The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) fined medical marijuana giant Trulieve (OTC:TCNNF) in relation to the death of a company's employee in 2022. A company representative signed a tentative settlement with CCC, agreeing to a fine in the amount of $350,000.
What Happened: On Jan. 4, Lorna McMurrey (27) complained she could not breathe, presumably due to cannabis kief (cannabis dust) in the air where she was grinding and packaging pre-rolls. She was taken to a local hospital where she died on Jan. 7, 2022. According to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this was the first known case of an occupational asthma death in the U.S. cannabis industry. The report confirmed that the occupational asthma was triggered by ground cannabis dust, and revealed that Trulieve committed three "serious" violations assessed by OSHA for which it paid fines totaling $35,219.
‘Failed To Comply' Several Safety Protocols
Now, the CCC's report indicates that Trulieve had "failed to comply" with several safety protocols, including "process Marijuana in a safe and sanitary manner," through 2021 and into 2022, writes MjBizDaily.
"Respondent [Trulieve] operated the Mobius Mill and Rocketbox, machines that generate substantial amounts of Marijuana dust, in a small, fully enclosed room ...