Availability of Hazard Identification Materials for Marijuana Smoke

The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is the lead agency for the implementation of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65)1. The Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) advises and assists OEHHA in compiling the list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer as required by Health and Safety Code section 25249.8. The Committee serves as the State’s qualified experts for determining whether a chemical has been clearly shown through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles to cause cancer.

Marijuana smoke will be considered by the CIC at its next meeting scheduled for Friday, May 29, 2009. The meeting will be held in the Sierra Hearing Room at the Cal/EPA Headquarters building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will last until all business is conducted or until 5:00 p.m. The agenda for the meeting will be provided in a future public notice published in advance of the meeting.

On December 21, 2007, OEHHA requested information relevant to the assessment of the evidence of carcinogenicity of marijuana smoke a chemical to be considered by the CIC for possible addition to the Proposition 65 list. The 60-day data call-in period ended on February 20, 2008. No information or data were received on marijuana smoke. OEHHA has prepared the hazard identification materials for marijuana smoke and announces the availability of the document entitled: “Evidence on the Carcinogenicity of Marijuana Smoke.”

Copies of the document are available from OEHHA’s web site at the following address: /proposition-65. The document may also be requested from OEHHA’s Proposition 65 Implementation Office by calling (916) 445-6900. This notice marks the beginning of a 60-day public comment period. Comments and supporting documentation may be sent to the following address via mail or courier or via e-mail to P65Public.Comments@oehha.ca.gov:

the Proposition 65 Office
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Proposition 65 Implementation
P.O. Box 4010 1001 I Street, 19th floor
Sacramento, California 95812-4010
FAX (916) 323-8803

In order to be considered, comments must be received at OEHHA by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2009. OEHHA will organize and index the comments received and forward the information to the CIC members prior to the meeting at which the candidate chemical will be considered.

Footnotes and References

1 Health and Safety Code section 25249.5 et seq.