Former California Cannabis Regulator Says Agency Fired Her After Lab Fraud Warnings

A former senior official at California’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is suing the agency, alleging she was wrongfully fired after raising concerns about widespread fraud in state-licensed cannabis testing labs.

Tanisha Bogans, the former deputy director of laboratory services, claims in a lawsuit filed this week that the DCC failed to address rampant THC potency inflation and deliberate failures by labs to detect harmful contaminants like pesticides and mold.

Bogans, who was terminated in January 2024, alleges that her dismissal followed repeated warnings about unethical practices in the state’s cannabis testing system. According to the lawsuit, Bogans reported these concerns to DCC officials, including director Nicole Elliott, as early as June 2023. Her suit highlights that despite her efforts, the agency was resistant to taking action against the fraud, which she argues has damaged the legal marijuana industry in California.

The suit, first reported by Bloomberg Law, accuses the DCC of unlawful retaliation and violating whistleblower protections. It also seeks compensation for unpaid business expenses. Bogans’ claims mirror longstanding industry allegations that some labs manipulate test results to inflate THC levels or pass cannabis products that should fail for safety reasons.

Although the DCC has ramped up enforcement efforts against labs accused of fraudulent activity in recent months, these actions reportedly took place after Bogans’ firing. The DCC declined to comment on the lawsuit or personnel matters.