Colorado’s regulated cannabis industry is under close scrutiny again after the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) issued a health and safety advisory for contaminated cannabis flower. The recent recall involves a batch grown by RRSA, LLC that reportedly failed testing on multiple fronts including mold, yeast, and heavy metal contamination. This isn’t the first time Colorado has issued a cannabis recall this year, highlighting persistent regulatory and safety challenges.
What Happened: The RRSA Recall
On November 7, 2025, the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED), in coordination with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE), issued a recall for flower produced by RRSA, LLC, an outdoor grow facility located in Ordway, Colorado. According to the MED, a harvest batch tested from September 24 to November 5 exceeded the state’s acceptable levels not only for total mold and yeast but also for arsenic, cadmium, and lead. These are heavy metals known to pose serious health risks when inhaled.
The affected product was distributed to twenty dispensaries (see affected dispensaries here), mostly in and around the Denver metro area, though at least one location was identified in Colorado Springs. The strain under recall is GG4, commonly known as Gorilla Glue #4, and the license number printed on the packaging is 403R-01182, which corresponds to RRSA’s cultivation license.
The MED strongly advised consumers who purchased the affected product to either destroy it or return it to the dispensary for safe disposal. Anyone experiencing health effects after use should immediately seek medical attention and submit a report to the state using the MED Reporting Form.
This Isn’t Isolated: A Growing Frequency of Recalls
This latest recall is not Colorado’s first in 2025. Earlier in the year, there was a major recall involving 710 Labs, where dozens of cannabis strains and pre-roll joints were pulled from shelves due to excessive mold, yeast, and even aspergillus.
Then, in January 2025, MedPharm Holdings (Bud & Mary’s) issued a voluntary recall for nine harvest batches, after testing revealed levels of total yeast and mold exceeding regulatory limits. That recall impacted 58 dispensaries across the state, according to the MED.
The repeated recalls have put pressure on regulators and growers alike. In response, the MED has launched a surveillance testing program: unannounced inspections of retail cannabis products, with samples pulled for testing to assess whether the products match their labeling and meet safety standards.
Why Mold and Heavy Metals Are a Big Deal
Mold and Yeast: Mold spores and yeast can be dangerous when inhaled, especially for immunocompromised individuals. Certain molds, like aspergillus, can cause infections or respiratory issues. In Colorado, the regulatory limits for total yeast and mold (outlined in Colorado Marijuana Rule 4-215) are designed to help protect consumers from these risks.
Heavy Metals: Arsenic, cadmium, and lead are toxic metals that can accumulate in plants from soil, water, or fertilizer. When inhaled in contaminated cannabis smoke, these metals pose long-term health risks, including neurological, cardiovascular, and renal damage. The fact that the RRSA batch “exceeded acceptable limits” suggests that the contamination was significant enough to warrant serious concern.
Why Recalls Are Increasing: Regulatory Trends
Colorado has one of the more stringent testing and recall regimes in the U.S. Its system requires:
- Thorough testing: All regulated cannabis products must be tested for potency and contaminants, including microbial and heavy metal testing.
- Recall plans: Licensees must follow strict recall procedures. Under Colorado’s rules (1 CCR 212-3), companies are required to identify affected products, issue distribution notifications, and alert the MED, the CDPHE, and consumers within 48 hours.
- Consumer notification: When a recall occurs, licensees have to use multiple methods to notify consumers from email blasts and in-store signage to press releases.
These rules are in place precisely because of the public health risks posed by contaminated cannabis, but the recent uptick in recalls has raised questions about whether the system is working as intended.
How Growers and Dispensaries Are Responding
In the case of the RRSA recall, the MED and CDPHE are working closely with the company to ensure affected product is removed from the market and disposed of safely. For other recalls, like the one involving 710 Labs, the company itself has pledged to overhaul internal processes, re-test inventory, and collaborate with regulators to prevent future incidents.
Bud & Mary’s (MedPharm Holdings) has also publicly committed to improving quality control. After the mold recall early this year, the company announced plans to audit their facilities, enhance testing protocols, and invest in better technology for detecting microbial contamination.
What Consumers Should Do Now
- Check Your Product
- Examine the packaging for license number 403R-01182, which matches RRSA’s outdoor grow license.
- Look up the dispensary where you bought your flower, and cross-reference with the MED’s list of affected retailers.
- Dispose or Return
- Don’t consume any product matching the recalled batch. Either return it to the dispensary or safely destroy it.
- Don’t consume any product matching the recalled batch. Either return it to the dispensary or safely destroy it.
- Report Issues
- If you feel unwell after using the product, seek medical help.
- Report any health concerns to the MED via their MED Reporting Form so public health authorities can track incidents.
- Stay Informed
- Sign up for MED Health & Safety Advisories to get real-time alerts when new recalls happen.
- Always buy products with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) that shows accurate test results.
Why This Matters for the Colorado Market
- Trust and Transparency: Recalls can erode consumer trust, even in a regulated market. When brands proactively handle a recall, it helps, but repeated incidents may make people wary.
- Regulatory Pressure: The surge in safety notices is putting pressure on the MED, CDPHE, and growers to tighten quality control and be more transparent.
- Public Health: Mold and heavy metals are not minor issues. For vulnerable populations like those with respiratory conditions, the stakes are high.
- Industry Reputation: Colorado was an early pioneer in the legal cannabis market but recurring safety problems risk its reputation as a model for regulation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The recall targets a flower batch grown by RRSA, LLC (license 403R-01182), specifically the strain Gorilla Glue #4 (GG4) sold between September 24 and November 5, 2025.
The batch failed testing for total mold and yeast, and also exceeded acceptable limits for arsenic, cadmium, and lead, which are toxic heavy metals.
The affected cannabis was sold in twenty dispensaries, mostly in the Denver area, plus at least one in Colorado Springs.
Yes. Earlier in 2025, there was a recall involving 710 Labs (mold, yeast, aspergillus) across 172 stores. Also, Bud & Mary’s issued a recall for nine harvest batches due to microbial contamination.
Mold/yeast: Can cause respiratory issues or infections, particularly for immunocompromised users.
Heavy metals: Arsenic, cadmium, and lead can damage vital organs (kidneys, brain, heart) over time, especially when inhaled.
They should stop using it immediately, return it to the dispensary for proper disposal, or destroy it safely. If they feel sick, they should seek medical advice and report their symptoms to the MED.
Colorado’s regulatory system requires:
– Strict testing of all regulated cannabis products.
– A formal recall plan when problems arise, including product identification and consumer notification.
– Surveillance testing — unannounced inspections where regulators collect and test retail products to validate compliance.
– Licensees must publicly notify consumers and report to the MED and CDPHE when a recall is in effect.
Consumers can sign up for MED Health & Safety Advisories on the MED website to receive real-time alerts about recalls.
Is Colorado Weed Safe?
The recent recall in Colorado involving mold, yeast, and dangerous heavy metals in cannabis flower grown by RRSA, LLC exposes a serious and recurring safety challenge in the state’s legal market. While regulators and producers are taking action, consumers need to stay vigilant, check their product labels, and report any health issues. As Colorado’s surveillance testing ramps up, the hope is that these recalls will become less frequent and manufacturers will improve quality control to restore trust in regulated cannabis.
If you grow your own cannabis, make sure this doesn’t happen to your flower and read our guide on Pest and Disease Management!
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