STIIIZY vapes show no pesticides in LA Times test ahead of 2028 California rule
Laboratory testing commissioned by the Los Angeles Times found no pesticides in three STIIIZY vape samples, results the company says meet California pesticide rules that take effect in April 2028.
Key points
- Independent testing commissioned by the Los Angeles Times found no pesticides in STIIIZY's Birthday Cake, Pink Acai and Strawnana vapes, with findings published on 8 November 2026.
- Three state-licensed laboratories screened the samples for a combined 376 pesticides, and labels were obscured to prevent bias.
- California's new pesticide-testing requirements take effect in April 2028, after the testing was carried out.
- STIIIZY President Tak Sato said one in four vapes sold in California is a STIIIZY product.
On this page
Three STIIIZY vape products returned no pesticide detections in independent laboratory testing commissioned by the Los Angeles Times, with the newspaper publishing the findings on 8 November 2026.
The samples tested were Birthday Cake, Pink Acai and Strawnana. The newspaper bought cannabis products from licensed dispensaries and paid three state-licensed laboratories to screen them for a combined 376 pesticides, obscuring the labels so analysts would not know the brand.
California’s stricter pesticide testing starts in April 2028
The results, as STIIIZY describes them, meet California’s new pesticide-testing requirements when those take effect in April 2028. That is more than a year after the samples were screened, so the products are being judged against a standard that is not yet in force.
The newspaper’s earlier investigation, in 2024, forms the comparison point the company uses. STIIIZY says its sourcing, quality control and testing practices have changed since then, and President Tak Sato said the company has invested in those areas to exceed state requirements.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Products tested | Birthday Cake, Pink Acai, Strawnana |
| Pesticides screened | 376, combined panel |
| Laboratories | Three, state-licensed |
| Findings published | 8 November 2026 |
| California rule takes effect | April 2028 |
The company reports one in four California vape sales
Sato said one in four vapes sold in California is a STIIIZY product, a company figure rather than an independently verified market share. STIIIZY describes itself as a vertically integrated Los Angeles company founded in 2017, with 65 retail locations in California, more than 2,200 employees and over 30,000 customers a day. It calls itself the largest private cannabis company in the U.S.
Retailers and distributors carry label and batch evidence
For buyers holding STIIIZY stock, the practical value of the result is narrow: three named products passed a panel of 376 pesticides at three licensed labs. It does not certify other SKUs, other batches or later production runs. Distributors assembling pesticide documentation for forthcoming California requirements should expect to keep batch-level certificates rather than rely on a brand-level result.
What happens before April 2028
California’s pesticide-testing requirements are not in force until April 2028. Until then, companies selling into the state have time to align testing panels and documentation with the incoming standard, and the next round of newspaper sampling will show whether the STIIIZY results hold across other products.
Questions readers ask
When does California's new pesticide-testing requirement take effect?
April 2028, according to the STIIIZY release describing the standard the tested products are said to meet.
Which STIIIZY products were tested?
Birthday Cake, Pink Acai and Strawnana vapes, screened for a combined 376 pesticides at three state-licensed laboratories.
Sources
18+ only. This site is for adult readers and provides news and information only. It is not medical, legal or purchase advice. Nicotine is addictive. Always check the official text of any regulation in your market. Health Information
