HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor released a performance audit of the Department of Health regarding the state’s Medical Marijuana Program.
The performance audit evaluated how health officials conducted inspections, handled complaints and executed enforcement actions. Covering the period from Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024, the evaluation marks the first audit of the program’s oversight mechanisms since Pennsylvania implemented medical marijuana regulation in 2016.
The performance audit identified two primary findings along with nine specific recommendations for structural improvement.
Auditors determined that the Department of Health lacked adequate controls to ensure inspections, enforcement actions and related procedures were performed consistently.
Furthermore, inadequate approval processes for complaint conclusions and plans of correction weakened state supervision.
“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,” 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.”
Specific recommendations issued in the report urge the Department of Health to implement and consistently use a standardized inspection checklist. Auditors also recommended finalizing and approving standard operating procedures for both inspection checklists and complaints, alongside implementing formal documentation processes across all monitoring activities.
The Department of Health reportedly agreed with the audit findings and has begun implementing changes.
“To their credit, DOH agreed with our findings and they are already working to implement some of our recommendations,” DeFoor said. “I’d like to sincerely thank the department for their cooperation throughout this audit process. We’re grateful that they have already taken steps to ensure the program continues to serve those who need it most. That’s exactly how our audits are supposed to function—we audit and evaluate and the organization being audited then implements our recommendations and Pennsylvanians benefit.”
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