The Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) has issued a statewide health and safety recall for certain cannabis vape cartridges after discovering they contained unsafe levels of a toxic pesticide.
The recall, announced October 27, affects Yani brand adult-use live resin vape cartridges of the strain Watermelon Chimera, which were sold at 21 licensed cannabis retailers across Maine between July 10 and October 16. The products were available in both 0.5-gram and 1-gram cartridges and carry the batch number 1A40D0300006145000011115, printed on each package label.
According to the OCP, the recall was prompted by a consumer complaint involving an adverse health reaction. Subsequent state testing confirmed the batch contained elevated levels of chlorfenapyr, a pesticide that is prohibited for use in cannabis production.
“Inhaling cannabis contaminated with chlorfenapyr can cause serious symptoms including high fever, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and altered mental status,” the agency warned. Officials urged consumers who purchased the recalled products to stop using them immediately and either return them to the point of sale or dispose of them safely.
Those experiencing symptoms after using the affected cartridges are advised to contact a healthcare provider or call 911 in case of a medical emergency.
The OCP emphasized that all legal cannabis products in Maine must display a batch number to ensure traceability in cases like this. A photo of the product packaging, showing where to locate the batch code, was included in the recall notice on the agency’s website.
Retailers affected by the recall include multiple Cannabis Cured locations statewide, as well as shops such as GreenLife Milo, OMG Cannabis Co., and The Joint.me in Portland.
State regulators said they are continuing to investigate the contamination source and working with licensees to ensure that similar incidents are prevented in the future.
“This recall underscores why rigorous testing and transparency in the cannabis supply chain are essential to protecting public health,” the OCP said in its notice.
More information and a full list of affected retailers are available on the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy website.
Read the whole article from WMTW here.
