February 23, 2025
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) released a report earlier this month that warned of mold in some marijuana products. Still, some labs and cannabis advocates say the problem is far more widespread than regulators are letting on.
In the consumer advisory issued on Feb. 3, the CCC said there were new health and safety concerns regarding some retail marijuana products that were sold between May 31, 2024, and Jan. 23, 2025. But so far, no illnesses have been publicly reported, and no products have been recalled.
However, some cannabis testing facilities and worker advocates say far more needs to be done to keep consumers—and even retailers—safe from moldy marijuana products.
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“We think that the problem is significant,” said Christopher Hudalla, Ph. D., Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at ProVerde Laboratories in Milford.
“They’ve never done a recall due to safety concerns identified in the state of Massachusetts. Is that because Massachusetts products never have any safety concerns? Absolutely not,” said Hudalla. “It’s because they’re not willing to take action. We have provided our concerns regarding hundreds of samples, and very few have been investigated until recently.”
Hudalla said in a test of 100 retail samples, over 55 percent failed.
“Well over half of the samples submitted do not pass the state’s own criteria for safety,” he said.
Health concerns
Experts say moldy marijuana can cause a slew of health problems, including respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and fungal infections. People with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are at the most significant risk for adverse effects.
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A 2020 study published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that cannabis users are 3.5 times more likely to get fungal infections.
The CCC advisory included a chart with the affected strains, batch numbers, and retailers. The commission told consumers to check the chart to see if their product may be contaminated and to contact the dispensary where they purchased it.
“Consumers and patients that possess any of the affected products may destroy it or return it to the store where they purchased it for proper disposal,” the commission said.
Regulators also said anyone experiencing “adverse health effects after consuming the affected products should seek medical attention and notify the retailer.”
Protecting consumers, workers
While it may be tempting to simply pick off an area with visible mold, it’s not recommended. Plus, Hudalla said the type of mold present in cannabis products tends to be invisible to the naked eye.
“You can’t see it. The majority of what we see in the Massachusetts market is mold that grows in the plant tissue—it doesn’t grow on the plant,” said Hudalla.
A major problem making matters worse is lab shopping, Hudalla said, as high competition has led some testing facilities to under-report the levels of mold contamination.
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“By cheating the system, they’re cheating consumers who are being put at risk because laboratories are producing fraudulent data,” he said.
Danny Carson, a Massachusetts cannabis worker rights advocate, told Boston.com that many cannabis employees have told him they’ve suffered from chronic coughs, skin rashes, headaches, and asthma-like symptoms after prolonged exposure to poor air quality and contaminated products. He said employers frequently fail to provide proper protective equipment or address air quality concerns, worsening the risk.
“Unfortunately, these concerns are often ignored or dismissed by employers,” Carson said.
Carson said he first became aware of mold and yeast contamination while working in the cannabis industry. His first position was at the now-shuttered Trulieve in Holyoke, where he worked alongside Lorna McMurrey, the 27-year-old worker from Springfield who died in January 2022 due to an on-the-job asthma attack. McMurrey’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming she died as a result of exposure to cannabis dust and mold. Hers was the first reported occupational asthma death in the U.S. cannabis industry.
Since McMurrey’s death, Carson has dedicated his efforts to advocating for better working conditions across the industry. He says transparency and accountability are critical for workers to feel comfortable reporting unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation. On top of that, consumers deserve to know that the cannabis they purchase has been rigorously tested, he said.
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“The lack of protections for both cannabis workers and consumers drove me to advocate for change. Workers are regularly exposed to hazardous conditions, poor ventilation, high levels of airborne contaminants, and direct contact with moldy products without proper protective equipment or oversight,” Carson said.
“At the same time, contaminated products frequently make it to store shelves, meaning consumers unknowingly purchase cannabis with dangerously high yeast and mold levels. This is a direct result of weak enforcement and inconsistent lab testing,” he said.
Changing the system
So, what needs to change to ensure safe cannabis products for Massachusetts consumers?
Carson believes there must be stronger air quality and worker safety regulations, stricter enforcement of lab testing standards, whistleblower protections for workers, a public recall and contamination reporting system, and more robust standardized safety and quality control protocols.
Carson is currently working with legislators and advocacy groups to push for bills that will address their concerns.
“The future of the Massachusetts cannabis industry depends on transparency, accountability, and a commitment to high safety standards,” he said. “Massachusetts has the opportunity to set a national standard for cannabis safety, but regulators must take action. Workers are the first to identify contamination and safety hazards, yet they are often ignored or worse, punished for speaking up. This industry can only be sustainable if we prioritize worker safety and consumer health over profit.”
Hudalla says he’s “hopeful but doubtful” the situation will improve anytime soon.
“Unfortunately, the regulators don’t appear to be either willing or capable of doing their job,” he said.
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When asked for comment, a CCC spokesperson said the state’s testing facilities are held to some of the highest standards in the nation and that the commission conducts routine inspections of all labs and marijuana retailers. They also said the commission follows up on any complaints from patients, consumers, or stakeholders.
In December, the commission said it was tightening testing reporting and data analysis in Massachusetts through an administrative order set to take effect in April. As part of the order, regulators will require all licensees to submit one test sample package to a single independent laboratory for all compliance testing of marijuana products.
“Massachusetts’ cannabis testing landscape will continue to evolve as the regulated industry matures,” the spokesperson said. “The agency remains vigilant in its efforts to ensure consumers and patients have access to fully tested, safe products in the legal marketplace.”
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