Missouri’s cannabis industry is once again under the spotlight as it grapples with yet another massive cannabis product recall. Two recent recalls this month have amounted to over 135,000 products, leaving many companies in Missouri scrambling. This comes one year after the state’s first major cannabis product recall involving Delta Extraction, which recalled 62,000 products.
Latest Recalls
Last week, the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) announced significant cannabis product recalls affecting 135,000 marijuana products—more than double the number of products recalled last year. These products include vapes, edibles, and pre-rolled joints.
In a recent article highlighting the recalls by the Missouri Independent, Nick Rinella, CEO of Hippos Cannabis, said, “I’ve never seen recalls of this magnitude in any other state.” This has caused a major disruption for dispensaries and manufacturing facilities, which are now scrambling to quarantine the affected products.
The recall notice has put immense pressure on dispensaries and facilities. With some still holding products from last year’s recall, storage has become a significant issue. Mark Hendren, president of Flora Farms cannabis company, highlighted the problem in the Missouri Independent article, stating, “If a dispensary or facility has a small vault, and you have product that you have to quarantine, it makes it difficult space wise for you to bring in other inventory to keep the business moving.”
The first of two recall notices, issued on August 6, involved 2,650 products from NGWMO LLC, a cultivation facility run by Nature’s Grace and Wellness.
These products were recalled because they didn’t undergo compliant testing before being sold. Specifically, testers evaluated the products at the unprocessed bud/flower stage instead of the final marijuana product stage.
Three days later, on August 9th, Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation issued a second recall notice for 132,283 products from Springfield-based C&C Manufacturing LLC. The primary issue here was the failure to properly track these products in the state’s “seed to sale” tracing system, Metrc. Consequently, the DCR cannot verify their compliance with health and safety requirements. As of now, no adverse reactions have been reported so far in relation to these recalls.
Fallout from the Missouri Cannabis Product Recall
The recall has had a widespread impact, affecting numerous brands and products across the state. Many dispensaries are now awaiting further instructions from state regulators on what to do with the quarantined products.
The recall is particularly extensive because C&C Manufacturing specializes in making distillate, a THC concentrate used in edibles and vape pens. Other manufacturers across the state purchased this distillate to produce various products, contributing to the recall’s wide reach. The timeframe for the recall is also broad, extending back to last year when companies were ramping up for recreational marijuana sales.
Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) has two Excel sheets listing the recalled products—one for manufacturers and one for consumers, which you can find here. The DCR advises patients and consumers to stop using the recalled products and return them to the dispensary. Additionally, any adverse reactions should be reported to the division of cannabis by email or through an online complaint form.
Revisiting the First Major Recall, Delta Extraction
To understand the current situation fully, it’s essential to revisit the first major recall involving Delta Extraction, which occurred a year ago and had a list of 62,00 products recalled.
Like C&C Manufacturing, Delta Extraction’s recall focused on a distillate sold to numerous other manufacturers. The issue stemmed from the state’s failure to track the ingredients used to produce the distillate on Metrc. Delta sold a distillate primarily made of hemp-derived THC, sourced from hemp that wasn’t grown in Missouri and couldn’t be traced.
Delta Extraction’s recall has led to lawsuits and ongoing investigations. The company appealed both the recall and the revocation of their cannabis business license before the Administrative Hearing Commission, questioning whether the state has the authority to regulate hemp products. Despite three days of testimony and evidence presented in March, Commissioner Carol Illes has yet to release a decision.
Recent Regulatory Changes
In a related development, Governor Mike Parson recently signed an executive order banning intoxicating hemp products and threatening penalties for establishments selling them without proper tracking.
According to the order, licensed cannabis dispensaries cannot sell these products unless Missouri growers cultivate the hemp and track it through Metrc. This regulation directly affects products made by Delta Extraction using out-of-state hemp.
While these recalls have caused significant disruptions for businesses and consumers alike, they ultimately aim to ensure the safety and integrity of cannabis products in the state. As the industry continues to grow, it’s crucial for all stakeholders to stay informed and engaged.
