Liver Injuries Linked to Recalled Colorado Cannabis Edible

Cannabis regulators in Colorado have warned consumers that a cannabis-infused edible sold in the state has been linked to liver injuries.

In a notice published on June 1, the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) said that it had been made aware of “adverse health events” related to 1906 Midnight Drops, a cannabis-infused edible marketed as a sleep aid.

All Midnight Drops produced prior to March 1, 2022, reportedly contained "Corydalis rhizome" extract, according to the DOR. Corydalis is a flowering plant. A rhizome is the mass of roots found at the base of the plant, under the soil.

Tetrahydropalmatine (THP), an active ingredient in Corydalis extract, has been connected to poisoning cases, but the DOR hasn’t confirmed that THP is related to the current reports of liver injuries.

Sima Sciences, the manufacturer of Midnight Drops, has asserted that no drops produced on or after March 1, 2022, contain any Corydalis ingredients, but instead contain an extract of the plant Stephania. Yet Stephania also contains THP, specifically the levo-tetrahydropalmatine (L-THP) isomer.

“MED [Marijuana Enforcement Division] and CDPHE [Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment] have received reports of Adverse Health Events, including elevated liver enzymes that may indicate acute liver injury, that claim to be connected with the consumption of Midnight Drops produced after March 1, 2022, which presumably contain the Stephania extract containing L-THP,” the DOR wrote in its notice.

Sima Sciences has now stopped production of its “Midnight” line and is actively working with retailers to withdraw the products from the market, according to the DOR.

Any consumers who experience adverse health effects from the products have been advised to seek medical attention immediately and report the event to the MED by submitting a Reporting Form.