Springfield Dispensaries Hit by New Round of Cannabis Recalls

Missouri Faces Another Major Cannabis Product Recall, Affecting Thousands of Products and Dispensaries

Just a year after the first major cannabis product recall hit Missouri’s adult-use market, the state is facing another significant recall crisis. This time, Springfield-based producer C & C Manufacturing, LLC, is at the center of the issue, leading to the recall of hundreds of thousands of cannabis products from across the state.

State Health Department Issues Extensive Recalls

Between August 6 and August 8, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) issued recalls affecting a broad range of cannabis products, including edibles, vapes, flower, and marijuana-infused tinctures. The Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) reported that while the recalled products have not been deemed unsafe for consumption, customers are advised to return them to their dispensaries.

Springfield businesses are particularly impacted by these recalls. At Revival 98, a dispensary on West Republic Road, over 200 products have been quarantined. Store Manager Mark Crawford reported that the dispensary now has three shelves in its vault filled with quarantined products. “Most dispensaries do carry at least some of the brands involved in the recall, so I’m sure it will be affecting pretty much everybody,” Crawford said.

Two Recalls, Two Different Stories

The August recalls involve products from two major cannabis manufacturers: NGWMO, LLC, known for its Twenty Twenty brand, and Springfield-based C & C Manufacturing, LLC, known for its Goat Extracts brand. The recall notice indicates that NGWMO is recalling more than 2,600 products due to a failure to test finished products after testing the raw flower. C & C Manufacturing, on the other hand, is recalling more than 132,000 products due to compliance issues with the state’s track-and-trace system, Metrc.

The specific reasons for the recalls vary. NGWMO allegedly did not test their finished products before distribution, while C & C Manufacturing’s products could not be accurately tracked in Metrc, raising concerns about compliance with health and safety requirements.

Industry-Wide Financial Impact

The recalls are already having a substantial financial impact on the cannabis industry. Flora Farms, LLC, based in Humansville and with a presence in Springfield, has been particularly affected. Flora President Mark Hendren reported that the recall involves products containing Goat Extracts’ distillate—a concentrated THC substance used in various cannabis products. Flora has quarantined over $100,000 worth of products and distillate, impacting brands such as Wana Brands, Proper Cannabis, and Grön.

As of August 9, Flora had yet to receive any returned products at its dispensaries, but Hendren noted that the financial damage is significant, exceeding six figures.

Challenges for Springfield Dispensaries

Dispensaries in Springfield are grappling with the fallout from the recalls. High Profile and Greenlight dispensaries declined to comment on the situation, but Revival 98’s Crawford shared that the store has quarantined products worth over $50,000. The dispensary carries products from Goat Extracts and other affected brands. The ongoing issues from last year’s recall, which remain unresolved, add to the uncertainty and operational challenges for dispensary operators.

Crawford explained the difficulties faced during the previous recall: “Last time we had a bunch of stuff quarantined we ended up just having to destroy it because it was all expired and I think we pretty much eat that (cost). We pay for this stuff pretty much all up front.”

Looking Ahead

The long-term impact of these recalls on Missouri’s cannabis market remains to be seen. With significant financial losses already reported and ongoing challenges from past recalls, the cannabis industry in Missouri faces a period of uncertainty. Dispensaries and producers are navigating the complexities of compliance and product management while awaiting further guidance from regulators.