Over the summer, the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) issued a stop order for the production of caffeine-infused cannabis pills manufactured by Hudson Cannabis for cannabis brand 1906, the New York Post reports. In a July 24 OCM “quarantine” reviewed by the Post, two OCM inspectors said that “Evidence supports that ingredients used in product are not allowed to be used in cannabis products.”
The quarantined products include “Go” – a tincture which contains 80 milligrams of caffeine, 2 milligrams of THC and 5 milligrams of CBD – and “Genius,” a pill that includes 20 milligrams of caffeine, 2.5 milligrams of THC, and 5 milligrams of CBD and CBG. Both products have been on the market since February 2023, the report says. The order states that the products “may jeopardize public health or safety.”
In a statement to the Post, Melany Dobson, co-founder of Hudson Cannabis, said the company is “surprised by this decision from the State to quarantine products that have been on the market for over 18 months, are sold legally in States across the nation, and as far as we know have had zero reported adverse effects.”
“This type of arbitrary and capricious behavior, preventing the sale of safe and tested products readily available across the country, only serves to benefit the illicit market Governor (Kathy) Hochul claims to care about shutting down.” — Dobson to the Post
According to state regulations, infusing pure caffeine into cannabis products is not permitted but “naturally occurring caffeine” is allowed.
“A processor is prohibited from processing any products which… contain any non-phytocannabinoid ingredient that would increase potency, toxicity, or addictive potential, or that would create an unsafe combination, known or unknown, with other psychoactive substances,” the rule states. “This prohibition shall not apply to products containing naturally occurring caffeine, such as coffee, tea, or chocolate.”
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