Curaleaf racks up three additional lawsuits after CBD product-labeling error

(A version of this story first appeared at MJBizDaily.)

Multistate marijuana operator Curaleaf now has been hit with four federal lawsuits in connection with a product-labeling snafu for its Select brand in Oregon that resulted in some customers ingesting high-THC instead of CBD wellness drops.

Curaleaf completed its acquisition of Portland-based Cura Cannabis, which owned the Select brand, in February 2020.

According to the lawsuits, filed between Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, at least three people went to hospital emergency departments after suffering adverse reactions.

Each of the four lawsuits against Curaleaf, filed in U.S. District Court in Portland by the same attorney, seek punitive damages up to 1% of Curaleaf’s net worth.

The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, which issued an expanded product recall on Sept. 24, said 13 people reported taking the mislabeled drops.

Massachusetts-based Curaleaf on Friday declined to comment on the litigation.

But a statement the company issued late last month attributed the mix-up to an “unintentional human error.”

Curaleaf said it has worked with Oregon regulators to recall the two batches in question. They were produced in May.

Approximately 500 bottles of CBD-labeled drops that contained elevated THC were sold before the recall as well as 630 bottles of THC-labeled drops that contained CBD but little or no THC, the company said.

The Oregonian reported that some customers who took drops from the mislabeled bottles might have received more than 30 milligrams of THC.

Curaleaf apologized to customers affected by the mistake and said it is reviewing production practices, improving quality assurance processes and conducting additional training.

State regulators continue to investigate but have allowed Curaleaf to continue normal business operators in Oregon, according to The Oregonian.