The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) issued a recall last week for a batch of cannabis flower from a Bend-based producer that tested positive for arsenic, Central Oregon Daily reports. The OLCC issued an advisory warning to retailers to stop selling a batch of Bend Cannabis Company’s Blueberry Muffin flower and for consumers to avoid consuming it.
The batch was harvested in December 2022 and tested in January 2023, and no sales have been made since June 23. The licensee was in accordance with state testing requirements, but the OLCC issued the recall after the flower tested positive for heavy metals at levels that risk public health and safety. All sales of the product also used a “generic logo,” so packaging didn’t include any brand items of logos.
Arsenic is a carcinogen and has the potential to cause a number of diseases. Cannabis as a plant can efficiently absorb and store heavy metals and other pollutants in soil and water, increasing the risk that cannabis users may ingest or inhale heavy metals. Ultimately, this can damage the kidneys and nervous system, while also increasing the risk of some cancers.
Consumers who have purchased the recalled products have been told to destroy them, and the OLCC has worked with retailers directly to cease all sales of the flower.
Earlier this week, the Bend Cannabis Company issued a statement on the recall, noting that it applied to a small amount of flower sold at one Bend location.
“The OLCC has recently recalled our Blueberry Muffin strain of flower. Although we commend the OLCC on pursuing public safety, there were many details surrounding the recall that should be clarified,” the statement begins. The company clarified that the recall was for one-third of a pound of flower at the single location, grown organically “only using water and organic soil.”
Growers used soil that is “commonly used in this industry and widely available at most local garden supply stores,” according to the company. The statement also notes that the product was not required to be tested, but the company elected to do so anyway, “in the interest of being able to successfully implement the upcoming changes to testing requirements.” According to Bend Cannabis Company, the test results were 0.266 parts per million, compared to Oregon’s 0.2 threshold.
“The threshold in Washington and Colorado for the same arsenic heavy metal test is 10 parts per million. Oregon’s limits on arsenic are about 50 times more strict than these other states,” the statement continues. “We have addressed the issue and have worked with a new soil manufacturer to ensure heavy metals are not present in our flower or soil that is in production now. Thank you, Bend Cannabis Company”
The OLCC has issued a number of product recalls over the past year, including 22,000 cannabis concentrates in December due to the potential presence of pesticides. It applied to 9,300 units still on the market and an additional 13,600 units already sold to customers, and the products were manufactured by OLCC licensees operating as Bobsled and Quantum Alchemy.
Just last month, the OLCC also recalled cannabis flower from three producers that tested positive for mold and heavy metals. The issue was identified during a routine audit of inventory in Oregon’s Cannabis Tracking System on June 21. According to KTVZ, the product was sold through various batches of cannabis flower and pre-rolls by about 75 different Oregon recreational cannabis retailers to consumers from January through June 2023.
The recall applies to a number of strains and harvests from Greenworks Farms, Nectar Markets and Rebel Spirit. All batches were harvested before March 1, 2023 in compliance with existing requirements, though subsequent quality control tests revealed the presence of contaminants and heavy metals at levels that could be hazardous to consumers.
The OLCC hasn’t received any health-related complaints yet, though it advises any concerned individuals to contact their medical providers or seek help from the Oregon Poison Center.
