SACRAMENTO, California. (KCRA) —
A marijuana testing lab in Sacramento has admitted to falsifying hundreds of pesticide testing records that were submitted to the state.
The company in question is Sequoia Analytical Labs and the firm is taking full responsibility for what happened.
“This was a gut punch completely,” said Steven Dutra, general manager for Sequoia Analytical Labs.
Dutra said he was stunned to learn that lab results from his pesticide testing machines were falsified.
Dutra said the former lab director – whom he identified as Marc Foster – admitted the fraud after a surprise visit last week by state inspectors.
“When they asked the lab director where his data came from,” Dutra said. “He honestly told them, ‘I faked it.'”
The fake data from the former lab director involved 22 out of the 66 pesticides for which cannabis is typically tested. More than 700 lab results over a four-month span are now in question, Dutra said.
Sequoia immediately fired Foster and then surrendered its temporary testing license to the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. However, additional sanctions could be coming from the city of Sacramento.
“We’re going to be taking a look at suspending or possibly revoking their permit,” said Joe Devlin, Sacramento’s chief of Cannabis Enforcement.
Read More: Sacramento marijuana testing lab admits to falsifying pesticide results
Dutra said he was stunned to learn that lab results from his pesticide testing machines were falsified.
Dutra said the former lab director – whom he identified as Marc Foster – admitted the fraud after a surprise visit last week by state inspectors.
“When they asked the lab director where his data came from,” Dutra said. “He honestly told them, ‘I faked it.'”
The fake data from the former lab director involved 22 out of the 66 pesticides for which cannabis is typically tested. More than 700 lab results over a four-month span are now in question, Dutra said.
Sequoia immediately fired Foster and then surrendered its temporary testing license to the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. However, additional sanctions could be coming from the city of Sacramento.
“We’re going to be taking a look at suspending or possibly revoking their permit,” said Joe Devlin, Sacramento’s chief of Cannabis Enforcement.
Read More: Sacramento marijuana testing lab admits to falsifying pesticide results
