High amounts of mold and yeast found in pre-rolls

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — There is a growing concern in medical marijuana here in Oklahoma. Lab test results from a local marijuana lab showed pre-rolls had a high amount of mold and yeast in them.

Havard Industries took a closer look at microbial testing after they say Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) changed its regulations on testing product in its final form, in recent years.

They say the results show certain products shouldn't be on the shelves.

"One passed and all the other 14 failed," Jeffery Havard, Owner of Havard Industries said.

Havard and his team went to three dispensary's, got five random pre-rolls from each and out of the 15 pre-rolls —14 of them failed with high levels of mold and yeast.

"In our experience in the past, that was like the most common failure that we would see," Havard said. "Like an overwhelming majority of them would fail for mold and yeast."

This could pose a health risk to those smoking contaminated pre-rolls.

"Infection with molds can be very detrimental to the lung health and can cause chronic lung problems that sometimes may not be discoverable easily or quickly," Dr. Jad Kebbe, Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician at OU Health said.

The limit for yeast and mold microbials is 10,000 colony forming units, or CFU's. The pre-rolls Havard tested well exceeded that.

"I think we were averaging at around at least 20% over the upper limit, but of course they all vary from sample to sample," Havard said.

Havard says OMMA regulations changed the last couple of years, doing microbial testing on the flower still, but not on the final form of the product like a pre-roll.

"We would really like the agencies to kind of reevaluate microbial testing on pre-rolls in general, or if they can change this whole idea on final form testing to not just be for like concentrates and things, but also include things like pre-rolls or any finished product like that would really solve a lot of this," Havard said.

We reached out to OMMA and have their full statement below.

All medical marijuana products are required to undergo microbial testing in their final form. The allowable thresholds for microbials vary based on the product and route of administration. 

All medical marijuana and medical marijuana products are required to be tested for THC and cannabinoid concentration prior to transfer to a medical marijuana dispensary. 

Medical marijuana licensees are required to test medical marijuana and medical marijuana products for microbials prior to transfer to a medical marijuana dispensary. As part of OMMA’s mission to protect medical marijuana patient safety, starting June 1, 2024, medical marijuana testing labs will be subject to uniform lab standards to address variations in medical marijuana testing among labs. 

As part of OMMA’s mission to protect medical marijuana patient safety, OMMA may take administrative action against licensees who violate OMMA’s regulations, including monetary fines, license suspension and license revocation. Additionally, OMMA may take further action to protect medical marijuana patients, including embargoing or recalling the medical marijuana or products at issue and ordering the producer to cease and desist.

Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority

Havard says if you are concerned about the pre-rolls you are smoking, next time you pick up, ask for the COA or testing results of the product.

If it didn't go through microbial testing or exceeds the 10,000 CFU limit, then it is a failed product containing an increased amount of mold and yeast and it shouldn't be smoked.