Michigan State Department Recalls Medical Cannabis Products
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]M[/dropcap]ichigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has issued another recall for medical cannabis products that have failed laboratory testing. This would be the state’s fourth health and safety advisory that has been issued for cannabis recently. All the products that have been recalled by the state have been provided by registered caregivers to provisioning centers.
The affected products were sold between Dec. 14, 2018 and Jan. 3 at Indica, LLC, located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Several of the samples failed the lab test due to the presence of chemicals, yeast and mold residue and residual solvents.
Indica is required to notify all of its patients and caregivers about the recall immediately. Patients who purchased the affected items have been urged to return them to Indica LLC for proper disposal.
Due to a shortage of cannabis for registered patients, LARA’s Medical Marihuana Licensing Board voted on Dec. 7, 2018 to allow caregiver product. Any product still on the shelves beginning Jan. 1 was required to undergo laboratory testing for chemical residue, microbes, metals, residual solvents, toxins from fungus and more, conducted at a state-licensed safety compliance facility. The results include one voluntary recall and three mandatory recalls of caregiver marijuana product, including the one issued on Jan. 18 for not meeting state standards.
Seed-to-sale testing of cannabis product from licensed growers is mandatory, while testing of product from caregivers is now voluntary. On Jan. 16, the Medical Marihuana Licensing Board extended the deadline by three months for unlicensed medical marijuana facilities to continue operating, until March 31, provided they applied for a license by last February’s deadline and are located in a city that allows it. However, if a facility becomes aware of any testing failures or adverse effects, they are required to report it by law.
Consent forms are available for those who choose to buy cannabis product that hasn’t been tested. Patients can also have cannabis products tested at a state-licensed compliance facility. The consent form and list of state-licensed facilities is on the LARA website.
