How Do You Check If a Cannabis Product Was Recalled?

Why are cannabis products recalled?

Recalls happen when a problem is found after products have reached the shelves. Common reasons include contamination, such as microbes or mould, labelling problems such as inaccurate potency, packaging issues and products that missed a required test. Recalls can be started by the company itself or required by the regulator.

A recall doesn't mean every product from that brand is affected. It usually covers specific batches, which is why batch numbers matter so much.

Where do you find recall notices?

In California, the Department of Cannabis Control publishes recalls on its public recall portal (opens in a new tab). Each notice names the product, lists the affected batch or lot numbers and explains the reason. Other states with legal markets publish recalls through their own regulators; search for your state's cannabis agency and its recall page.

The state regulator's main site, the Department of Cannabis Control (opens in a new tab), also carries consumer alerts.

How do you check your product?

• Find the batch or lot number on the label; see how to read a cannabis label.
• Open the recall portal and search for the brand or product name.
• Compare the batch numbers listed in any matching notice with yours.
• If they match, follow the instructions in the notice.

Keep the outer packaging until you've finished a product, because that's where the batch number usually is.

What should you do if your product is recalled?

• Stop using it straight away.
• Keep it, sealed and labelled, out of reach of children and pets, until you know how to return or dispose of it.
• Follow the notice's instructions for returns or disposal.
• If you feel unwell after using it, call Poison Control on 1-800-222-1222; in an emergency, call 911.

If you bought the product from ShopJeeter, contact us with your order number and we'll help.

How do recalls relate to lab reports?

Lab reports, or certificates of analysis, are the main safety check before a product is sold. Recalls are the safety net afterwards. Both rely on batch numbers. Our guide to certificates of analysis explains how to read a lab report, and spotting fake Jeeter products explains why counterfeit products never appear in recalls at all: they were never tested or tracked in the first place.

What information does a recall notice include?

• The brand and product name, often with photos of the packaging.
• The affected batch or lot numbers, and sometimes the packaging dates.
• The reason for the recall, such as contamination or labelling problems.
• Instructions for consumers: usually to stop using the product and return or dispose of it.
• Contact details for questions.

Read the whole notice, not just the headline. A recall of one strain or batch doesn't affect others from the same brand, and the batch list is what tells you whether your package is included.

How should you dispose of a recalled product?

Follow the notice first; it may ask you to return the product. If it tells you to dispose of it, make it unusable and keep it away from children and pets, for example by mixing it with something unappealing in a sealed bag. Vapes and batteries need extra care because of the battery; see how to dispose of vapes and carts.

How can you stay informed?

Bookmark your state's recall page and check it occasionally, especially for products you use often. Keep receipts and packaging until a product is finished. And buy from licensed sources, because only products in the legal system can be traced and recalled; see checking a retailer's licence.

General information about cannabis and health is available from the CDC (opens in a new tab).

You can see what's currently available, by format and strain, in the shop.