Missouri Cannabis Company Faces Recall Over Testing Rule Dispute
Kansas City cannabis manufacturer disputes state claims about testing rules after vape recall, saying requirements evolved while regulators maintain standards unchanged.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI — A Kansas City-based cannabis manufacturer is disputing state regulators’ claims about testing requirements after hundreds of marijuana vape pens were recalled last month. Local Cannabis Co. maintains the recall stemmed from “evolving” testing rules, while state officials say their requirements remained unchanged.
The Division of Cannabis Regulation recalled products manufactured by Local Cannabis Co., whose manufacturing license operates under CPC of Missouri – Smithville LLC. State regulators determined the company tested THC concentrate in bulk form rather than in the finished vape cartridges that consumers purchase, which violates current testing requirements.
Company Claims Rules Changed
Tyler Pugh, chief operating officer of Local Cannabis Co., said the company is “actively working with the division to address an administrative hold impacting certain vape products related to evolving testing requirements for final form administration.” He emphasized that “this matter is not related to the quality or safety of our products.”
Pugh told The Missouri Independent that the company previously received approval to test THC concentrate in bulk batches before packaging into final products. He cited a state press release from April 30 announcing new testing guidance as evidence that requirements had shifted.
State Maintains Rules Unchanged
However, state regulators dispute the company’s characterization of evolving rules. According to the Division of Cannabis Regulation, existing regulations have consistently required manufacturers to test products in their final consumer form, not as bulk concentrate before packaging into vape cartridges.
Certificates of analysis reviewed by The Missouri Independent show the recalled products were indeed tested as bulk THC concentrate before being loaded into vape cartridges. State rules mandate that THC concentrate must be sampled and tested after processing into the final vape cartridge form that reaches consumers.
Resolution Efforts Underway
Local Cannabis Co. is working to bring its testing procedures into compliance with state requirements. “We are proactively coordinating with our retail partners to replace affected inventory with newly compliant, fully tested products as quickly as possible,” Pugh said.
The company expressed appreciation for “the partnership and patience of our customers and retail partners as we work through the resolution process.” The recall affects vape products that were distributed to retail dispensaries throughout Missouri’s regulated cannabis market.
Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation maintains a public database of product recalls on the state health department’s website. The agency has not indicated whether additional enforcement actions may result from the testing compliance issue.
