Massachusetts Issues Safety Guidelines for ‘Ground Cannabis Dust’

Regulators with the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) on Wednesday released new health and safety guidelines for the cannabis industry in an official bulletin dubbing “ground cannabis dust” a hazardous material.

The regulations come nearly three years after the death of Lorna McMurrey, a 27-year-old cannabis worker who suffered a fatal asthma attack while working at a Trulieve cannabis processing facility in Massachusetts. Trulieve, a Florida-based company, later agreed to a $14,502 settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) over McMurrey’s death.

“All Licensees should be aware that ground cannabis dust is a hazardous chemical and that OSHA has issued citations to Licensees who have failed to evaluate and classify accordingly. Licensees should evaluate the workplace safety and health risks including, but not limited to, skin and respiratory sensitization by an allergen associated with ground Cannabis dust generated during the Processing of Marijuana in their workplace.” — Excerpt from the bulletin

Additionally, the CCC noted that state law requires cannabis operators to “follow written workplace safety and health standard operating procedures and take necessary steps to ensure safety for employees.”

“All licensees, like any business, are required to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and are subject to oversight from OSHA,” the CCC said.

Meanwhile, the CCC last month issued fines totaling $165,000 to two of the state’s largest cannabis companies, Curaleaf and Ascend Wellness, for violations including improper pesticide use and failing to follow the state’s seed-to-sale tracking program.