A cannabis firm, Trulieve has agreed to a $350,000 settlement with the state Cannabis Control Commission following the death of an employee at a growing facility in Holyoke, who succumbed to an asthma attack.
Trulieve, which previously shut down its three Massachusetts locations and has ceased operations within the state, originates from Florida and operates dispensaries across nine states. The company was fined almost $15,000 by OSHA due to its failure to perform a risk assessment connected to the death of the employee.
Lorna McMurrey, aged 27, suffered two severe asthma episodes at the site, the second of which proved fatal in 2022, as highlighted in a wrongful death lawsuit her family initiated in Hampden Superior Court. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation revealed that while McMurrey was handling pre-rolled cannabis, she breathed in significant amounts of cannabis dust.
Cannabis Control Commission Imposes $350,000 Penalty on Trulieve
The CCC unanimously passed a resolution fining Trulieve, which includes a mandate for the company to submit safety data sheets concerning ground and powdered cannabis, harvested and live cannabis plants, along with safety guidelines for handling cannabis allergens and a sample of standard operational procedures for managing cannabis allergens.
“The Commission is committed to ensuring that our license holders maintain a safe environment for both the public and their employees,” a commissioner commented. “While we cannot change what has already happened, our actions today will help foster a safer, more responsible industry nationwide, not just in Massachusetts.”
Trulieve Describes McMurrey’s Asthma Episodes as ‘Personal Health Issues’
McMurrey experienced severe breathing difficulties after her second asthma attack on the job, using her inhaler before losing consciousness. She passed away three days later in a hospital.
Prior to McMurrey’s tragic death, the Commission was already investigating employee complaints about the safety conditions at the Holyoke location. Trulieve had been cited for six safety violations. The Commission also found that Trulieve had not performed any safety audits for six months prior to McMurrey’s death. Despite recognizing cannabis dust as a potential hazard, no mask mandate was enforced for workers.
Following her collapses, Trulieve did not adequately address the seriousness of McMurrey’s condition, failing to assess cannabis dust as a serious allergen requiring respiratory protection, and dismissed her medical emergencies as mere “personal health issues,” as per CCC records.
The lawsuit involving Trulieve and its HVAC contractors is still underway.
Trulieve was unavailable for comment as of Monday evening.
