Several cannabis products in Maine were recalled due to concerns of mold and bacteria exposure.
Fears for consumer health and safety instigated the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) to order a recall for various cannabis products offered in the state (1). Some of the type of products included were blunts, pre-ground adult use cannabis flower, and pre-rolls.
Nova Farms manufactured the products, and a cannabis strain called “Frosted Cookies”. They were supplied to 14 adult use retail locations located throughout Brunswick, Columbia, Greenville Junction, Lebanon, Lisbon, Mechanic Falls, Medway, Newport, Portland, Presque Isle, South Portland, and Turner (1).
According to WGME (1), “The OCP says the products are being recalled due to failure of microbials (aerobic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae) and yeast and mold.” The OCP also mentioned that inhaling cannabis that has unsafe levels of mold or bacteria could cause various symptoms such as, allergies, fatigue, headaches, sinus issues, dizziness, and flu-like symptoms.
If a consumer purchased the Nova Farms products, the items should be thrown out or returned back to the retailer they were purchased from (1). Similar to other consumer goods, the cannabis products are supplied a batch number to help them be identified. The recalled cannabis products were in stores to be purchased between September 17, 2024 and October 8, 2024.
The recall affected the below products and locations (1,2):
Product Information
Strain name: Frosted Cookies
Batch number: 1A40D0300002329000005185
Dates sold: September 28, 2024 – October 6, 2024
Product types:
Strain name: Frosted Cookies
Batch number: 1A40D0300002329000005191
Dates sold: September 17, 2024 – October 8, 2024
Product types:
Retail Store Information
References
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.