Regulators in Colorado and Arizona Issue Notices for Moldy and Unreliably Tested Products

Published on: March 24, 2023

Health and safety notices were issued in two states due to concerns about contamination exposure.

On March 20, 2023, the Colorado Department of Revenue and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an advisory based on unacceptable levels of mold found in pre-rolls from MJ Durango LLC and flower from Carrick-Harvest LLC (Veritas Fine Cannabis) (1). MJ Durango worked with the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division to issue a voluntary recall of its affected products, and the Department of Revenue advised that consumers who bought affected products from Carrick-Harvest LLC destroy or return them to the store they were purchased from (1, 2).

“The Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR), in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), is issuing a Health and Safety Advisory due to the identification of potentially unsafe levels of Total Yeast and Mold on Regulated Marijuana flower produced by Carrick-Harvest, LLC (doing business as Veritas Fine Cannabis),” read one of the notices (2). “The CDPHE and DOR deem it a threat to public health and safety when marijuana is found to have Total Yeast and Mold above acceptable limits established in Colorado Marijuana Rule 4-115.”

In the same week, the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) reported that several cannabis companies issued a voluntary recall of various products over concerns of potential exposure to Aspergillus (3).

"ADHS Lab auditors found a possible Aspergillus contamination during a routine inspection of a marijuana testing laboratory where it was determined that equipment was misused according to the manufacturer," the ADHS stated (3). "Once ADHS discovered the potential contamination, the establishment involved took immediate action to work with all distribution and retail partners to remove any potentially impacted products."

The department listed the products affected and recommended anyone who purchased the products to dispose of them (3).

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