Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency Bans Harmful Diluents in E-Cigarettes

According to a report from the Detroit Free Press on June 27th, the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) in the state of Michigan is taking measures to ban the use of the diluent MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides) in e-cigarettes, which may be harmful to consumers.

According to regulations released by the agency on Thursday (27th), starting from October 1st, marijuana oil used in e-cigarettes must undergo MCT oil testing before being placed on shelves for sale.

In a statement, CRA Executive Director Brian Hanna expressed that

From the perspective of public health and safety, the potential adverse effects of MCT oil underscore the importance of establishing safety guidelines in product development.

A few months ago, the CEO of a marijuana testing company with a lab in Michigan expressed concerns to the Detroit Free Press about potentially harmful substances, such as MCT oil, in marijuana products. Josh Swider, co-founder and CEO of Infinite Chemical Analysis Lab, stated in March of this year that over 30% of marijuana e-cigarettes and edibles tested by the lab recently contained MCT oil, synthetic converted marijuana oil, or pesticides, some of which are banned within the state.

Upon learning of the new regulations, Swaid expressed, "I am pleased to see regulatory agencies taking action to prioritize public safety.

Similar measures have been adopted by other states. For example, in 2019, Colorado banned the use of MCT oil in marijuana products for inhalation. That same year, Michigan temporarily halted the sale of marijuana e-cigarettes before the start of recreational marijuana sales, due to cases of illness and death linked to vitamin E acetate used to dilute THC in illicit market electronic pods.

Although MCT oil is a safe ingredient in food, scientists say that inhaling these substances can cause inflammation in the lungs, potentially leading to bronchitis and pneumonia.

Robin Schneider, executive director of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, mentioned in a statement that several retail members of the association have voluntarily removed products from shelves and conducted inventory checks to ensure that the branded products being sold do not contain MCT oil.

In the future, this type of testing will be conducted before retailers purchase inventory from manufacturers, reducing the burden on retailers and ensuring that the products they sell are safe.

When asked about whether Michigan would allow the conversion of marijuana oil to THC in April, CRA spokesperson David Harns stated in an email in April that

We intend to explicitly specify in the new regulations that Michigan prohibits the conversion of CBD into THC.

The proposed amendment to the state's marijuana regulations introduced nearly a year ago includes a provision banning conversions.

Harns said he hopes the official public hearing process for the new regulations will begin in the summer or early fall of this year. The state testing laboratories, which are planned to be open by the end of the year, will help uncover more "unknown" ingredients in cannabis products.