Anne Hassel, Self

I am a physical therapist who so strongly believed in medical marijuana that I went to work in a Massachusetts marijuana dispensary for 1.5 years as a budtender.  My dispensary sold high-potency products.  There were rashes, mildew, and mold on the marijuana; the labeled weight was incorrect; batches were mixed with different testing results; marijuana plants were dunked in barrels of hydrogen peroxide, calling it industry standard; and container lids were inadvertently switched, causing wrong dosage.  My corporation even sold to pregnant women. 

Due to the belief that labs could not adequately test edibles, there was a doubling of the potency, which could cause overdosing.  I contacted a lab to test for toxins.  I was told that Massachusetts only tests for 19 contaminants, while Nevada tests for 200.  I was told by the lab that the dispensaries ordered them to not test for more toxins or they wouldn’t give them business.  I contacted the Medical Marijuana Program about toxic marijuana production but received no response.  The Department of Public Health gave my corporation an extension to a waiver from dangerous pesticides and heavy metals in products.

My dispensary was selling high-potency THC concentrates (wax shatter testing at over 94% THC, BHO, or dabs).  We have always been told that marijuana should have a calming, peaceful, happy effect on people.  However, my patients and coworkers were describing being ill, and they were looking unhappy and angry.  I noticed that patients who consumed dabs would be prone to IED (Intermittent Explosive Disorder) outbursts in the dispensary.  It was extremely powerful.

After consuming (dabbing) toxic and contaminated high potency THC concentrates, I had heavy metal poisoning.  In addition to physical harm, I developed all 11 out of 11 symptoms of CUD (Cannabis Use Disorder) and CIP (Cannabis-Induced Psychosis).  I was fortunate to wake up to the harm and quit the industry as well as marijuana.  I found the courage to speak out about the marijuana industry’s unethical, deceptive, and dangerous practices.