Cannabis Products Recalled in Maine Over Mold and Bacteria Concerns

Fears for consumer health and safety instigated the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) to order a recall for various cannabis products offered in the state (1). Some of the type of products included were blunts, pre-ground adult use cannabis flower, and pre-rolls.

Nova Farms manufactured the products, and a cannabis strain called “Frosted Cookies”. They were supplied to 14 adult use retail locations located throughout Brunswick, Columbia, Greenville Junction, Lebanon, Lisbon, Mechanic Falls, Medway, Newport, Portland, Presque Isle, South Portland, and Turner (1).

According to WGME (1), “The OCP says the products are being recalled due to failure of microbials (aerobic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae) and yeast and mold.” The OCP also mentioned that inhaling cannabis that has unsafe levels of mold or bacteria could cause various symptoms such as, allergies, fatigue, headaches, sinus issues, dizziness, and flu-like symptoms.

If a consumer purchased the Nova Farms products, the items should be thrown out or returned back to the retailer they were purchased from (1). Similar to other consumer goods, the cannabis products are supplied a batch number to help them be identified. The recalled cannabis products were in stores to be purchased between September 17, 2024 and October 8, 2024.

The recall affected the below products and locations (1,2):

Product Information

Strain name: Frosted Cookies

Batch number: 1A40D0300002329000005185

Dates sold: September 28, 2024 – October 6, 2024

Product types:

• Single pre-rolls: 1.5-gram and 3-gram
• 4-pack blunts: 1-gram

Strain name: Frosted Cookies

Batch number: 1A40D0300002329000005191

Dates sold: September 17, 2024 – October 8, 2024

Product types:

• 1/8-ounce, 1/2-ounce, and 1-ounce pre-ground flower
• 0.5-gram, 1-gram, 1.5-gram, and 3-gram single pre-rolls
• 0.5-gram pre-rolls sold in 5-packs
• 0.5-gram pre-rolls sold in 56-packs
• 1-gram single blunts
• 0.5-gram blunts sold in 4-packs

Retail Store Information

• Store name / license: Budz Emporium / AMS813
• Location: 1995 Medway Rd, Medway, ME 04460
• Store name / license: Camp Cannabis / AMS1328
• Location: 470 Auburn Rd, Turner, ME 04282
• Store name / license: Columbia Recreational Marijuana / AMS1243
• Location: 265 US-1, Columbia, ME 04623
• Store name / license: Foliage ME / AMS386
• Location: 446 Western Ave, South Portland, ME 04106
• Store name / license: Frosted Fire / AMS1530
• Location: 230 Warren Ave, Portland, ME 04103
• Store name / license: Gram's Five & Dime Cannabis Co. / AMS1315
• Location: 36 Moosehead Trail Suite 1, Newport, ME 04953
• Store name / license: Nova Farms Maine / AMS625
• Location: 22 Rockwood Rd, Greenville Junction, ME 04442
• Store name / license: OMG Cannabis Co. / AMS400
• Location: 47 India St Suite C, Portland, ME 04101
• Store name / license: Pot of Gold / AMS1317
• Location: 1104 Carl Broggi Hwy Unit A, Lebanon, ME 04027
• Store name / license: River Driver Cannabis Co. / AMS571
• Location: 132 Church Rd, Brunswick, ME 04011
• Store name / license: River Driver Cannabis Co. / AMS1180
• Location: 8 Main St, Lisbon, ME 04252
• Store name / license: Royal Leaf Apothecary / AMS416
• Location: 415 Main St, Presque Isle, ME 04769
• Store name / license: Shipwrecked at 420 / AMS1470
• Location: 360 Pleasant St, Mechanic Falls, ME 04256
• Store name / license: The Joint.me / AMS1182
• Location: 1140 Brighton Ave Suite C, Portland, ME 04102

References

1. St Pierre, A. Maine recalls certain cannabis products over mold, bacteria fears https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-recalls-certain-cannabis-products-over-mold-bacteria-fears-nova-farms-frosted-cookies-maine-office-of-cannabis-policy-adult-use-marijuana (accessed Oct 11, 2024).
2. Reed, R. Cannabis products sold at 14 Maine stores recalled by State https://www.wmtw.com/article/maine-cannabis-recall-nova-farms-products-14-stores/62581577 (accessed Oct 11, 2024).