Late last week the California Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) released an emergency regulation requiring cannabis business to post and make available to the public their unique QR Code, (Quick Response Code) given to them by the BCC. The code is familiar to consumers as a way to link to information about a business. The BCC hopes that the posted codes will allow consumers to quickly identify a legal cannabis business.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of November 13, 2019, there have been 2,172 lung injury cases and 42 deaths associated with using ecigarette, or vaping products reported across the country. From these cases, the CDC collected fluid samples from the lungs of 29 patients. Of the 29 samples, THC was identified in 82%. The CDC now recommends that those individuals using e-cigarette or vaping products should not buy the products from informal sources, or “off the streets.”

Legal cannabis businesses are required to put their products through significant testing for safety and product control. Use of “black market” cannabis products poses a public health risk. The BCC and CDPH hope that giving the public clarity on licensed retailers will help the public avoid purchasing unsafe products.

As of November 12, 2019, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has recorded 163 cases of Vaping-Associated Pulmonary Injury in the state of California. CDPH has been able to survey 86 of these individuals. Of the individuals interviewed, 71 of the 86 individuals, which equates to 83%, reported consuming vaping products containing THC. Of the 71 that consumed vaping products containing THC, only one individual reported buying THC vaping products from retailers licensed by the Bureau. The other 70 individuals surveyed reported buying THC vaping products from unlicensed sources. From these studies, it has been determined that the risk of harm to the public is greater from the use of THC vaping products obtained from unlicensed sources.