AUGUSTA, Maine – The Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) is today issuing a Medical Cannabis Patient Advisory for medical cannabis flower and pre-rolls produced and sold by The B Maine, formerly known as Dr. Melo’s, located in the town of Lebanon.
Medical Cannabis Patient Advisory
OCP received a complaint in mid-September regarding conditions at The B Maine’s (formerly Dr. Melo’s) cultivation facility in the town of Lebanon. OCP conducted an investigation that included testing medical cannabis flower of the strain “Florida Oranges,” which had been cultivated at that facility. Those test results showed unsafe levels of microbial contaminants (aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and Enterobacteriaceae), yeast, and mold.
OCP then tested several additional products made and sold by The B Maine. Those test results showed varying unsafe levels of microbial contaminants (aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and Enterobacteriaceae), yeast, and mold in two strains of flower and four strains of 1-gram pre-rolls. The affected flower strains include “Florida Oranges” and “Skunk Hero”. The affected pre-roll strains include “Bad Apple,” “Cherry AK,” “Head Candy,” and “Tropsicles.”
Inhaling cannabis containing unsafe levels of microbials, yeast, and/or mold can lead to sinus issues, allergies, headaches, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, or fatigue. Please visit OCP's website for more information on the contaminants detected at unsafe levels in the products listed above. Any patient who has ingested these products and is experiencing symptoms or adverse reactions should contact a healthcare provider immediately or dial 911 if there is a medical emergency.
OCP does not have authority under Maine law to issue a recall in the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Program, unlike the Office’s authority to issue recalls in the Adult Use Cannabis Program or to require removal of products prior to administrative penalty, suspension, or revocation. The medical program is also not subject to the same mandatory inventory tracking or contaminant testing requirements as the adult use program. As such, OCP is limited in the amount of information and detail it can provide in this advisory compared to its adult use cannabis recall notices.
- Like other medical cannabis and cannabis products in Maine, none of the products sold by The B Maine were required to be tested for contaminants, and none had been.
- The B Maine has expressed a willingness to protect patient safety and voluntarily surrendered the contaminated products to OCP for destruction.
About the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP)
The Mills Administration created the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) in February 2019. The Office is responsible for the oversight of all aspects of legalized cannabis in Maine, including the Medical Use of Cannabis Program and the Adult Use Cannabis Program.