The Mississippi State Department of Health placed “a large number” of cannabis products on hold to retest for pesticides and mycotoxins just before the Christmas holiday.
The health department announced the administrative hold on Dec. 21. “The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program is committed to upholding the highest standards of product quality and patient safety. Please know that the MMCP is working diligently to resolve this matter and will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available,” the statement said.
The Mississippi Free Press reported the hold was based on an anonymous tip claiming that Rapid Analytics, a lab in Natchez Miss., is allegedly not testing for pesticides properly. All products are now being retested by Steep Hill Mississippi, the article said.
On Dec. 12, the Clarion Ledger reported that Cliff Osbon, president and co-founder of Steep Hill Mississippi, said that products with toxic pesticides are widely available in the state. The lab also claimed that some products had high levels of delta-9 THC.
“We cannot confirm the report of any company or circumstances as our investigation continues,” said Greg Flynn, MSDH director of external affairs and media relations, in an email.
Rapid Analytics and Steep Hill’s Osbon did not respond to questions and requests for comment by deadline.
“Absolutely NO products tested by Steep Hill of Missisippi [sic] are affected by the Department of Health recent quarantine action,” Steep Hill said on LinkedIn. Steep Hill Mississippi is an alias for Chromatic LLC, based in Flowood, Miss. Canada-based Steep Hill Inc. is no longer in business.
No health concerns as regulators rush to retest
Flynn said there are no health concerns at this time and no reports of any illnesses by patients.
He said “a large number” of products were on hold, but he did not specify the amount or brands. All dispensaries that sell products containing particular lot or batch numbers are affected.
Flynn clarified this is a hold and retest, not a recall, and products will be released for sale as batches are cleared. They are attempting to complete the retesting “as quickly as possible,” but no batches have been cleared, he said on Dec. 28.
Retesting is being conducted at licensed medical cannabis testing facilities with validated testing methods approved by MSDH. There are five licensed labs in the state, including Steep Hill Mississippi, but only two “are able to complete the comprehensive tests required by MSDH regulations,” Flynn said.
“Retesting is being prioritized based on the type/category of medical cannabis products. For example, cannabis flower/bud will be tested first because it serves as the base for many of the products, followed by concentrates and infused products. As batches of products are cleared, they will be removed from the hold, and be back on the market,” MSDH said in a Dec. 27 update.
“Through the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system, the agency can isolate the batch and lot numbers associated with this administrative hold and expedite the retesting. Our tracking system is an invaluable tool to assist with regulatory compliance and overall product safety,” said Laura Goodson, director of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program, in the update.
The MSDH said patients should contact dispensaries to see what’s available.
Consultant Hardy Case told the Mississippi Free Press that it’s “kind of a nightmare scenario for many dispensaries and patients,” and some cultivators and dispensaries may shut down as a result.
Mississippi legalized medical marijuana in 2022. As of Dec. 22, there were 202 active dispensary licenses awarded by the Mississippi Department of Revenue and 138 cultivators licensed by the MSDH, according to the CRB Monitor database.
