The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) issued fines on Thursday to Curaleaf and Ascend Wellness — two of the state’s largest cannabis companies — for self-reported improper pesticide use and record-keeping violations, The Boston Globe reports.
Regulators fined Ascend Wellness $85,000 for failing to comply with the state’s track-and-trace system which is supposed to keep track of all cannabis products produced and/or manufactured in the state, from seed to sale. The error ultimately left about 900 cannabis products that could not be tracked by regulators.
“Ascend is fully committed to adhering to the regulations set forth by the CCC and places great importance on compliance. We have already implemented most of the necessary actions and remain dedicated to working with the CCC to restore trust and confidence as we move forward.” — Frank Perullo, Ascend Wellness president and co-founder, via The Globe
Additionally, the Commission fined Curaleaf $80,000 due to a “systemic problem” of failing to follow best practices in its Amesbury and Webster cultivation facilities for limiting pesticide contamination, including leaving certain open doors against state rules and failing to seal doorways and ducts properly. Regulators found at least three cannabis product samples from the company contaminated with pesticides.
A spokesperson for Curaleaf told The Globe, “We feel confident about the changes made to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” and that the company’s number one priority is the “health and safety of our patients and customers.”
Curaleaf operates five dispensaries in Massachusetts, and Ascend operates three.
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