The NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) issued a recall of cannabis flower or bud and pre-rolls from the cultivator Green Medicine NJ sold under the brand Green Joy.
They were among the winners of a Central Jersey medical cannabis cultivation license from the 2019-201 medical cannabis license round delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and a lawsuit.
While initially only growing medical cannabis, the NJCRC permitted them to sell into the adult-use cannabis market this past April 2024.
After a complaint was filed with the NJ-CRC on July 18, 2024, an investigation was initiated surrounding allegedly contaminated products cultivated and sold by the operator. In a lab test of 15 samples of cannabis flower from a single dispensary, 12 flower packages were found to contain insects, and one package contained what appeared to be human hair.
According to the NJCRC, wholesale flower sold by Green Medicine NJ, and resold retail under the tradename “Green Joy, was found to have been in violation of N.J.A.C. 17:30-16.1 (b):
“A cannabis cultivator or cannabis manufacturer shall process unusable or usable
cannabis or manufacture cannabis products in a safe and sanitary manner to protect
consumers from adulterated cannabis items, which shall be:
1. For usable cannabis, well cured, and free of seeds and stems;
2. Free of dirt, sand, debris, and other foreign matter; and
3. Free of mold, rot, or other fungus or bacterial diseases.”
They emphasized number two in their press release.
The NJCRC added that random sampling and testing at cultivation and wholesale facilities associated with Green Medicine is ongoing.
Green Medicine has been ordered to immediately recall the affected flower and notify the public according to its Standard Operating Procedures on file with the NJ-CRC.
Green Medicine NJ Green Joy Product Description
The Green Joy Flower and pre-rolls sold in jars and boxes of various sizes were in the following Affected Product Batches/Lots:
- 1A4110100002FA9000000036
- 1A4110100002FA9000000074
- 1A4110100002FA9000000070
- 1A4110100002FA9000000038
- 1A4110100002FA9000000071
- 1A4110100002FA9000000088
- 1A4110100002FA9000000035
- 1A4110100002FA9000000037
- 1A4110100002FA9000000033
- 1A4110100002FA9000000031
- 1A4110100002FA9000000039
- 1A4110100002FA9000000034
- 1A4110100002FA9000000031
- 1A4110100002FA9000000032
The NJCRC recommended that consumers check the packaging label for the batch/lot information and return any affected flower products to the retail location where it was purchased for a full refund.
Problems of a Small Corporate MSO
According to an NJCRC memo, they have an Alternative Treatment Center (ATC) medicine license and then wanted to grow cannabis too.
Green Medicine NJ was issued an ATC medical cannabis license by the NJCRC to operate in Amwell in Hunterdon County. It was specifically awarded to Cheryl Sullivan and sent to her address in Colorado.
She is co-owner of a notable operation out there with her husband, Dan. Along with Jersey, they are trying to get into the Florida cannabis market.
So by being based in another state, they are a corporate Multi-State Operator (MSO), though smaller than others.
They had issues with the local government giving them approval. So, according to Mycentraljersey.com they filed a lawsuit. Green Medicine NJ had technical issues with the property they were interested in. In addition, the community organized and protested against them.
They are not the first small MSO to cause such problems.
It is very unfortunate that a new cannabis grower has such issues since the lack of quality affordable cannabis flower remains a significant issue in the New Jersey market.
