California Recalls Cannabis Products After Farm Worker's Death Linked to Pesticide Exposure
At least four marijuana products have been pulled from shelves due to potential contamination, with two directly linked to a large Lake County farm where an employee died.
California authorities have recalled at least four cannabis products following the death of a farm worker, with subsequent investigations revealing potential contamination and regulatory violations. The worker, Yufang Lan, 46, died on August 27 from what state officials suspect was occupational pesticide exposure at Joel Michaely Farms in Lake County.
The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) shut down Joel Michaely Farms on September 8 and suspended its operating license. The agency cited alleged violations including untagged plants, unaccounted-for inventory, failure to use the state's tracking system, and breaches of environmental and pesticide laws.
According to an affidavit obtained by MJBizDaily, Lan was hospitalized six days before her death with cardiac arrest. The farm's cultivation manager reportedly told investigators that workers had not been paid because the farm had not yet turned a profit, a situation that could take years.
The DCC has recalled four products deemed "adulterated" due to being produced under unsanitary conditions and in violation of pesticide regulations. Two of these recalls are confirmed to be linked to Joel Michaely Farms: 'Iced infused flower' produced by Natura Distribution and 'Martini’s Pre-Roll' produced by Peace and Joy. The other two recalled products, 'Tree House Flower' and 'Cali Lean Tincture,' have not yet been definitively linked to the farm.
Investigators executing a search warrant at the farm on August 31 discovered a large-scale operation with 55,069 cannabis plants and 6,000 pounds of processed cannabis. They also found "illegal chemicals" and approximately 20,000 gallons of contaminated liquid requiring specialized disposal, all of which were subsequently destroyed. Evidence of banned and unapproved chemicals, including fumigant pesticides and substances like myclobutanil, pyridaben, and flupyradifurone, were found throughout the property.
The farm, approved for nearly 1 million square feet of cannabis canopy, reportedly housed 10 to 15 workers in cramped, unsanitary conditions with moldy walls. The workers, who all spoke Mandarin, were allegedly not being paid.