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State warns of contaminated marijuana from testing lab that was temporarily closed

Tabitha Mueller
Tabitha Mueller
IndyBlogMarijuana
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Pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes on display

Twenty marijuana products that passed microbial tests conducted by the independent marijuana testing facility CANNEX Nevada LLC failed secondary microbial tests as part of a follow-up investigation after the state temporarily closed the testing lab in December

The Department of Taxation announced the microbial testing failure in a public health and safety advisory on Friday after the department suspended CANNEX in December for clearing contaminated marijuana products.

In the advisory, the department said 30 marijuana dispensaries scattered throughout the state sold the contaminated products during a roughly three-month period — between Oct. 25 and Jan. 16 — and test results showed the contaminated products contained yeast, mold, aspergillus and other potentially harmful bacteria.

“There are no known reports of illness. Health impacts from yeast and mold, bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria, coliforms and aspergillus may exist,” the advisory said.

The Department of Taxation announced the microbial testing failure in a public health and safety advisory on Friday after the department suspended CANNEX in December for clearing contaminated marijuana products.

In the advisory, the department said 30 marijuana dispensaries scattered throughout the state sold the contaminated products during a roughly three-month period — between Oct. 25 and Jan. 16 — and test results showed the contaminated products contained yeast, mold, aspergillus and other potentially harmful bacteria.

“There are no known reports of illness. Health impacts from yeast and mold, bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria, coliforms and aspergillus may exist,” the advisory said. 

The department suggested that consumers with concerns should visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website for information on how contaminants may affect people or contact their physician.

The announcement arrived two weeks after the state settled with two marijuana companies accused of regulatory violations, and after Gov. Steve Sisolak named the first three members of the Cannabis Compliance Board — a board designed to regulate Nevada's emerging legal cannabis industry. 

Last month, the department sent out an update on the suspension. To resume microbial testing, CANNEX needed to comply with a plan of correction that required CANNEX to revise and update its standard operating procedures, method of verifying microbial testing and ensure laboratory cleanliness, along with making other changes.

A staff member from CANNEX said the business is open but declined to answer questions about the testing facility or specifics related to the state’s investigation.

Department spokeswoman Eden Collings told The Nevada Independent on Tuesday, "the Division has not authorized CANNEX Nevada LLC to resume testing for microbials." She would not provide further comment on the ongoing investigation.

This story was updated at 9:30 a.m. to add comments from the Department of Taxation.

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