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 III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
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.