Medical Marijuana Program: Be Audit Smart Guide
In this Be Audit Smart guide, we’re breaking down our latest performance audit of the state’s Medical Marijuana Program, which evaluated how the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) conducted inspections, responded to complaints and took enforcement action regarding grower/processors and dispensaries – the first time anyone has done so since the program was implemented in 2016.
This audit covered the period from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.
Keep reading to find more about this performance audit and visit our Be Audit Smart page to access previous audits, audit guides, and learn key audit terminology.
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Audit Summary | News Release | Fact Sheet | Resource Hub | Contact
Audit Summary
The audit had 2 objectives: Evaluate DOH’s monitoring processes for grower/processors, including conducting inspections, responding to complaints, and taking timely enforcement actions when warranted; and, evaluate DOH’s monitoring processes for dispensaries, including conducting inspections, responding to complaints, and taking timely enforcement actions when warranted.
Auditors had 2 findings and provided 9 recommendations:
- In finding 1, auditors found that DOH lacked adequate controls to ensure inspections, enforcement actions, and related procedures were performed consistently. More specifically, DOH did not consistently retain inspection documentation or document supervisory review, notice of deficiencies were not sent or were not sent timely if deficiencies were noted on the inspection checklists, and plans of correction submitted by the medical marijuana organizations were either not approved by DOH staff or were not approved timely.
- In finding 2, we found that inadequate approval processes for complaint conclusions and plans of corrections reduced the effectiveness of DOH’s oversight.
The recommendations the auditors provided would improve the monitoring of the medical marijuana organizations, enhance the complaint process and support the effectiveness of the inspection process. Find more information on the recommendations in the audit.
We found a lack of internal controls and inadequate approval processes which can ultimately reduce the effectiveness of DOH’s oversight of the program. Inconsistent procedures may allow issues to go uncorrected and lead to unsafe conditions within facilities or products.
– Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor
News Release
Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor today released a performance audit of the Department of Health (DOH) regarding the state’s Medical Marijuana Program and its monitoring processes for grower/processors and dispensaries. The audit found that DOH lacked proper internal controls to ensure inspections and enforcement actions were performed consistently and had inadequate approval processes for complaint conclusions and plans of corrections.
“Our audit evaluated how DOH conducted inspections, responded to complaints and took enforcement action regarding grower/processors and dispensaries – the first time anyone has done so since the program was implemented in 2016,” Auditor General DeFoor said. “We found a lack of internal controls and inadequate approval processes which can ultimately reduce the effectiveness of DOH’s oversight of the program. Inconsistent procedures may allow issues to go uncorrected and lead to unsafe conditions within facilities or products. Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians rely on the program to be safe, secure and trustworthy, so it’s up to these regulators to ensure proper procedures are in place.”
Fact Sheet
What did the audit find? What recommendations did the auditors make to fix these issues? What is Act 16 of 2016? What is DOH’s role in administering the Medical Marijuana Program? Find answers to these questions and many more via our Fact Sheet.
Resource Hub
Press Release: Read the official press release announcing this audit.
Audio/Video: Download audio and video recordings of General DeFoor describing this audit.
Audit: Download a copy of the audit.
Fact Sheet: Download a list of answers to FAQs.
Contact
Gab Ernst, Deputy Communications Director at the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General: 717-787-1381 or news@paauditor.gov