What’s Up with the Recent Cannabis Recalls?
Hey there, Missouri Cannabis Community! If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news or visiting your local dispensary, you might have noticed some buzz (and not the good kind) about a few different cannabis product recalls. These recalls can feel like a big deal, but it’s all about staying informed, so let’s break down what’s been happening, why it’s important, and what it means for all of us.
What You Need to Know
In 2024, Missouri has seen three major cannabis product recalls, each for different reasons but all with the same goal: keeping cannabis consumers safe.
First Recall: The first round of recalls involved products from NGWMO, LLC. The issue? These products weren’t tested at the final stage, meaning they didn’t go through the full safety check before hitting the shelves. Because of their failure to properly meet compliance standards, Twenty Twenty products were removed from shelves and stored as we all wait for more information from the state.
Second Recall: Next up, C&C Manufacturing LLC had some of their products pulled from dispensaries. The reason? They didn’t track their products properly in the state’s Metrc system. Without this tracking, the state can’t be sure these products are up to the state’s standards for consumption which includes testing for heavy metals, various fungi and other potentially harmful foreign bodies.
Third Recall: The most recent recall, announced at the start of Labor Day weekend, affected Blue Sky Health & Wellness, LLC. Just like the second recall, this one was all about tracking—or the lack thereof. Without proper tracking, the state couldn’t verify that these products, including many under the Show Me brand, were safe.
Which Products Are Affected?
Here’s what you need to know about the products involved:
NGWMO, LLC: They had to recall various flower products and pre-rolls under the brand Twenty Twenty. These were supposed to be tested but didn’t make it through the final safety check.
C&C Manufacturing LLC: This recall hit concentrates, especially those sold under the GOAT brand. Though many other products were impacted under other brands because C&C sold distillate to other manufacturing companies which was then used to create a variety of infused products.
Blue Sky Health & Wellness, LLC: This recall is extensive, impacting 37 brands. Among these, 41 Show Me products were identified as non-compliant, including gummies, vapes, and disposable distillate carts. Because Blue Sky Health & Wellness was also selling distillate to other companies, a large array of infused products and distillate vapes have been included.
What Does This Mean for Missouri’s Cannabis Scene?
Recalls always create unease. Something I like to tell people when talking about all of the recalls here in Missouri is that, so far, these have not been like an FDA recall. When the FDA recalls a product there is typically an onslaught of adverse reactions that have been reported. These recalls have not had any adverse reactions reported. While this doesn’t mean that you should ignore these warnings from the state by any means, it certainly does not call for immense concern yet.
Consumer Confidence: We all want to trust that what we’re buying is safe. These recalls remind us how important it is for everyone in the industry to stick to the rules and keep quality at the forefront of our business practices. Since many of the products were impacted because the original company sold distilled cannabis oil to other companies for further manufacturing, it’s important to remember that many of the brands involved did not know that the distillate was improperly tracked.
Impact on Businesses: For the companies involved, these recalls mean pulling products off the shelves and working hard to rebuild trust. It’s a tough spot, but one that’s crucial for the long-term health of the industry. Since many of the products caught up in these recalls were through secondary brands, there is likely a lot of internal frustration in the industry at the moment.
More Eyes on Compliance: With these recalls, you can bet the state is going to be watching more closely. It’s likely we’ll see stricter enforcement to make sure everyone’s playing by the rules.
Looking Ahead
Missouri’s cannabis industry is still growing, and these recalls are an unfortunate part of the process. As we move forward, it’s all about learning from these experiences and making sure the industry stays strong.
These recalls can have a large impact on the products that are available in dispensaries. When visiting, try to be flexible with your budtenders as they might not have access to the products you typically purchase.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights, and as always, if you want to stay in the loop, follow me on Instagram @mocannamarketing!
This is a perfect breakdown. Thanks for for the info!