Colorado Cannabis Firm Recalls 49 Products After Solvent Contamination
StayCon recalled 49 marijuana vape products after a third-party lab found methylene chloride, a chemical linked to cancer. The recall occurred while Colorado delayed expanded testing rules that would have detected such solvents. A state agency has not issued its own consumer alert, and a lab owner said he notified officials weeks before the recall.
StayCon's voluntary recall covered 49 vape items, including Maui Wowie and Grape Gorilla, some sold for more than 18 months. The company said a botanical flavoring ingredient in the devices contained methylene chloride, a solvent EPA has moved to prohibit for most uses because of cancer risk.
The outside lab that found the chemical said it alerted both StayCon and state officials six weeks before the recall. Colorado had postponed broader testing that would have caught such solvents, and the Marijuana Enforcement Division has not issued a consumer warning; it declined to discuss investigations.
Consumers of Colorado cannabis vapes, especially frequent users, could face elevated health risks if contaminated products remain in circulation or if warnings arrive late. Dispensaries and manufacturers may see eroding trust, while regulators could face pressure to speed testing and public alerts. The episode may also intensify debate over how quickly state agencies should disclose contamination findings, though the actual health impact depends on exposure levels and how many recalled items were used.