In late 2020, Curaleaf, a multi-state cannabis brand that offers both THC and CBD products, came under fire in several lawsuits due to mislabeled CBD products. According to Hemp Grower, "Curaleaf is currently facing 10 lawsuits from consumers who allegedly ingested an incorrectly labeled CBD tincture that contained "undisclosed levels of THC,"
In a news release on September 21, 2021, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis commission issued a mandatory recall for a tincture, "that can get consumers “high” because the product contains undisclosed levels of THC. Consumers using this mislabeled product may become unexpectedly impaired."
While this news is enough to catch every cannabis brands' attention, it should be viewed as a warning as to what can happen when quality control is forgone. According to an article published by the Oregon Public Broadcasting Site, Curaleaf blamed human error for the incident, saying, "A team member confused two containers during the filling and packaging process, one containing CBD and one containing THC. This resulted in a single batch of CDB tincture being labeled as THC Drops and vice versa."
Humans make mistakes, that much cannot be avoided. However, companies should have redundancy and quality control procedures in place to prevent mix-ups like this from happening in the first place. Implementing and enforcing Standards of Practice/Procedure (SOP's) can help eliminate risks and avoid legal problems down the line.
Brands should invest in detailed SOP's and employee training around them. Quality products start with dedicated and well-trained employees. Not doing so could result in lawsuits like the one Curaleaf is currently facing.
Editor's Note: This article is an opinion piece and should not be taken as legal advice. Please consult an attorney for any legal opinion regarding standards of practice or legal help.