Minnesota's First Cannabis Product Recalls: What Consumers Need to Know About Beezwax and Tidal Wave Vapes

Minnesota's adult-use cannabis market was less than two months old when the state's Office of Cannabis Management issued its first two product recalls in March 2026. Two brands, Beezwax and Tidal Wave, had vapes and pre-rolls on store shelves labeled as low-dose or hemp-compliant products. Test results showed those labels were wrong. Retailers across Minnesota were ordered to pull the products immediately.

These were not isolated incidents involving niche products. Beezwax vapes had been distributed to cannabis retail stores and hemp retailers, including tobacco shops and CBD stores, statewide. Tidal Wave disposable vapes were on shelves in four flavors at retailers throughout Minnesota.

For anyone who bought these products, or who shops at hemp and convenience stores for THC products, the recalls raised a straightforward question: how do you know what you are buying contains what the label says?

The Two Recalls: What Was Pulled and Why

Recall PR-2026-01: Beezwax Brand Vapes and Pre-Rolls

On March 2, 2026, Kooka LLC initiated a voluntary recall of all flavors of Beezwax brand 2.5-gram disposable vapes and 1-gram hemp pre-rolls. The OCM issued the official recall notice on March 12, 2026, citing a serious consumer health risk.

The products were labeled as falling under the 2018 Farm Bill and carried a statement that they contained less than 0.3% delta-9 THC. According to the OCM, test results contradicted that claim. The products contained "high amounts of THC which is not disclosed on the label." The agency stated this posed "a serious threat to the health of consumers."

The recall covered all flavors with no lot-number restrictions. Beezwax product labels did not include lot numbers or any other batch-specific information, which meant the entire product line was treated as affected regardless of when it was manufactured.

Recall PR-2026-02: Tidal Wave Brand Vapes

Sixteen days later, on March 18, 2026, Ocean Wholesale LLC initiated a recall of all flavors of Tidal Wave brand 3.5-gram disposable vapes. The affected flavors were White Widow, Gorilla Glue, Strawberry Tsunami, and Pineapple Express. The OCM issued the official recall notice on March 20, 2026, documenting the same mislabeling problem.

Some Tidal Wave products were labeled as containing less than 0.3% THC9. Others had no THC disclosure at all. Like Beezwax, the product labels did not include lot numbers, so the entire product line was subject to recall.

Retailers who ignored the recall order faced civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation under OCM enforcement authority, plus potential criminal referral. KSTP reported on the Tidal Wave recall shortly after the notice was issued.

Why Mislabeled THC Products Are Dangerous

Most people who reach for a product labeled "low dose" or "hemp-compliant" are expecting a mild experience. First-time cannabis users, older adults trying cannabis for the first time, and people who want a subtle, manageable effect are the most likely buyers of low-dose vapes and pre-rolls.

When those products actually contain high levels of THC, the consequences range from uncomfortable to medically serious. Unexpected high-THC exposure can cause rapid heart rate, severe anxiety or panic attacks, nausea, disorientation, and in extreme cases, cannabis-induced psychosis in people who are susceptible. Someone who takes two or three puffs expecting minimal effect and gets an unexpectedly strong dose has no way to undo that experience once it begins.

The Beezwax and Tidal Wave recalls were not about products that slightly exceeded a regulatory threshold. Both were marketed specifically as low-dose or hemp-compliant and then found by lab testing to contain significantly more THC than disclosed.

The THCa Loophole: Why "Hemp" Vapes Can Hit Harder Than They Look

The mislabeling problem in the vape and pre-roll market has a specific legal and chemical explanation that is worth understanding.

Under the 2018 federal Farm Bill, hemp is defined as cannabis containing less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. Products that meet that threshold are legal to sell as hemp in most states. However, cannabis plants also produce THCa, the acidic precursor to THC. THCa is not psychoactive on its own, and standard hemp compliance testing focuses on delta-9 THC, not THCa.

When THCa is heated, as when you vaporize it, it converts to delta-9 THC through a chemical process called decarboxylation. A product that contains 20% THCa and 0.2% delta-9 THC can technically pass a hemp compliance test, but when vaped, the THCa converts to active THC and the consumer experiences the same effect as a high-potency cannabis product.

Some manufacturers exploit this distinction to sell products labeled as hemp while delivering effects that match or exceed licensed adult-use cannabis. Minnesota's guide to delta-9 THC laws covers how state law tries to address this gap, but enforcement depends on testing, and testing depends on having rigorous standards in place.

The OCM has been strengthening those standards. Lab Bulletin LB-2026-02, issued March 11, 2026, tightened requirements for infused edible product testing. Additional lab bulletins issued in April 2026 expanded testing requirements further for vape products. The March 2026 recalls suggest these standards are working: products that failed testing were caught and removed before more consumers were affected.

How OCM Product Recalls Work

The OCM can require or accept voluntary recalls of any cannabis or hemp product that fails Minnesota's safety or labeling standards. All active and historical recalls are published at mn.gov/ocm/businesses/recalls.jsp.

When a recall is issued, licensed retailers receive direct notification and must pull affected products from shelves immediately. Failure to comply triggers civil penalties and potential criminal prosecution.

One important limitation: cannabis recalls are not broadcast through widespread consumer notification systems like grocery or pharmaceutical recalls. The OCM posts notices on its website and communicates directly with licensed businesses. Consumers are largely responsible for checking the recalls page themselves, or for relying on their retailers to have already removed the products. For people who buy THC products from unlicensed retailers (hemp shops, tobacco stores, gas stations), that protection is even thinner, since those businesses may receive recall notices but face less direct oversight.

