How Moldy is Missouri Marijuana? Local Company’s Tests Stir Up Controversy

St. Louis Today by Jack Suntrup

St. Louis, MO – A St. Charles County microbiologist’s test results for mold in marijuana, which he has shared on social media, are drawing questions from cannabis consumers and legal threats from members of the state’s cannabis industry. Kirk Hartwein, owner of Missouri Mold LLC of O’Fallon, has posted dozens of close-up photos of petri dishes, many covered in mold colonies, to his Facebook page this year. But while a growing audience is taking stock of Hartwein’s findings, critics have questioned his results. Three legal cultivators featured on his page have sent Hartwein cease-and-desist letters in recent months. For full text, click here.

How Moldy is Missouri marijuana? Local Company’s Tests Stir Up Controversy

St. Louis Today by Jack Suntrup

St. Louis, MO – A St. Charles County microbiologist’s test results for mold in marijuana, which he has shared on social media, are drawing questions from cannabis consumers and legal threats from members of the state’s cannabis industry. Kirk Hartwein, owner of Missouri Mold LLC of O’Fallon, has posted dozens of close-up photos of petri dishes, many covered in mold colonies, to his Facebook page this year. But while a growing audience is taking stock of Hartwein’s findings, critics have questioned his results. Three legal cultivators featured on his page have sent Hartwein cease-and-desist letters in recent months. For full text, click here.

Military Barracks Found with Mold, Pests, Broken AC and Brown Water

Washington Post by Joe Davidson

Washington, DC – A new audit by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) says some barracks, not just in the Army, are so bad that they degrade quality of life and military readiness. The report has drawn bipartisan, bicameral outrage and a blunt admission from the Pentagon. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit highlights three main points, some military living quarters are substandard and pose potentially serious health and safety risks, defense officials lack complete information about military housing finances, and that oversight is insufficient. For the full text, email info@eia-usa.org

Mold in Marijuana? CT’s Rules Are Less Strict Than Other States

CT Mirror by Kate Setzer

Hartford, CT – Alex London uses cannabis to help with lingering back pain and migraines that stem from a car crash. London said he used to buy it from medical marijuana dispensaries near his home. But now, because of changes in how Connecticut regulates cannabis, he’s back to using his “local guy” — a grower in Maine. Because marijuana isn’t legal at the federal level, it’s up to states to decide how much mold in the product is too much. And in Connecticut, that limit is 10 times higher than the threshold in most other states that have a numeric limit for mold in marijuana. For the full report, click here.

CA’S DCC Orders Recall of Packaged Cannabis Flower Due to Mold Contamination

State of California by Carrie B. Reyes

Sacrament, CA – California’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has ordered a mandatory recall after identifying a batch of packaged cannabis flower contaminated with Aspergillus niger. Consumers who purchased Claybourne Co. flower are urged to check their packaging the UID and batch numbers and dispose of the flower if affected. To date, no illnesses have been reported. DCC is currently investigating the cause of the contamination. 

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Gas Leaks, Mold, and Lead Top Concerns at DOEE Meeting

Washington City Paper by Ambar Castillo

Washington, DC – Gas leaks, mold, and lead poisoning were among the most pressing concerns during yesterday’s oversight hearing in the Committee on Transportation and the Environment. The committee, chaired by Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh, brought several questions to the Department of Energy and Environment, one of three agencies under the microscope. 

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Denver Marijuana Health Inspections, Mold Report Delayed Due to Covid

Westworld

by Thomas Mitchell
Denver, CO – One of the few local health agencies investigating and disciplining marijuana facilities in Colorado, the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment has been responsible for a significant number of marijuana mold and pesticide recalls since recreational pot sales began in 2014. Regularly scheduled health and safety inspections at marijuana cultivations and production facilities paused in March as DDPHE staffers began assisting with COVID-19 response efforts, according to DDPHE spokeswoman Tammy Vigil. 

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A Grim Reality of Reopening: More Mold

Wired

by Louise Matsakis
National – The pandemic has forced all sorts of buildings to sit empty for long periods of time. As people venture back into their homes, schools, and offices again, they may also find an unwelcome surprise inside. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns people who are reopening buildings to watch out for potential hazards like mold and Legionella pneumophila, the bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease. Click here for the full text of the article