Aging yuppies in neon beachwear stand before a green wall with the catchphrase "You have changed ... so has cannabis."
The social media post is part of "Real CA Cannabis," a $5-million taxpayer-funded campaign to promote California cannabis as safe, tested and "regulated by the state to protect consumers."
In reality, that safety is far from certain.
An investigation by The Times, in conjunction with cannabis industry newsletter WeedWeek, found alarming levels of pesticides in cannabis products available on dispensary shelves across the state, including some of the most popular brands of vapes and pre-rolled weed.
Twenty-five of 42 legal cannabis products that The Times and WeedWeek purchased from retail stores and had tested at private labs showed concentrations of pesticides either above levels the state allows or at levels that exceed federal standards for tobacco. The contaminants include chemicals tied to cancer, liver failure, thyroid disease and genetic and neurologic harm to users and unborn children.
Read more at latimes.com