Recall Issued for Flower from One of Colorado’s Largest Operators

The Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) last week issued a recall for cannabis flower produced by LivWell Enlightened Health due to potentially unsafe levels of total yeast and mold. The enforcement action applies to the indica-dominant Gelato Cake #1 sold as pre-weighed half-ounce packages from December 30, 2021, through January 20, 2022.

“Consumers who have these affected products in their possession should destroy them or return them to the retail store from which they were purchased for proper disposal. Consumers who experience adverse health effects from consuming the product should seek medical attention immediately and report the event to the Marijuana Enforcement Division.” – MED in a press release

According to Westword, Livwell is one of the state’s largest dispensary chains with 19 retail and two medical shops in Colorado.

In a statement issued regarding the recall, LivWell’s VP of Marketing Chris Mapson said the company is “committed to delivering exceptional cannabis products to our customers.”

“We have strict production policies at our facilities to ensure that the products … meet the quality assurance testing standards required by Colorado law. While we serve thousands of patients and consumers every day, complaints are very rare. In January of this year, we received a customer inquiry about a small amount of cannabis flower. We immediately pulled the entire batch from which this originated and self-reported the incident to the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division,” Mapson said.

“Molds and other natural organisms are an inherent factor in the production and storage of agricultural products like cannabis. Everything we grow and make is tested by state-licensed, independent laboratories to ensure our products meet the [state’s] standards … for contaminants, including mold and other microorganisms, before they can be shipped to dispensaries and sold to consumers.”

“LivWell stands behind the quality and safety of all of our products. If there are questions or concerns, we encourage customers to reach out to us at info@livwell.com.”

In October 2021, LivWell agreed to a merger with PharmaCann Inc., which closed last month. LivWell Founder and CEO John Lord joined the PharmaCann board of directors following the deal’s completion, saying the agreement marked “the beginning of a new chapter.”

“The depth of experience, best practices, and track record of the combined companies will bring about an even better patient and customer experience,” he said in a statement.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed as both companies are private; however, in an interview with MJBizDaily, cannabis industry consultant Michael Mayes described the merger as “gigantic,” estimating the value in the “hundreds of millions.”

Editor’s note (3/17/22): This article was updated to add the statement by LivWell’s Chris Mapson.