A Lake Havasu City Republican wants Arizona’s medical marijuana to be tested for mold and pesticides. Senator Sonny Borelli says he wants to ensure patients know what they’re consuming. KNAU’s Aaron Granillo reports.
Borelli’s bill follows reports of a Phoenix dispensary selling moldy marijuana. His measure aims to prevent that by giving the state more oversight into how the plants are cultivated.
Borelli says the bill would allocate $2 million from the state’s medical marijuana fund to conduct health inspections, and test the integrity of the product.
“We want to make sure that the patients and customers are getting well protected and well-informed on what they’re getting," says Borelli. "Because, after all, it’s supposed to be a medicine. Let’s treat it like a medicine.”
Borelli says the bipartisan bill would bring Arizona in line with other states that provide medical marijuana. It would also drop the price patients pay to get a medical card, from $150 down to $50.
Many industry advocates say they welcome the changes.
