Law enforcement group alleges fraud in Massachusetts cannabis industry: "They're ripping off the consumer."

OG article by Louisa Moller

December 11, 2025

Matt Gutwill, president of the New England Narcotic Officers Enforcement Association, alleges fraud in Massachusetts' cannabis industry, claiming THC percentages on product labels are inflated, resulting in levels below stated amounts. His group tested over 100 products from various dispensaries in the past two years, using a NIRLAB screening device to demonstrate discrepancies, such as a product labeled at 34.65% THC testing at 12.8% THC and 0.1% CBD. Gutwill attributes this to insufficient oversight by the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), which requires licensed lab testing but conducts no random independent verification, enabling potential lab-shopping for favorable results. The CCC suspended Assured Testing Laboratories in Tyngsboro for failing to report yeast and mold in over 7,000 samples, including more than 500 exceeding legal thresholds, citing public health risks. Assured reopened after a $300,000 fine and a lawsuit over due process, without accusations of THC inflation. Dr. Zoe Weiss of Tufts Medical Center warned that mold poses severe risks, such as pneumonias, especially for immunocompromised individuals. CCC Chair Shannon O'Brien and Commissioner Kimberly Roy acknowledged THC inflation as consumer fraud, with products frozen but not recalled post-identification. Roy advocates for a state-run lab, a testing task force, and a tip line, hindered by budget constraints. They plan a secret shopping program for random retailer tests, noting prior unfulfilled promises. The industry has generated over $8 billion in sales, yielding $250 million in annual tax revenue, balancing regulatory and economic priorities. Assured stated its focus on compliance via third-party auditing. This issue highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring product integrity amid rapid industry growth.