The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) announced a safety advisory after health inspectors observed a spider mite infestation during a visit to Titan Health, marking the department’s first cannabis-related alert in three years.
The advisory is for cannabis flower potentially contaminated with spider mites produced and sold by Titan Health, LLC d/b/a ‘Uherbs.’ The DDPHE did not say when the inspection took place or when the contaminated product was harvested. The announcement issued by the DDPHE notes Titan Health said they had taken measures to address the issue but did not provide test results to show whether the final product was free from contaminants.
The advisory wasn’t issued by the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division, which handles product recalls in the state, but the DDPHE states the “DDPHE conducts inspections of cannabis product cultivation, manufacturers, and retail locations in Denver and investigates related complaints. As Denver’s local public health agency, DDPHE protects the health and wellbeing of consumers by continually assessing data, industry best practices, and emerging technologies surrounding the cannabis industry.” The DDPHE was not able to authorize product disposal in this case due to Titan Health being sold before court approval for a recall was received.
“Due to a district court-ordered receivership, DDPHE lacks authority to order disposal of the affected product without permission from the court, and the business has indicated it has sold the affected marijuana before DDPHE could obtain such approval,” according to the Denver Department of Excise & Licenses Department. “While some of the products sold by Titan Health, LLC d/b/a ‘Uherbs’ may not be affected by spider mites, DDPHE is unable to discern and advise on specific batches that are not affected.”
According to Excise & Licenses, Colorado cannabis laboratories do not test for spider mite biomass, web or excrement contaminants but are required to report cannabis with visible contamination. While the DDPHE reported there have been no illnesses or adverse reactions reported yet, both the DDPHE and the Marijuana Enforcement Division encourage consumers to seek medical attention and report the event to both divisions should they begin to feel sick after having ingested those products.
“There have been no reports of illness or adverse health reactions to date. The short- and long-term health effects of ingesting cannabis plant material affected by spider mite infestation have not been studied and are currently unknown. However, studies surrounding exposure to spider mites have indicated a potential increased risk of symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, or other respiratory illnesses.”
The DDPHE has previously issued a safety advisory for cannabis contaminated with spider mites in 2017, when Buddies Wellness LLC was named as the first cannabis grower in Denver to recall products due to mold and mite concerns. The department paused in-person inspections in 2020 due to pandemic-related employee cutbacks but resumed in the fall of 2022.
Spider mites are known to be one of the most common pests associated with growing cannabis and there are numerous ways of dealing with them. Researchers from the University of Florida published a study that showed UV lights can be effective in controlling spider mite infestations in strawberry crops. Another team of researchers has found a bio-pesticide made from safflower and cottonseed oils that has been effective against spider mites while also having no effect on a certain type of mite (Neoseiulus californicus) that naturally preys on spider mites. The bio-pesticide, named Suffoil, works by preventing a rotation process used by spider mite embryo to hatch from eggs. Since the spider mites’ natural predator doesn’t use the rotation process to hatch, Suffoil can be used together with natural predators to treat crops.
