release of identifiable information about medical marijuana facilities, including those with dual licenses, consumers have the right to request certificates of analysis for product testing results. ADHS ensures compliance through education and enforcement, including the potential revocation or suspension of licenses for facilities with serious or frequent violations.
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is responsible for licensing and regulating all aspects of marijuana production and sales in the state, including medical and adult-use marijuana. This includes overseeing marijuana retail sales, growth, and testing facilities, as well as licensed marijuana kitchens that manufacture edible products. The regulation aims to ensure consumer safety through a series of rules and periodic inspections.
Arizona voters legalized medical marijuana in 2010 and expanded to adult-use marijuana in 2020. Since the legalization, ADHS has been tasked with ensuring that marijuana facilities comply with state regulations. ADHS performs inspections on each licensed facility twice a year, during which surveyors conduct thorough investigations that may last up to two hours. Based on these inspections, facilities receive a letter grade: E for excellent, S for satisfactory, N for needs improvement, and U for unsatisfactory, measured by foodborne illness risk factors and good manufacturing practices.
State law prohibits ADHS from publicly releasing identifiable information about medical marijuana facilities, including those with dual licenses for medical and adult-use. However, inspection reports related to the food permits of marijuana facilities are available through public records requests, with any identifying information about medical marijuana kitchens redacted. Inspection outcomes focus on consumer and employee health and safety, with serious violations potentially leading to license suspension or revocation.
Consumers and patients can request a certificate of analysis for any marijuana product, which details the product’s testing results for microbial contaminants, heavy metals, residual solvents, pesticides, fungicides, and growth regulators. ADHS also educates licensees about compliance to prevent future violations and ensure safety standards are met. More information about the marijuana kitchen program can be found on the ADHS website.
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