Maine
Maine issues its first-ever recall of tainted recreational marijuana
A Maine agency is recalling a handful of recreational marijuana products sold between Aug. 27 and Sept. 9 after they failed the office’s yeast and mold audit tests.
It’s the first recall of recreational cannabis products since the state’s recreational market launched in 2020, the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy said.
The recall, announced in a news release Tuesday evening, impacts one strain of cannabis flower and three strains of pre-rolls, all of which were produced by Cannabis Cured, a cultivator and retailer headquartered in Fairfield.
The recall applies to 1-gram pre-rolls and five pre-roll packs of the strain GG4 sold between Aug. 27 and Sept. 9; 1/8-ounce packages of flower and 1-gram pre-rolls of a strain called Jelly Donutz, which were sold from Aug. 28 to Sept. 9; and five pre-roll packs of the strain Portal, sold from Aug. 28 to Sept. 3, according to the release.
John Hudak, director of the Office of Cannabis Policy, declined to share specific details about the products in an email Tuesday night, citing an ongoing investigation. But he said the state closely tracks cannabis testing data for irregularities and performs additional tests when necessary.
Hudak said the failure threshold for yeast or mold contamination is 1,000 colony-forming units per gram, “which is the threshold recommended by the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia for cannabis.”
The cannabis office said consumers who bought the recalled products should dispose of them or return them to the store of purchase.
“Inhaling cannabis containing unsafe levels of mold can lead to sinus issues, allergies, headaches, dizziness, or fatigue,” the office said in the release. “Any consumer who has ingested these products and is experiencing symptoms or adverse reactions should contact their physician immediately.”
The defective products were sold at seven Cannabis Cured retail locations, plus Sweet Relief, a recreational dispensary in Northport.
A worker who answered the phone at Cannabis Cured’s headquarters around 6 p.m. Tuesday declined to answer questions about the recall, directing a reporter to a corporate email address. Emailed questions about the company’s internal testing process and policies were not immediately answered.
John Lorenz, owner of Sweet Relief, said he first heard about problems with the products Monday and immediately took them off the shelf. Reached by phone Tuesday evening, Lorenz said his store had stocked the three varieties of pre-rolls, which arrived a little over a week earlier, but they had only been available for sale for a few days.
Lorenz said recreational cannabis products are closely monitored and tracked “from seed to tested bud,” and that every unit his shop received has been accounted for.
“They don’t just go into a trash barrel. I don’t just get to smoke them myself,” Lorenz said. “They were taken off the shelf.”
Lorenz said a few of the pre-rolls were sold, but he did not offer specific numbers.
The office does not have the authority to compel retailers to issue refunds for recalled products, Hudak said, adding that “we would encourage those customers to inquire” with specific retailers when returning products.
Lorenz said he would be happy to issue refunds, but that customers would need to return to his store with the original packaging – even if empty – since that label contains tracking and batch information.
In addition to Sweet Relief, the recalled products were sold at Cannabis Cured’s adult-use retail locations in Bangor, Carrabassett Valley, Damariscotta, Eliot, Fairfield, Stratton and Thomaston, according to the release. The company’s Portland location was not listed.
Maine
Preble Street poised to take over Hope House shelter in Bangor
The Portland-based non-profit Preble Street is preparing to take over the operations of Maine’s second-largest low barrier homeless shelter.
Penobscot Community Health Care, which runs Hope House, had said the Bangor shelter would close this fall if couldn’t find a new partner to patch an $800,000 funding hole.
Executive Director Mark Swann said Preble Street was determined to keep it open. The stakes of seeing Hope House close, he said, were too high.
“When you don’t have enough shelters, you have what we have in Maine, which is lots of encampments, people sleeping outside, real tragedy happening on a daily, nightly basis,” Swann said in an interview. “All of this has contributed to us saying, OK, we’re being asked here to do something, and we have a responsibility to at least try.”
The move is made possible with three-year funds that state lawmakers approved for Maine’s low-barrier shelters, as well as money from the state’s opioid settlements.
“We were able to cut the deficit between the new legislative funding, as well as some funding from the attorney general’s office where the Preble Street board felt, OK, we’re close enough here. We still need to raise about $200,000 a year, probably from private philanthropy, so we’re knocking on doors. We’re looking for that kind of support. But we’re close enough.”
Penobscot Community Health Care will keep running the shelter this year.
Swann said the two non-profits must finalize the transition of a shelter contract with the state before the move is official. But the plan is for Preble Street to take over operations in February, he said.
Low-barrier shelters do not require background checks or sobriety. And because many residents bring untreated mental health challenges and complex medical conditions with them, low-barrier shelters are more expensive to operate and have been struggling to stay afloat.
Preble Street has an office in Bangor and provides services to unhoused veterans. Swann said he’s hopeful that existing Penobscot Community Health Care staff will stay on board at Hope House after Preble Street assumes operations at the shelter.
