Sol Flower, Trulieve products recalled for possible pesticide issues

On Thursday, the Arizona Department of Health Services said a marijuana testing laboratory incorrectly told dispensaries that a number of concentrates and edibles had tested negative for possible pesticide contamination. However, one dispensary told Phoenix New Times later that day that the products had been tested again and cleared.

The announcement of possible contamination followed a routine inspection by DHS lab inspectors at Kaycha Labs in Tempe. The inspectors found records of failing tests for the pesticide Spinosad in three batches of concentrates from Sol Flower’s North Phoenix location and seven of edibles from Trulieve’s North Mountain Dispensary. The lab had incorrectly reported those tests as passing to the dispensaries, DHS said.

“The products tested were distillates. The distillates were used to manufacture additional products,” the department noted in a press release, adding that the announcement was “made out of an abundance of caution” and advising anyone who had purchased the products to dispose of them.

Spinosad is a pesticide made using natural soil bacteria. It utilizes neurotoxins to disrupt the nervous systems of pests, such as fruit flies and mites. In its release, DHS noted that it’s also used as an anti-flea solution or for head lice and does not absorb well when swallowed by humans, meaning it’s unlikely to cause serious health problems if ingested. However, consuming a large amount could cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, and contact with the skin or eyes could cause mild irritation.

Alison Walsh, a spokesperson for Trulieve, told New Times that the dispensary batch was “asked to be quarantined out of an abundance of caution,” but that the products have since been cleared. Baked Bros., the brand that made the edibles, said in a written statement that the recall was issued “because expired finished goods were unavailable for additional testing” and that DHS did not confirm a failed lab test. It also claimed that all of the products passed testing at two independent laboratories.

It’s not clear how that squares with DHS’s claim that inspectors “observed records that indicated failed testing.” DHS has not responded to several inquiries from New Times. Sol Flower has not responded to New Times’ questions, either.

It’s unclear whether Kaycha Labs will face any fines or penalties for the alleged mishap. DHS does not test marijuana itself and instead licenses third-party facilities to perform testing. The state does not report fines against marijuana testing labs, though the Arizona Republic reported that over $1 million in fines had been levied against them since marijuana became legal for adult use in 2021.

The last marijuana recall issued by the department was in late October, when several strains of marijuana tested for high amounts of lead and several concentrates, extracts and batches of flower were found to contain high levels of Aspergillus, a fungus.