ADVISORY - Auditor General DeFoor Releases Performance Audit of Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Program; Finds Internal Controls and Review Processes Need to be Strengthened

September 09, 2026 - Harrisburg, PA

ADVISORY - Auditor General DeFoor Releases Performance Audit of Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Program; Finds Internal Controls and Review Processes Need to be Strengthened

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."

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