In November, the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association tested 40 cannabis products from 20 local recreational cannabis stores. Currently, these businesses operate from bodegas, smoke shops, and other various storefronts throughout the area. These unlicensed cannabis shops have no current regulations on product quality. The results found that bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli, and various other pesticides and heavy metals are contaminating not only the flower, but edibles as well.
What was most alarming, is the fact that 40% of the product tested was found to have some sort of contamination. 75% of the businesses claimed that the products sold originated from California or the western region. Not only did the health factors play a risk, but the results also concluded that several items had the incorrect dosage of THC listed on the packaging. For example, packages of edible gummies were labeled at around 100mg of THC. After testing, it was concluded that the items actually contained around 204.77mg of THC.
What Industry Leaders Had to Say
NYMCIA president, Ngiste Abebe, had much to say on the topic, after discovering these findings.
“New York has a responsibility to not only protect the health and safety of its residents but also to fulfill the promise of a socially equitable adult-use market. Neither goal can be realized without stricter enforcement against bad actors.”
Consumers not only have to worry about the health concerns of potentially contaminated pot but also misleading packaging on THC products.
Juancarlos Huntt, co-founder of New York for Social and Economic Equity, also spoke out on the subject, exclaiming “They’re opportunists that are traumatizing our community and stopping our ability to build wealth.
“They are poisoning our black and brown communities. You cannot build wealth without health and these smoke shop owners are destroying the reputation of New York’s cannabis with their chemicals. They need to be stopped.”
Unlicensed Cannabis Shops Seek Approval From State
Despite these setbacks, The New York State Cannabis Control Board approved the first round of applicants seeking Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licenses in November as well. According to abc7NY, the board approved 36 provisional licensees of the total 150 licenses it plans to make available.
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