Public agencies need to do more to communicate marijuana product recalls

Marijuana product recalls in Colorado are not consistently, widely or even transparently communicated to the public online — and that concerns a growing number of healthcare providers.

Among them is Dr. Ken Finn, a Colorado Springs physician whose group practice, Springs Rehabilitation, specializes in providing non-operative treatment and management of spinal disorders and other musculoskeletal conditions.

“If you look up the chemicals found in these recalled marijuana products, they have serious health harms,” he said. “Without public notification, this boils down to human experimentation. The news media are all over tainted lettuce, but this gets relatively little coverage? And are Colorado news agencies really enough to distribute this important information widely and transparently to the public? No. What are city and state public health departments doing to inform the public? This information is very hard to find, and you need to know where to go to get it. When you do, you will see that there has been almost one product recall a month for several years.”

Where to find information about some recalls of marijuana products

The State of Colorado’s Department of Public Health and the Environment provides information about cannabis/THC use, but it does not appear to provide a listing of recalled products or information about cannabis producers whose products have been removed from the market. If you find a link to this information on the CDPHE’s website, we would be happy to share it (thanks!).

The Denver Department of Public Health and the Environment posts “bulletins and recalls” related to cannabis products here. A list of recalls reported in Denver since 2015 is posted below.
On this site, there is a blue button inviting site users to “sign up for bulletins.” However, that leads to this page, where it is not clear how to sign up to receive bulletins about product recalls. Instead, the page features another blue “Sign up now” button, inviting users to get the “latest marijuana industry news and bulletins.” That leads to this form, which asks people to identify their “role in the Denver Marijuana Industry.” There are industry “role” options for marijuana business owners, operators and employees; government officials; marketers and advertisers; and lobbyists. There is no option allowing people just to make clear they’re an interested citizen.

The Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division posts “Health and Safety Advisories” here. The most recent advisory was issued in January to Bronnor Corp., which state officials reported sold cannabis products containing “potentially unsafe levels of residual Ethanol.”

A spot check of Colorado county health departments showed little to no information about marijuana use prevention and addiction treatment — and no listings of recalled marijuana products found in the related county.

Denver Public Health Recalls of Marijuana products

2018
February 16, 2018 – Lightshade Labs LLC Voluntarily Recalls Medical and Retail Marijuana Due to Presence of Yeast/Mold in Pre-Roll Products

2017
December 5, 2017 – Infuzionz LLC Voluntarily Recalls Marijuana Product Due to Non-Food Grade Ingredients
October 26, 2017 – Little Brown House Dispensary LLC/Delta-9 Delights LLC Voluntarily Recalls Marijuana and Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
August 21, 2017 – Left Bank LLC Voluntarily Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Non-Food Grade Ingredients
August 10, 2017 – Kirke LLC/Metro Denver Telluride Health Center LLC Voluntarily Recalls Medical Marijuana Due to Pesticide Residues
July 27, 2017 – Buddies Wellness LLC Voluntarily Recalls Medical Marijuana Due to Powdery Mildew and Mite Contamination
July 24, 2017 – Buddies Wellness LLC/La Bodega Voluntarily Recalls Medical Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
April 14, 2017 – Mountain Medicines Recalls Medical Marijuana Infused-Products due to Pesticide Residues
April 7, 2017 – Information Regarding Cannabidiol (CBD) Products Sold or Manufactured in Denver
April 3, 2017 – Herbal Options LLC/Rocky Mountain Ways LLC Voluntarily Recalls Medical Marijuana and Marijuana Concentrates Due to Pesticide Residues
January 19, 2017 – GMC LLC Voluntarily Recalls Medical and Recreational Marijuana and Products Due to Pesticide Residues

2016
November 9, 2016 – Medicinal Wellness Center LLC Voluntarily Recalls Marijuana and Concentrates Due to Pesticide Residues
October 24, 2016 – Tree of Wellness Voluntarily Recalls Medical Marijuana and Products Due to Pesticide Residues
August 22, 2016 – La Conte’s Clone Bar and Dispensary Voluntarily Recalls Medical Marijuana and Products Due to Pesticide Residues
June 21, 2016 – Wash Park Boutique LLC Voluntarily Recalls Medical Marijuana and Products Due to Pesticide Residues
June 14, 2016 – Big Toe Voluntarily Recalls Marijuana and Products Due to Pesticide Residues
June 8, 2016 – The Tea Pot Voluntarily Recalls Medical Marijuana and Products Due to Pesticide Residues
June 6, 2016 – Pineapple Exchange Voluntarily Recalls Medical Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
June 1, 2016 – JVT Enterprises Voluntarily Recalls Medical Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
May 13, 2016 – Avicenna Products Voluntarily Recalls Medical Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
February 11, 2016 – CC Foods Voluntarily Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
January 29, 2016 – Caregivers for Life Voluntarily Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
January 27, 2016 – Organa Labs Voluntarily Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues

2015
December 30, 2015 – Mountain High Suckers Voluntarily Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
December 21, 2015 – EdiPure Recalls Additional Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
December 16, 2015 – RevTec Voluntarily Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
December 11, 2015 – Advanced Medical Alternatives Recalls Additional Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
December 8, 2015 – EdiPure Recalls Additional Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
December 3, 2015 – Advanced Medical Alternatives Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
December 1, 2015 – EdiPure Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
November 18, 2015 – Gaia’s Garden Recalls Additional Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
November 17, 2015 – Lab710 Concentrates Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Pesticide Residues
November 3, 2015 – Gaia’s Garden Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Possible Pesticide Residues
October 30, 2015 – Green Cross Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Possible Pesticide Residues
October 21, 2015 – Nature’s Cure Recalls Marijuana Products Due to Possible Pesticide Residues
October 14, 2015 – Two Denver Cultivation Facilities Recall Marijuana Products Due to Possible Pesticide Residues
September 25, 2015 – Consumer Advisory Issued for Autopilot Capsules Manufactured by Rx Green
September 18, 2015 – Two Denver Businesses Recall Marijuana Products Due to Possible Pesticide Residue
September 10, 2015 – Mahatma Concentrates Recalls Marijuana Product Due to Possible Pesticide Residues
July 27, 2015 – Consumer Advisory Issued for Nature’s Herbs Olive Oil
July 17, 2015 – Advisory: The Growing Kitchen Issues Recall of Mary Mint Tincture