20 marijuana dispensaries statewide found to have products with mold, including in Pioneer Valley

GREENFIELD — The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), the state’s regulatory body for marijuana products, said it will continue to raise its standards for testing after cannabis contaminated with mold and mildew was reported in more than 20 dispensaries, including those in Greenfield, Montague, Northampton and Easthampton.

Last week, the CCC issued a health and safety advisory warning the public of contaminated cannabis flower and pre-rolled joints that had been sold at retailers between May 31 and Jan. 23. Smokey Leaf LLC and Patriot Care LLC in Greenfield had both shelved and sold the molded cannabis, as well 253 Organic LLC in Montague, Enlite Cannabis Dispensary LLC in Northampton and Easthampton Holistic Industries LLC.

According to the CCC, the products had previously passed required compliance testing between March and June 2024; however, further testing found that the samples had a presence of yeast and mold above the state’s acceptable limits.

“Consumers and patients are urged to check whether any of the affected products are currently in their possession,” the CCC wrote in the notice. “Consumers and patients that possess any of the affected products may destroy it or return it to the store where they purchased it for disposal.”

Last week’s advisory stated there had not been any reported illnesses from the contaminated cannabis, and an emailed response from a CCC spokesperson would not confirm whether there have been any reports of illness from the cannabis since that time.

The spokesperson stated that the CCC in December approved an administrative order requiring all licensees to submit one test sample package to a single Information Technology Library for compliance testing of marijuana and marijuana products, in accordance with the agency’s regulations and testing protocols, a move that intends to standardize cannabis safety testing.

“The administrative order is one of several tools the agency is using to update testing guidelines as the legal marketplace expands,” the spokesperson explained. “Massachusetts’ cannabis testing landscape will continue to evolve as the regulated industry matures. The agency remains vigilant in its efforts to ensure consumers and patients have access to fully-tested, safe products in the legal marketplace.”

The CCC also stated that it could not comment further on the advisory due to an “open investigation.”

Aman Kaur, who owns the Smokey Leaf dispensary on Bank Row in Greenfield, said in an interview Wednesday that the contaminated cannabis was placed in quarantine following the commission’s advisory.

Kaur noted that given the popularity of Strane, the affected cannabis brand, she plans to continue purchasing from the grower once the contamination issue is resolved. She said Smokey Leaf has not received any complaints of illness regarding the cannabis.

“We usually never have any issues with them. This was kind of surprising to us as well, but from the grower’s perspective, just because something was contaminated, that doesn’t mean all their products are contaminated,” Kaur said. “I’m sure they’ll take better quality measures on their side, and we’ll all take a break from ordering all that stuff.”

Efforts to reach representatives of Patriot Care LLC and 253 Organic LLC were unsuccessful by press time.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.