Colorado Edibles Industry Under Fire

This display case at a Colorado pot shop contains sodas and infused oil products that are being targeted by the DOEH.

Lack of refrigeration and other issues are plaguing edibles companies in Colorado, leading to inspections and recalls. However, one company, At Home Baked, is calling the campaign to clean up the medibles industry a "witch hunt."

As of May, Denver's Department of Environmental Health had issued 58 violations at 24 businesses, including edibles manufacturers and retail outlets.

These At Home Bakd mixes have been recalled.

The biggest problem the DOEH has found is edible products made with infused oils sitting on non-refrigerated shelves in stores. Mile High Distributing had to recall 273 bottles of liquid THC drops and 21 bottles of infused olive oil. At Home Baked had to destroy their baking mixes and oil products. Dixie Elixirs was cited for storing bottles of oils at room temperature. Canna Elixirs had to trash 73 caramels and 11 bottles of infused soda.

Update: On July 17, At Home Baked's products were taken off shelves in over 100 stores statewide. At issue is the washing machine the Denver-based company used to make water hash, which has been deemed "unsanitary" due to corrision and mold. "We’re really frustrated with the entire situation," says James Ashkar (a.k.a. AJ the Hash Man) of At Home Baked. "Nobody has gotten sick from our hash.”

However, there has been an increase in emergency room visits due to bad reactions to edibles. Several recent deaths were connected to the consumption of edibles. In one case, a student jumped over a fourth-story balcony in a hotel while under the influence and, in another, a man murdered his wife after allegedly consuming a cannabis candy product.

Steve Bloom

Steve Bloom

Publisher of CelebStoner.com, former editor of High Times and Freedom Leaf and co-author of Pot Culture and Reefer Movie Madness.