Maine
Black Bears facing former Maine quarterback this week
ORONO, Maine (WABI) – Derek Robertson used to start at quarterback for Maine, but he’s going to be back in Orono as an opponent with the Monmouth Hawks this weekend.
“It’s definitely a great opportunity. I know they like to pass the ball a lot. We’re just really focused on just the Black Bears this week. We know Derek is a good quarterback, so we have to bring our A-game for him,” said Shakur Smalls, senior defensive back.
“If he didn’t want to be part of our program, that’s fine. The next guy steps up. We have Carter (Peevy) in. Carter’s a great quarterback, mobile, runs around, knows what he’s doing, and we’re confident in him. He’s going to make a lot of plays this Saturday,” said John Costanza, senior defensive lineman.
The Black Bears are uniquely familiar with Robertson thanks to going up against him in practice.
“(We’ll be) just keying in on his eyes. He’s a really accurate quarterback. He managed the games well. It should be a good day for the Jack Boys to get an interception,” said Smalls.
“He knows us, we know him. We’re going into this game scouting the past two games he’s played. We’re going in there (with) confidence. We’ve seen him for three years now here at Maine. It’s going to be who wants it more,” said Costanza.
There’s quite an incentive for a strong defensive performance this week with Robertson on the other side.
“It’s always good to play against one of your former teammates. You just have that familiarity. (I’m thinking the) Black Bears are getting the win always,” said Smalls.
“It’s going to be a little more chippy with a little extra edge on it. I know the DB’s are excited. The D-line is excited to get after it. We’re going to make him pay,” said Costanza.
Kickoff between the Black Bears and Hawks is Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Alfond Stadium.
Robertson’s brother, Jimmy, is the quarterbacks coach at Monmouth.
Copyright 2024 WABI. All rights reserved.
Maine
Come Join Maine's 5th Annual Bikers for Boobies
If you’ve got a motorcycle come join one of the most fun rides you’ll ever do!
Bikers for Boobies is turning 5 on Saturday, October 57. It should be turning 6, but a tropical storm zooming up north, bringing heavy rain canceled the fun last year. This year I have faith that the weather Gods are on our side!
What is Bikers for Boobies?
Started by a new Maine motorcycle club, the Vacationland V-Twin Cruisers, Bikers for Boobies is a fundraiser to help Mainers fight breast cancer. Five years ago, they wanted to help Maine, and they had an idea to organize a run to help Mainers fight breast cancer. Well, that ties in pretty perfectly with the annual Cans for a Cure, which has been raising money for Mainers for over two decades. We worked together to organize a 90+ mile bike run, all to benefit Cans for a Cure. That money will go directly to the Maine Cancer Foundation. It’s one of my absolute favorite days of the year.
If you have a motorcycle or would like to be a passenger, I cannot encourage you enough to come play with us. It starts up at LA Harley-Davidson and ends at the only place it could end: Bentley’s.
The route is always gorgeous, as the leaves are turning in earnest. There are plenty of chances to stretch your legs and even grab a coffee at Dunkin in Cornish!
It’s the camaraderie that I love the most, though. The people you meet are a family, and when you join, you are instantly family, too! They even made me an honorary biker. Oh sure, I don’t own a bike, but I own this super cool-looking ‘cut’.
Look how bad-ass I am. My biker name (you get a biker name) is DJ Hot Shit. Sorry, I know it’s not family friendly but it is hysterical nonetheless.
Bikers for Boobies raises a ton of money (nearly $6,000), but it’s a day for fun and laughing! These bikers know how to raise a lot of money while raising just a tiny bit of hell. In the best possible way.
Grab a T-shirt (only $10!) so you will always remember how much fun you had! Thanks to Victor Rios and Expose Design for always making the shirts and for way less than he should. Ahhhh, yes. I have a ton of cool t-shirts…
When is Maine’s most fun motorcycle run, Bikers for Boobies?
Saturday, October 5. KSU (kick stands up) at 11 a.m., and registration starts at 9:30 a.m. This is when you see people that maybe you haven’t seen since the last run. This is a great time to catch up. Also, Dunkin’ provides all the coffee, hot chocolate, muffins, and donuts! I promise you, it will be a memory you dip into when you are feeling blue to make you feel better.
Thank you to our awesome sponsor Iron Horse Motorcycle Lawyers!
They will be at the event! Because they ride. They understand. They protect their own. Call Iron Horse Motorcycle Lawyers today at 855-Iron Law.
Bikers for Boobies 2022
Bikers for Boobies went down on Saturday, October 1 with the Vacationland V-Twin Cruisers motorcycle club and others to benefit Maine Cancer Foundation!
Gallery Credit: Lori Voornas
Here Are 19 Stunning Scenic Drives You Have to Take in Maine
Mainers shared on Facebook what their favorite scenic drives are in the Pine Tree State and these are their must-drive routes!
Gallery Credit: Meghan Morrison
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