A recall is underway for marijuana products sold in New York.
New York's Office of Cannabis Management is issuing the recall on multiple products produced by IndoGrow LLC, and it is just precautionary at this point. The products were sold at dispensaries throughout the state.
Investigators say the products failed testing due to the presence of unallowable pesticides.
Happy Days Dispensary President Paul Lepore says his Farmingdale-based dispensary did not sell any of the recalled products.
"On that notice, it stated that there is not a direct risk for health and human safety with this recall,” he said. "However, it was a pesticide that was not allowed."
He says this is one of the larger recalls he has seen from OCM and signals a more proactive approach from the agency.
"It looks like they're really starting to take [...] an approach to really vet every single product that's on the market, which is a good thing,” said Lepore.
Lepore says it’s important for people to check the certificates of authenticity on products they buy from licensed dispensaries, and says Happy Days teaches customers what the testing means.
Still, news of the recall has been met with criticism from some substance abuse advocates.
Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence executive director Steve Chassman worries how OCM could have let these products hit the shelves across New York.
"We need tighter oversight from that Office of Cannabis Management,” he said. "There were potentially harmful pesticides used in the growing, and manufacturing, and/or packaging of these products."
He says the recall highlights kinks in OCM’s oversight.
"Without good oversight from our government, in this case the Office of Cannabis Management, it really is comprising, if not impairing, public health,” said Chassman.
Below are the products impacted:
Licensee | License Number | Product | Lot number |
IndoGrow LLC | OCM-MICR-000099 | The Force Pre-Roll | SWDV01 |
IndoGrow LLC | OCM-MICR-000099 | Blue Coffee Flower | IC099-001-BC |
IndoGrow LLC | OCM-MICR-000099 | Blue Coffee Pre-Roll | IC099-BC1-PR |
IndoGrow LLC | OCM-MICR-000099 | Sour Runtz Flower | IC099-001-SR |
IndoGrow LLC | OCM-MICR-000099 | Sour Runts Pre-Roll | IC099-SR1-PR |
IndoGrow LLC | OCM-MICR-000099 | Cosmic Burst Flower | PPPG01 |
IndoGrow LLC | OCM-MICR-000099 | Oreoz Flower | IC099-001-OR |
IndoGrow LLC | OCM-MICR-000099 | Oreoz Pre-Roll | IC099-OR1-PR |
IndoGrow LLC | OCM-MICR-000099 | Secret Formula Flower | IC099-001-SF |