CRC fines Green Medicine NJ $7,000 after investigation finds foreign matter in product

The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission voted Oct. 17 to impose a $7,000 sanction on Green Medicine NJ LLC after the Office of Compliance and Investigations reported testing found foreign matter in multiple samples and identified compromised lots that prompted a recall and destruction of affected plants and product.

Director Riggs summarized the investigation: an anonymous complaint alleged hair and insects in product; staff conducted testing and sampling, determined certain lots and batch numbers were potentially compromised, issued a recall, and confirmed the licensee followed recall procedures and destroyed affected material. The office nonetheless characterized the incident as a regulatory violation because products must be free of foreign matter.

Chairwoman Wenu framed the vote by noting the scale of the test results and consumer risk: "To have 14 samples tested and only 1 come back clean of foreign matter, that's not okay," she said on the record. Commissioners voted to impose the monetary sanction; the board also directed staff to continue follow-up with the licensee on remediation and communications to consumers.

What the penalty covers: the sanction was framed as a civil administrative penalty reflecting the seriousness of a contamination event and to account for the record and remediation undertaken by the licensee. Staff said the recall notice and enforcement materials would be posted and consumers were encouraged to return contaminated products.

Next steps: Office of Compliance will confirm recall completion, update the enforcement record publicly and ensure corrective measures are implemented before the licensee resumes normal operations.