The recall was prompted by a lack of faith in results from Viridis, a Michigan-based laboratory with two locations.
However, when a state judge reversed parts of the recall, state regulators said they had few options but to release the marijuana that failed retesting for possible sale.
Aspergillus has potential to cause Aspergillosis, a lung infection that can be fatal.
In response, Yokhana asked Price to “look at the original testing,” indicating that despite failed retesting the marijuana met safety standards prior to the recall.
3, Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray overturned part of the recall, saying since the audit only pertained to the Lansing lab, the recall for product tested in Bay City wasn’t justified.
Samer Yokhana is named in state licensing records as a supplemental applicant, meaning he is a manager or partial owner, of two marijuana grows, including Vasmed in Vassar and Elite Pharms in Bloomfield Hills.
Thaier Fandakly, who identified himself in an email with state officials as a technology manager representing Mediq Laboratories, a Linwood-based grow facility, became so frustrated with the MRA’s failure to clear failed marijuana, that he complained in emails sent directly to Gov.
MLive sent several messages to the email address in MRA records for Mediq Laboratories, and received no response.
Three other companies with emails included in the MRA records release — Green Mitten Pharms in Bentley, Wanda Products in Luzerne and Golden Harvests in Bay City — said by phone or email their marijuana was never sold to customers or never failed testing but was on hold awaiting retesting.
Emails from Jeff Tenniswood, who’s listed in state records as an owner of Troy-based Wanda Products, were included in the MRA records release, but Tenniswood said in a call with MLive his company’s marijuana never failed safety testing.
“The whole reason for having a regulated market” is to ensure product safety, Tenniswood said.
“When we were taken to court in an effort to stop the recall, we raised concerns through our court pleadings about potential health and safety concerns.
“The failed retests have no bearing on the accuracy of our initial laboratory results,” Viridis Laboratories CEO Greg Michaud said in December.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.