AUGUSTA, Maine – The Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) is today issuing a Medical Cannabis Patient Advisory for two strains of medical cannabis flower cultivated and sold by Northwoods Caregiver, LLC located in Shirley Mills.
Medical Cannabis Patient Advisory
OCP received a patient complaint in April about an adverse health reaction from cannabis flower purchased at Northwoods Caregiver, LLC in the town of Shirley Mills. OCP conducted an investigation that included testing the flower alleged to have caused the adverse reaction. Those test results showed unsafe levels of yeast and mold in the strain “Blackberry Mint” and unsafe levels of the pesticide Piperonyl Butoxide in the strain “Banana Punch”. Further testing of those strains as part of OCP’s investigation showed more unsafe levels of the pesticide Piperonyl Butoxide.
The photos above show medical cannabis flower of the strains “Blackberry Mint” and “Banana Punch” as sold and packaged by Northwoods Caregiver.
Inhaling cannabis containing unsafe levels of mold can lead to sinus issues, allergies, headaches, dizziness, or fatigue. Inhaling cannabis containing unsafe levels of pesticides can cause respiratory irritation, neurological effects, and/or flu-like symptoms. Please visit OCP's website for more information on the toxicity and health impacts of each contaminant detected at unsafe levels in the Northwoods Caregiver products listed above. Any patient who has ingested these products and is experiencing symptoms or adverse reactions should contact a healthcare provider immediately or dial 911 if there is a medical emergency.
OCP does not have authority under Maine law to issue a recall in the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Program, unlike the Office’s authority to issue recalls in the Adult Use Cannabis Program or to require removal of products prior to administrative penalty, suspension, or revocation. The medical program is also not subject to the same mandatory inventory tracking or contaminant testing requirements as the adult use program. As such, OCP is limited in the amount of information and detail it can provide in this advisory compared to its adult use cannabis recall notices.
- Like other medical cannabis and cannabis products in Maine, none of the flower sold by Northwoods Caregiver was required to be tested for contaminants, and none had been.
- Because OCP lacks the authority to require these products to be removed from the supply chain, the Office will work with Northwoods Caregiver and urge staff to voluntarily remove contaminated products from the store.
- OCP is aware of two strains of medical cannabis flower that were sold by Northwoods Caregiver and contain varying unsafe levels of contaminants. OCP has no verification of whether there are other potentially contaminated products in relation to this incident or store.
About the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP)
The Mills Administration created the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) within the Department of Administration and Financial Services (DAFS) in February 2019. The Office is responsible for the oversight of all aspects of legalized cannabis in Maine, including the Medical Use of Cannabis Program and the Adult Use Cannabis Program.