California is recalling more cannabis products after a worker died at a massive marijuana farm that has since been shut down by state regulators.
At least four cannabis products have been pulled over potential contamination, with two of the recalls confirmed to be connected to the Lake County farm where 46-year-old Yufang Lan worked.
State officials believe Lan died following an “occupational pesticide exposure” at Joel Michaely Farms, according to an affidavit obtained by MJBizDaily through a public records request.
Lan died in intensive care Aug. 27, six days after an unidentified man brought her to a local hospital. She was suffering cardiac arrest, according to law enforcement.
The California Department of Cannabis Control shut down the farm Sept. 8 and suspended its license after investigators uncovered alleged violations involving untagged plants, unaccounted-for inventory, failures to use the state’s tracking system and violations of environmental and pesticide laws.
The agency has recalled four products deemed “adulterated” because they were “produced under unsanitary conditions and the methods, facilities, or controls used to cultivate the cannabis did not conform with pesticide statutes and regulations.”
The recalled products are:
- Iced infused flower, produced by Natura Distribution and sold at 20 retailers across California.
- Tree House Flower, produced by Peace and Joy and sold at Dr. Greenthumb, Tree House, Fig Trees and Peace and Love stores in Los Angeles.
- Martini’s Pre-Roll, produced by Peace and Joy and sold at the same Los Angeles stores.
- Cali Lean Tincture, produced by 510 Consultants and sold at 25 retailers statewide.
The DCC confirmed the Iced and Martini’s recalls are connected to Joel Michaely Farms. The agency has not confirmed whether the other two products came from the farm.
And the scope of the operation was enormous.
Lake County planning records show the farm was approved for nearly 1 million square feet of cannabis canopy.
When investigators executed a search warrant Aug. 31, they allegedly found 55,069 cannabis plants, 6,000 pounds of processed cannabis, “illegal chemicals” and “approximately 20,000 gallons of contaminated liquid requiring specialized disposal.”
Officials said all of the cannabis was destroyed.
Investigators also found evidence of banned and unapproved chemicals throughout the property.
DCC Special Investigator Jaime Musuda said in a Sept. 8 affidavit that the farm consisted of “two outdoor cultivation areas” and “112 hoophouse structures.”
In roughly 20 of the hoophouses, investigators found “cans of fumigant pesticide ‘Real-Kill Indoor Fogger’” positioned several feet apart.
Outside, investigators discovered “several different bottles of illicit foreign labeled pesticides” along with “three pesticides unapproved for use” on cannabis, according to the affidavit.
Those included Eagle 20, which contains myclobutanil; Sanmite SC, which contains pyridaben; and Altus, which contains flupyradifurone.
The investigation also raised questions about the conditions faced by workers at the sprawling farm.
Musuda said about 10 to 15 workers lived on the property in cramped, unsanitary conditions with “moldy walls.” It remains unclear whether Lan was among them.
The workers all spoke Mandarin, according to the affidavit, and none had been paid because the farm had yet to turn a profit, the onsite cultivation manager told Musuda, “which could take years.”
More recalls could follow as California officials continue investigating the operation.
