Regulated cannabis comes with many promises, like access to clean, unadulterated products. Regulatory agencies that test products and issue recalls keep that promise. Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) recently issued voluntary recalls for two popular vape brands.
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Michigan cannabis recalls: check your vapes
Red, White, and Bloom (RWB) Platinum Vape flavors and BLOOM vapes tested positive for medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) in the last few months. MCT oil is a cutting agent used to thin oil and make it easier to vape. Assessments pointed to it as one of a few potential causes for the 2019 vape crisis.
At the time, patients continued presenting with shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain. Vaping in the three months prior was the only commonality between them. Vitamin E acetate pointed to as a main cause for the outreak, but MCT oil still fell out of vogue.
The RWB recall impacted Garlic Cookie, Blazing Blue Cheese, Banana Candy, and Grape Valley Kush flavors around the state. The full list is available on the CRA website.
This week recalls touched BLOOM Classic and BLOOM Live brand vapes, impacting: Alien Jack, Blue Dream, Cereal Milk, Champagne Kush, Durban Gelato, Face Off OG, Forbidden Fruit, Green Crack, Jack Herer, Maui Wowie, Pineapple Express, Pineapple Sherbert, Rainbow Runtz, Skywalker, and White Widow.
Brand parent Exhale Systems Inc. is finding stores where recalled products are being sold, retrieving, and disposing of them. Those who purchased any of these BLOOM vapes after September 2024 should return impacted products to the sales location or dispose of them.
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Voluntary recall highlights need for safeguards
These recalls would not have happened without a recent update to testing regulations. The additive was not banned until June 2024, and it went into effect the following October.
“From a public health and safety standpoint, the potential for adverse effects with MCT oil underscores the importance of safety guidelines for product development,” said CRA executive director Brian Hanna in a press statement about the testing update.
Michigan cannabis companies had months to abide by the new rules against MCT oil in vapes. Now, the regulatory agency is coming to call.
“We appreciate the cooperation of RWB Michigan LLC, multiple licensed laboratories, and the CRA staff that worked together in support of this voluntary recall,” Hanna concluded.