What to Do If You Have Recalled Products

If you purchased any of the following, stop using them immediately:

• Beezwax brand disposable vapes (2.5-gram, any flavor)
• Beezwax brand hemp pre-rolls (1-gram, any flavor)
• Tidal Wave brand disposable vapes (3.5-gram) in White Widow, Gorilla Glue, Strawberry Tsunami, or Pineapple Express

For disposal, the OCM guidance is to dispose of cannabis products per applicable regulations. In practice, mix the product with an undesirable substance such as coffee grounds or dirt before discarding in household trash. Do not flush cannabis products.

For a refund, contact the retailer where you made the purchase or reach out to the manufacturer directly. Kooka LLC handles Beezwax refunds; Ocean Wholesale LLC handles Tidal Wave refunds.

If you experienced adverse effects after using these products, contact the Minnesota Poison Control System at 1-800-222-1222, or seek medical attention if symptoms are severe.

How to Protect Yourself Going Forward

The clearest protection against mislabeled cannabis products is buying from licensed adult-use dispensaries rather than unlicensed hemp retailers.

Licensed dispensaries in Minnesota carry products that have been tested by OCM-licensed labs and must accurately disclose THC content, serving sizes, and total package limits. The Minnesota dispensary directory lists licensed retailers by city across the state. Budtenders at licensed dispensaries are also a good resource for first-time buyers; the first-timer dispensary guide covers what to expect.

Hemp shops, tobacco stores, and convenience stores can legally sell hemp-derived THC products in Minnesota under a separate licensing framework. Both the Beezwax and Tidal Wave recalls involved products distributed through those channels in addition to licensed cannabis stores, so the risk is not limited to one type of retailer.

Additional steps that reduce your exposure:

• Check the OCM recalls page at mn.gov/ocm/businesses/recalls.jsp before trying a new product from an unlicensed retailer
• Ask to see a certificate of analysis from a Minnesota-licensed testing lab before buying any hemp-derived THC vape
• Be cautious of vapes labeled only with THCa percentages, or labeled "hemp-compliant" without a specific delta-9 THC milligram disclosure
• Note that the absence of lot numbers on a product label is a red flag; both recalled products lacked them

The broader transition of hemp edible businesses onto OCM's licensing framework, which took effect March 31, 2026, is expected to reduce the number of products reaching consumers without proper testing. That process is covered in more detail in the LPHE licensing guide.

Minnesota's Recall System Is Working

The Beezwax and Tidal Wave recalls are uncomfortable news, but they represent the OCM doing exactly what a functioning regulatory agency is supposed to do. Products that failed safety standards were caught through testing, pulled from shelves, and disclosed publicly. That outcome is only possible because Minnesota has a testing and recall infrastructure in place.

Before Minnesota's adult-use market launched, hemp-derived THC products circulated through gas stations and tobacco shops with almost no testing requirements or consumer recourse. Mislabeled products existed; there was just no mechanism to catch them. These recalls are the visible evidence that oversight is working, not a sign that the market is broken.

The OCM has indicated that licensed testing lab capacity is growing, with additional facilities expected to receive final approval through mid-2026. That expansion should reduce the backlogs that have allowed some products to linger in the supply chain without full testing. Until then, buying from licensed dispensaries and checking the OCM recalls page remain the most reliable forms of consumer protection available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Beezwax and Tidal Wave products still being sold in Minnesota?

No. Both were subject to statewide recalls under OCM notices PR-2026-01 and PR-2026-02 in March 2026. All licensed retailers were required to immediately cease sales and dispose of remaining inventory. If you see these products for sale at any retailer, that business is in violation of OCM requirements. You can report compliance concerns at mn.gov/ocm.

What should I do if I got sick after using a recalled product?

Stop using the product immediately. For medical concerns, contact the Minnesota Poison Control System at 1-800-222-1222, or go to an emergency room if your symptoms are severe. For a refund on the product, contact the retailer where you bought it or reach out directly to Kooka LLC (Beezwax) or Ocean Wholesale LLC (Tidal Wave).

How do I find out if a cannabis product I bought has been recalled?

Check the OCM product recalls page at mn.gov/ocm/businesses/recalls.jsp. The page lists all active and past recalls with product descriptions and the reason for recall. Unlike grocery or pharmaceutical recalls, cannabis recalls are not sent directly to individual consumers, so checking the page periodically is the most reliable way to stay current.

Why do some hemp vapes say "THCa" on the label instead of "THC"?

THCa is the raw, acidic form of THC found in unheated cannabis. It is not psychoactive by itself, and federal hemp law defines compliance using delta-9 THC content rather than THCa. Some manufacturers label products with a high THCa percentage while keeping delta-9 THC under 0.3%, which passes a technical hemp compliance test. When you vape the product, heat converts the THCa to active delta-9 THC, and the consumer experiences a full-potency effect despite the hemp label. The OCM is working to close this gap through stricter testing requirements.

Is it safer to buy cannabis from a licensed dispensary than a hemp or tobacco shop?

Yes. Products at licensed adult-use dispensaries must meet OCM testing and labeling requirements and are subject to ongoing state oversight. Hemp shops and tobacco stores operate under a lighter regulatory framework. Both Minnesota recalls in 2026 involved products that were distributed through hemp retailers and tobacco shops in addition to licensed cannabis stores. Buying from a licensed dispensary does not eliminate all risk, but it significantly reduces the chance that you will encounter mislabeled or non-compliant products.