The Nevada Department of Taxation issued a recall on August 23, 2019 of cannabis that failed yeast and mold testing. The state’s notice warns that persons with suppressed immune systems or sensitivities to yeast and mold should avoid the products harvested by D. H. Aldebaran Inc. and Las Vegas Natural Caregivers, LLC between 7/11/19 and 8/19/19.
Nevada’s health and public safety warning comes at the heels of similar warning issued last week in Colorado and Michigan. Michigan suspended the license of an independent testing facility due to inaccurate results, and is working with a second testing facility on procedures to enhance processes. Colorado also issued a recall of 44 batches of recreational and medical marijuana. Following this announcement, the city of Denver announced plans to test products at 25 randomly selected stores.
The stepped up efforts by the states may be coming at the right time as the CDC continues to investigate illnesses related to vaping products that may contain THC. During a conference call on Friday, the CDC indicated that the Food and Drug Administration is analyzing the compounds in samples it received from e-cigarette devices. The CDC indicated that many of the cases involved THC. The CDC will investigate each case including the name of the product, where it was purchased and how it was used.
The increased scrutiny into product quality by state and federal regulators highlights the importance of purchasing cannabis products from a licensed dispensary. State and federal testing regulations show the range of contaminants that can be found in cannabis, and the serious risks posed to a person’s health. The recent issues may result in further testing requirements for cannabis, CBD and vaping products.