3 more cannabis products recalled in California for pesticides

California’s chief marijuana regulator on Wednesday announced three more cannabis product recalls related to a pesticide scandal that has rattled the state’s market over the past month.

The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) issued mandatory recalls on two Circles products manufactured by K.U.S.H. and one product from Backpack Boyz that all contained the banned greenhouse pesticide chlorfenapyr.

The products included:

• Circles 1-gram Gelatti vape cartridge (batch number: 030824GE).
• Circles 1-gram Pink Runtz vape cartridge (batch number: 240512PR).
• Backpack Boyz 1-gram Black Cherry Gelato integrated vaporizer (batch number: 091323BC).

Testing in question

According to certificates of analysis for the recalled vape products, at least one of them was tested and given a clean COA by Pasadena-based Encore Labs.

Encore Labs co-founder Spencer Wong confirmed to MJBizDaily that Encore’s testing on the Circles vape products found no pesticides in the initial sample.

Wong said it’s well known in the industry that batches of THC distillate can contain several different sources of raw materials, so testing results can vary widely for the same batch, depending on when testing was performed and what jar of distillate was tested.

“We have a triple-check system,” Wong said, adding that Encore is one of the few labs in the state accredited to test for chlorfenapyr.

“Not too many labs can detect that pesticide accurately.

“Some people say were actually too strict and (they) don’t like to use us because we can test for that pesticide.”

K.U.S.H. (Kinder Understanding Sensitive Healing), which also operates a dispensary in Van Nuys, did not immediately respond to MJBizDaily‘s requests for comment.

According to disciplinary actions taken by the DCC, Encore Labs was issued at least three citations and a fine in 2023 related to its lab testing processes and procedures.

“Today’s recalls represent the Department’s continued efforts to support consumer safety and remove products that do not meet California’s regulatory standards while actively pursuing actions on non-compliant operators,” DCC spokesperson David Hafner told MJBizDaily via email.

One of the recalled products, a Backpack Boyz vape, was highlighted for containing banned pesticides in a June report.

That report, published by the Los Angeles Times and WeedWeek, detailed the presence of pesticides in several products being sold to the public in California, the world’s largest regulated cannabis market.

High number of recalls in 2024

The DCC already has issued 30 product recalls this year, likely the most in the country and widely surpassing the three recalls issued per year in 2022 and 2023.

A June report by MJBizDaily noted an uptick in recalls and health warnings issued by the agency on a variety of products, including Mary Jones hemp-infused sodas, Tyson Undisputed Cannabis Flower and, more recently, vape oil cartridges and pens produced by West Coast Cure (WCC), one of the state’s top-selling brands with distribution in hundreds of stores.

The WCC products also contained chlorfenapyr, which typically is sprayed directly on leaves to combat caterpillars, fungus gnats, mites and other pests.

Four of the five WCC products were also cited in the L.A. Times/WeedWeek report.

WCC told MJBizDaily that all of its products on retail shelves passed compliance testing by state-licensed laboratories.

The pesticide scandal has shaken confidence in California’s regulated marijuana market, prompting some brands and retailers to seek third-party testing on products for sale on store shelves.

Chris Casacchia can be reached at chris.casacchia@mjbizdaily.com.