Pennsylvania’s Department of Health (DOH) announced they’d be reviewing vape products sold by licensed cannabis operators in the state. This resulted in a massive mandatory recall of over 700 cannabis vape products. This review and recall has Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana patients worried about their safety.
The Review to Recall
On November 16th, the Department of Health sent a message to all licensed cannabis business owners. It asked for them to submit all vape products containing certain additives for review. However, the list of additives included already approved products. Subsequently, the state’s DOH collected products state-wide from cannabis operators, including some of the biggest multi-state operators in the region.
Subsequently, on December 1st, the DOH announced the review to the public in an email to patients; this was sent at 11:12 PM EST. In the announcement, the DOH did not provide a reason as to why the additives caused concern; although, it referenced additive regulations in other states.
CLICK HERE TO REVIEW THE LIST OF RECALLED PA CANNABIS VAPE PRODUCTS
After that, Sunny D. Podolak, Assistant Director and Chief Compliance Officer with the DOH’s Office of Medical Marijuana, sent an email that specified that the phrase “additives” qualified as “artificial terpenes or flavorings.” Although the message’s intent was to clarify the DOH’s review, little information followed, confusing patients and cannabis operators.
Terpenes are naturally occurring compounds that give plants their flavor and aroma profile. Some cannabis growers add synthetic or botanical terpenes to their products to enhance a particular cannabis strain’s natural flavor.
Photo by The Cancer Institute via Unsplash
The Pennsylvania THC Vape Recall
After a months-long review of the vape products, the state’s DOH announced a mandatory recall of hundreds of products on February 4th.
“Although some of these added ingredients may be considered safe in other non-inhaled products, patient safety is the top priority of the Medical Marijuana Program.”
Via a memo by the PA Department of Health
In an email sent to all medical marijuana patients statewide, the Department of Health suggested that if you have used the recalled products, you can ask the people at your dispensary to help you find alternative products. Additionally, in the email, they stated that they are committed to continued access to safe and effective medical cannabis products.
The Impact of the Recall
Consequently, PurePenn and Curaleaf PA, among other Pennsylvania dispensaries, had to remove vape products that were on a withdrawal list. Additionally, the DOH released a list of known additives contained in one or more products on the withdrawal list. This allows consumers to see if their products are safe to inhale.
Certainly, the recall may impact businesses as they look at what products they want to sell in the future, and may impact consumers who enjoyed the products, now fearing their health has been put at risk. It is not clear as to whether there will be more recalls in Pennsylvania, but the department’s focus on vape products may inspire other tests of cannabis products that have additives.
CLICK HERE TO REVIEW THE LIST OF RECALLED PA CANNABIS VAPE PRODUCTS
“As far as immediate actions, Pennsylvania regulations certainly speak to mandatory recalls and the steps that grower-processors need to take in the event of a mandatory recall, which includes following the recall plan that should be in place already.”
Michael Sampson, partner at Leech Tishman in Pennsylvania and co-leader of the firm’s cannabis group
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