No one has gotten sick, but based on concerns about possible contamination state officials in Colorado acted quickly to issue a recall on some marijuana edibles (these are not the recalled items).
While no one has gotten sick, based on concerns about possible contamination state officials in Colorado acted quickly to issue a recall on some marijuana-containing products. From the Denver Post:
A popular Denver-based brand of marijuana-infused edibles was recalled by the Denver Department of Environmental Health on July 17 because of the “possible contamination from unsanitary equipment” and “use of equipment not intended for food manufacturing,” according to the department’s Public Health Inspections Division. [...]
The Department of Environmental Health verified that there haven’t been any reports of illness yet, but a food safety inspection was the reason for the recall.
While it may seem counter-intuitive, this is actually a good example of one of the many lesser discussed benefits of legalizing and regulating marijuana. This is how it makes marijuana safer.
Unlike the black market, products are now being inspected and if there is a potential problem discovered it is actually possible to issue a recall to swiftly contain the situation.
Even though the plant is relatively safe, being improperly handled can make it dangerous. In 1981 there actually was a nationwide Salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated marijuana. As we can see where marijuana is legal, regulated, and inspected this type of problem would likely be stopped well before it even developed or it could be quickly recalled.
Jon Walker is the author of After Legalization: Understanding the future of marijuana policy
Photo by Dank Depot under Creative Commons license (these are not the recalled items)
Why the Marijuana Product Recall in Colorado is Actually Good News
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