Vermont regulators removed marijuana potentially contaminated with a pesticide from five retail stores after a consumer reported feeling ill after a light smoke.
The Vermont Cannabis Control Board issued a consumer protection advisory last week for all strains of marijuana produced by grower Holland Cannabis Co. due to pesticide contamination. Customers who purchased Holland Cannabis-grown marijuana at the five particular stores are being asked to return it to the retailers.
The stores are Zenbarn, in Waterbury; The High Country Cannabis, in Derby; The Green Man, in St. Johnsbury; Lamoille County Cannabis, in Morrisville, and Capital Cannabis Company, in Montpelier.
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The person who bought marijuana at the Derby store reported headaches, stomach aches and nausea, James Pepper, chairman of the Cannabis Control Board, said Friday. That product was tested and found to contain the fungicide myclobutanil, which is banned in legal cannabis cultivation, Pepper said. Samples from the other four retailers are being tested and the board expects to have some results as soon as Monday, he said.
“I think this next round of testing will rule out some of the questions that are still open and then we can take appropriate action against the person responsible,” Pepper said.
Vermont regulators have removed potentially contaminated marijuana from several stores in the state.
Using an unauthorized pesticide is a violation that leads to automatic destruction of contaminated products and a penalty, Pepper said.
Brice Simon, an attorney representing Holland Cannabis, said his client is fully cooperating with the board and wants to find the source of the contamination, whether it occurred before or after the product left the grower.
Among other things, growers must have their products tested for pesticides, potency and pathogens, Pepper said.
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Holland Cannabis had a clean test for marijuana, which Pepper is now calling suspect.
“I think we’ll rule out whether that was accidental or lucky, you know, versus intentional or negligent,” Pepper said.
He said the producer had applied for state registration but had not yet been approved. Simon said the approval of the records was supported and that Holland Cannabis was not illegally selling marijuana.
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In December, Oregon recalled some marijuana products due to pesticide contamination and in 2021, the Arizona Department of Health Services announced that dispensaries would voluntarily recall eight marijuana products due to possible contamination after Salmonella and Aspergillus fungi in some samples.
