A survey indicates that convenience stores and smoke shops in New York City are selling cannabis that has been polluted with hazardous bacteria. This comes at the same time as hundreds of applicants wait for approval of a license to legally sell recreational marijuana.
In November, the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association carried out a survey in which they examined forty different cannabis items from twenty different unauthorized outlets that advertise marijuana. According to the results of the tests, a good number of the products contained E. coli, salmonella, insecticides, and heavy metals.
According to the findings of the survey, the germs were present in both cannabis flowers and edible items. Salmonella infections can result in a variety of symptoms, including fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping, as stated by the CDC.
According to the survey, forty percent of the illegal THC products were unable to pass at least one of the regular tests that are conducted to legal cannabis products. According to the poll, when asked about the place of origin for their product, seventy-five percent of the companies answered California or the West Coast.
There are “possibly tens of thousands of criminal cannabis enterprises” operating in New York City, according to the New York City Marijuana Industry Association (NYCMIA), the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association, and the Connecticut Medical Cannabis Council.
According to the New York Post, the president of the NYMCIA, Ngiste Abebe, made the following statement regarding the report’s findings: “The findings are profoundly troubling and emphasize the significant hazards posed by unscrupulous firms acting outside the law.”
“To realize the promise of a socially fair adult-use market, in addition to New York’s responsibility to safeguard the health and safety of its citizens, the state also has a responsibility to protect the health and safety of its residents. Neither objective can be achieved without more stringent enforcement measures taken against dishonest actors.”
Consumers not only have to be concerned about the potential health risks posed by consuming potentially contaminated marijuana, but also about the potentially deceptive packaging of THC products.
According to the results of the lab tests, gummy bears from one store that were described as containing 100 mg of THC tested positive for roughly 205 mg, which is more than double the amount that was promoted. According to Greenside Recreational, doses of one hundred milligrams or higher are regarded as exceptionally high and are only recommended to individuals who regularly ingest THC.
According to the findings of the study, “these unscrupulous actors constitute an obvious hazard that might damage both the burgeoning sector as well as the health of New York residents and visitors.”
ABC7NY reported in November that the New York State Cannabis Control Board had released its first batch of approvals for applicants seeking Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licenses.
The report indicates that the board gave its approval to 36 provisional licensees out of the total of 150 licenses that it intends to make accessible.
According to the official website for the city, the use of marijuana for medical purposes became lawful in the state of New York in 2014, and the use of marijuana for recreational purposes became legal in 2021, despite the slow progress of efforts to open legal outlets.
Laura McQueen is a writer for MJGreenNews.com.
She has been writing for different cannabis websites and publications since 2018.
