Cannabis Business
NEWS
Infused Pre-Rolls
Why Are They Not Available in Missouri Dispensaries ?
We asked Brooke Foster , the Chief Executive Officer of COCO Labs , LLC and COCO Dispensaries , LLC , for her take about why infused pre-rolls are not allowed to be manufactured for sale to patients in Missouri . Here ’ s what Brooke had to say .
The Missouri medical marijuana market is growing and growing rapidly . Today , a typical dispensary in Missouri probably has upwards of 200 SKUs , and we are only a year into this new market . As with any industry , new brands and new products are a lifeline to longevity . Recently as new products are manufactured , COCO Dispensaries and COCO Labs receive numerous patient requests to see infused pre-rolls on the store shelves , which the state does not currently allow for sale . Other states with more mature markets offer these products , and Missouri patients want access as well . COCO Labs has initiated a discussion with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services ( DHSS ) to provide education and standard operating procedures to develop availability of infused pre-roll products for future patient use .
The proposed infused pre-roll product line from COCO Labs would not contain new forms or formulations of cannabis products that are not already being sold in Missouri . It would simply combine two already available forms of cannabis ( terpene-infused distillate and ground cannabis flower ) into this one product . It plans to essentially add terpene-infused distillate to a marijuana pre-roll . This product is intended to be smoked and inhaled like any other currently available pre-rolled cannabis cigarette . Hopefully , the DHSS will recognize this as a combination of already existing products and allow infused pre-rolls to be manufactured and sold to patients in our great state .
The DHSS has done an amazing job thus far , and , quite honestly , all the business challenges that we ’ ve faced are compounded immensely on their side of the line . We must all remember , like it or not , cannabis is still illegal federally , which presents ongoing challenges for everyone .
16 April 2022
Photo by Danielle Million of Unusual Imagery .
The proposed infused pre-roll products are potent , no doubt about it , and those characteristics must certainly be taken into consideration . COCO encourages all users to proceed with caution with this type of product as it could be a bit overwhelming . The end result needs to bring relief and desired effects to our patients . COCO Labs believes this is a product that is not only desired by patients — but needed . Thousands of patients experience daily pain levels that are beyond our comprehension . They need relief and access to marijuana in all forms and at levels that can give relief and discourage them from engaging in street opioids or other harmful , addictive pharmaceuticals .
As with any medical marijuana product , safety and education are the highest priorities . Before even contacting DHSS , COCO Labs did its due diligence by submitting Standard Operating Procedures ( SOPs ) to a licensed Missouri testing facility . We asked it to evaluate our procedures to determine if there would be any issues with testing this type of product . After all , if this product cannot be tested compliantly , it needs to be taken to the chopping block immediately . The testing lab confirmed that they received our SOPs , reviewed them entirely , and came to the conclusion that this product could indeed be tested in a manner that complies with Missouri DHSS rules and regulations , not to mention the regulations of its state-of-the-art testing facility . It also stated that prior to releasing compliance test results , all relevant test methods would be evaluated with matrix spiking experiments to ensure they are appropriate and sufficient for providing technically valid determinations of all mandated cannabinoids , contaminants , and other analytes of interest . COCO ’ s SOPs outlined everything from materials and tools used to the preparation of the flower , packaging , and storage of the product . COCO ’ s processes are clean and transparent . This product is simply a child of two already tested and viable products on