Holyoke City Council Demands Firmer Protocols In Marijuana Industry Following Death Of Trulieve Employee

Holyoke City Council is asking the Mayor and Board of Health to form enforcement and inspectional procedures for the booming marijuana industry following the death of a cannabis employee in January, reported Mass Live.

Ward 5 Councilor Linda Vacon filed an order after Lorna L. McMurrey, 27, died at a Trulieve TCNNF cannabis production facility in Holyoke. The council approved the order and finding on Tuesday.

Michigan Cannabis Control Commission, which is in charge of enforcement authority over the state’s retail, adult-use and medical marijuana entities, is also taking an active role in an ongoing investigation of the multi-state operator, which includes the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA).

“It’s not seeking us to get involved in an ongoing investigation, but to seek clarity and steps moving forward,” Vacon said, “relative to regulating and enforcing and inspecting a fast-growing business in our city.”

So far, the only official document in the case is the OSHA report, which states the case is still open and the content is subject to change. According to the report, Trulieve committed three “serious” violations assessed by OSHA for which it paid fines totaling $35,219.

This is not the first time that OSHA has issued penalties against Trulieve over alleged regulatory violations at its cultivation facilities, according to TheShoeString. In March, Trulieve settled an OSHA case in Pennsylvania, where it was accused of violating a regulation demanding businesses to report involving in-patient hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye in the case of employees and workers.

OSHA also cited the company two years ago for violating respiratory protection and hazard communication regulations at its cultivation facility in Quincy, Florida.

According to Vacon, Trulieve has been under active investigation since early 2021, meaning many months before McMurry incident.

Vacon’s order advises Mayor Joshua A. Garcia and the Board of Health to act on improving inspection and regulatory effectiveness and proposed that “the city tap into over $3.5 million in cannabis impact fees it collects.”

“This was seen by the committee as a good use of those funds in light of the death of a worker,” Vacon said. “Unfortunately, it did bring to all of our attention along with some other enforcement questions that have been coming up.”

According to the report, the Board of Health doesn’t have enough funds and staffing to properly inspect all marijuana facilities.

In addition, Ward 4 councilor Kocayne Givner filed an order to “pause” accepting new marijuana business permit applications, excluding delivery services for established and operating businesses. If the order passes through the moratorium would last “until there are systems, staff/departments to support associated health and safety code enforcement as outlined by the Cannabis Control Commission and the City of Holyoke.”

Recent Updates On The Incident

The news comes on the heels of Trulieve issuing an official statement on the case.

Trulieve expressed condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Lorna McMurrey. “The safety of our team members is vital to us and we value all 9,000 employees who make Trulieve a family,” spokesperson Rob Kremer said, while also clarifying inaccurate information from other media outlets.

The statement came about a week after McMurrey’s family opened up to a local NBC station in an effort to prevent similar tragedies.

The company confirmed OSHA issued its fines under the “hazard communication standard,” which Trulieve is contesting. It added though that it is open to “good ideas about any improvements that are necessary.”

Photo: Courtesy of Kindel Media by Pexels