The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) has issued a “summary suspension” for a state-licensed cannabis testing laboratory. According to the LCB, Praxis Labs falsified over 1,200 results in order to inflate THC levels. Additionally, the LCB alleges the lab attempted to destroy evidence during its investigation.
The summary suspension is for 180 days, during which time the LCB will seek the permanent revocation of Praxis’s “marijuana laboratory” certification and investigate acts of obstruction.
“The LCB educates licensees to reach compliance and enforces Washington’s liquor, cannabis, vape and tobacco laws and regulations. The WSLCB is mandated to ensure that licensees in Washington State follow state laws and regulations. When licensees fail to comply with state law, the Board, under state authority can take action including the issuance of suspensions to ensure public health and safety.” — LCB statement, in a press release
Praxis Labs denies the charges and, in an emailed counter-statement, said, “This is a clear cut case of agency overreach and libel and we will be pursuing legal action immediately and have already started the appeal process in the interim.”
“It is our opinion that this is a brazen attempt by the agency to assert that they should not have their enforcement arm defunded, and that it’s imperative to the safety of the industry,” a company representative said. “The suspension documentation itself contains numerous inaccuracies and falsehoods, just in the first few pages. We are not here to be bullied by an agency with seemingly unlimited authority. The agency has opted to move forward with this narrative despite being presented with evidence to the alternative.”
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