As an investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Paige St. John has deeply covered public welfare issues surrounding California cannabis, using investigative reporting to examine how the legal market affects workers, consumers, and the public.
Her series “Dying for Your High” exposed 37 farm worker deaths, widespread labor exploitation, and pesticide use in California’s cannabis industry. That reporting was part of a Pulitzer Prize nomination. In 2024, “Dirty Weed” documented extensive pesticide contamination in legal cannabis products and the regulatory failures behind that public health threat, helping spur market changes and new safety certification programs. The Los Angeles Times is now conducting a second round of cannabis product safety testing, grounded in the belief that meaningful consumer protection begins with public information.
Paige St. John’s reporting reflects the purpose of the Watchdog Award: bringing difficult cannabis safety issues into public view so they can be understood, addressed, and improved. Her work demonstrates how rigorous journalism can turn evidence into accountability and move cannabis safety from concern into action.
Read Dirty Weed: https://Latimes.com/california/story/2024-06-29/the-dirty-dangerous-secret-of-californias-legal-weed
If you appreciate ASA's work, sign up for alerts and updates, and make a donation to support ASA's vital mission.
Share this page
