Cannabis Insider Report Uncovers Systemic Public Health Failures in New York’s Adult-Use Market
Sept. 20, 2023
By Brad Racino
A NY Cannabis Insider investigation has uncovered systemic public health failures at every level of the state’s legal cannabis industry, from farmers to labs to state regulators, that experts say may pose a serious health threat to consumers.
Top-selling weed strains, available at licensed dispensaries from Western New York to Manhattan, contain microbial levels 10-250 times higher than what’s allowed under the state’s rules for medical cannabis.
“The majority of these products should not have been allowed to be sold to consumers and may pose a serious health threat,” said Sarah Ahrens, founder and CEO of New Jersey cannabis testing company True Labs for Cannabis.
Among NY Cannabis Insider’s findings:
The state’s requirement that weed be grown outside – and not indoors – has led to high levels of bacteria, yeast and mold among products that experts say should not reach consumers.
Despite its public health and safety mandate, state regulators have maintained a relatively hands-off approach to enforcement and have left it up to farmers – who are struggling to survive – to decide whether their products are safe.
Dozens of publicly available test results show state-certified labs have consistently broken the rules for reporting pesticides, heavy metals and other contaminants.
A necessary medical notice at this point: Health risks associated with smoking or consuming contaminated weed can include allergic reactions, sickness and, in extreme cases, death. Those most susceptible to pesticide and microbial contaminants include women of reproductive age, immunocompromised patients with cancer and HIV, and patients with seizures and epilepsy.
The Office of Cannabis Management is responsible for the rules around adult-use and medical cannabis, and the agency does not agree that NY Cannabis Insider’s findings indicate a significant health concern.
“A high yeast and mold count does not equate to a threat to public health,” said OCM spokesperson Aaron Ghitelman. “Growing cannabis outdoors is not much different than growing tomatoes or corn or lettuce; it’s a natural environment with microorganisms.”
Read the full article at Syracuse.com (NY Cannabis Insider)