California Announces Three New Cannabis Product Recalls Tied to Pesticides

Journal

Jul 22

California’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) issues recall for Circles and Backpack Boyz vape products containing banned greenhouse pesticide chlorfenapyr.

Cannabis | Product Recall

Words by FP Team

HYLA / UNSPLASH

California’s Cannabis Regulators announced three additional cannabis product recalls related to a pesticide controversy that has unsettled the state’s market in recent weeks. The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) issued mandatory recalls for two Circles products by K.U.S.H. and one from Backpack Boyz, all containing the prohibited greenhouse pesticide chlorfenapyr.

The affected products are as follows:

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)

The certificates of analysis for the recalled vape products indicated that at least one of the products had been tested and received a clean COA by Pasadena-based Encore Labs. Spencer Wong, co-founder of Encore Labs, confirmed that Encore’s testing found no pesticides in the initial sample of the Circles vape products. Wong explained that THC distillate batches can contain various raw materials, leading to potentially differing testing results for the same batch.

Encore Labs had previously received citations and a fine related to its lab testing processes and procedures, according to disciplinary actions taken by the DCC in 2023. DCC spokesperson David Hafner stated that the recalls reflect the department’s ongoing efforts to ensure consumer safety and remove non-compliant products from the market.

A Backpack Boyz vape was singled out in a June report for containing banned pesticides. The report, published by the Los Angeles Times and WeedWeek, revealed the presence of pesticides in several products sold in California, the world’s largest regulated cannabis market. The DCC has already issued 30 product recalls this year, a significant increase from the three recalls issued per year in 2022 and 2023. This surge in recalls and health warnings was reported in a June article by MJBizDaily, which highlighted various products including Mary Jones hemp-infused sodas, Tyson Undisputed Cannabis Flower, and vape oil cartridges and pens produced by West Coast Cure (WCC).

The WCC products also tested positive for chlorfenapyr and were featured in the L.A. Times/WeedWeek report. WCC claimed that all its retail products had passed compliance testing by state-licensed laboratories.

This pesticide scandal has led to concerns about the integrity of California’s regulated marijuana market, prompting some brands and retailers to seek third-party testing for products sold in stores.