HUGE cannabis flower recall going on in Colorado from 144 dispensaries, check the list for yours

Moldy bud from Bonsai Cultivation is being pulled ASAP

Vices By Will Brendza

Flower, shake, pre-rolls and trim from the cannabis company, Bonsai Cultivation, are being ripped off of shelves throughout Colorado. Fears over elevated levels of mold and yeast in their product has forced the company to voluntarily recall all of their flower, this week — and it’s affecting a lot of local businesses throughout the state.

Many of which, are already struggling with a state-wide flower shortage.

“DDPHE opened an investigation after identifying multiple samples of marijuana plant material had failed total yeast and mold sampling from multiple retail store locations.” Says a press release from the City and County of Denver.

144 different dispensaries, 11 manufacturing facilities and three cultivation facilities all received weed from Bonsai Cultivation, that now needs to be pulled and disposed of.

“DDPHE is investigating this issue and overseeing the recall process to remove potentially contaminated products from commercial circulation,” assures the press release.

When a person smokes moldy pot, they can inhale thousands (even millions) of mold spores which can nestle down and root into the depths of their lungs — it can cause lung infections, infections in other organs and serious allergic reactions.

It’s bad news. Which is why Bonsai Cultivation stepped up so quickly, took responsibility and recalled their flower. No business in the business of pot wants to make people sick. It’s not just bad PR, it’s a matter of principal: marijuana is a medicine. No self-respecting producer would want to make their users sick.

And, avoiding liability is always a good thing.

“Consumers with concerns about their personal health should contact their physician with related questions,” the press release explains. “Any consumers who experienced symptoms of illness after smoking, vaping, or other consumption method of plant material purchased from Bonsai Cultivation are also urged to contact DDPHE at: phicomments@denvergov.org.”

This recall comes amid a state-wide cannabis flower shortage that is already affecting a lot of dispensaries around the state. Some of these stores have even had to put their flower on pre-order — and when flower represents roughly half of a dispensary’s income, that is a troubling situation.

Now, with this recall on top of that shortage, there are surely some dispensaries looking at their margins with trepidation.

But they aren’t the only businesses who should be worried. A recall like this one can sound like a death knell for the producers who are responsible. Bonsai Cultivation did the right thing by agreeing to recall their flower when they were given the opportunity — but that might not be enough to save their business. Undoubtedly, this has been a bad week at the office for those guys. But it's an important lesson, for them and for other cultivators out there: don't cut corners, spend the money and test your product before you ship it out to stores.

As for you, the consumers, check the list below to see if your dispensary was one of the 144 that had Bonsai Cultivation’s flower on their shelves. If you shop at one of these places consistently, check your bud. If it’s got the OPC code, 403R-00228 and/or was purchased prior to 10/14/19, toss it. I know, that might feel like a crime — but it’s for your own good.