We’ve just confirmed 11 cases of E. coli in AZ. Our cases appear to be part of a multi-state outbreak that’s associated with Gouda cheese sold at Costco. Maricopa (5 stores), Pima (1 store) and Yavapai counties (1 store) are involved with the investigation and the suspect cheese has been held in back stock until testing is completed. Costco is cooperating with the investigation and is making it easy to return the cheese. You can check out the FDA media release for information about the investigation and some other basic information for consumers.
Our lab is testing samples of suspect cheese right now. Normally we could get results within a few hours, but cheese is full of all kinds of natural bacteria and we can’t run the typical rapid PCR test because of the competing DNA. Our culture test takes 72 hours, so we’ll know whether these cheeses are truly contaminated by Monday.
to the director
there’s rumored that your suggesting that dispensary owners put up a $500,000 bond? well it seems nothings changed no matter where you go. what your suggesting sir. your providing access to the rich and welloff. it isn’t fair and i will spend a fare amount of money seeking an attorney to search out the validity of such a scheme. sir anyone who can meet the basic requirements set forth in prop 203 should be good enough. the state will make more than enough money to implement this program soon enough and you know this to be true. this is a way for all your friends and buddies, to stake claim into something that many of us have spent years, time and dedication, fight for the rights of patients and now you want to give it away to someone who did neither. how dare you sir. i’m calling each and every advocacy group that will listen to demand a public hearing to fight such rules. it would be best to charge each established dispensary maybe 1.5-2.5% equity for 1 year if its money you need to implement prop 203 but a BOND. i wonder if PHARMACIES pay for bonds to do business. we are non-profits remember? dispensaries should be run by people who truely understand the plight of medically ill patients. not some wealthy fat cat. who would love to claim jump as your making it out to be, out to make huge profits and not giving a DAM for prop 203 or what it was designed do. if we did it your way sir thats exactly what will indeed happen believe me. charge 1% equity for 1 year per dispensary and you make more than enough money to implement the program or share some of the responsiblity’s with the dispensary agents per prop 203. we’re all trustworthy people here who can pass a background check right? we’re not going out of our way to break the law and chance loosing our license. thats for sure. think about sir. again,your idea doesn’t sit well with allot of folks because it isn’t fare. prop 203 was well designed by patients and folk who thought long and hard about what is best for the state and patients. it was designed for and by, many hard working advocates who have spent their life savings trying to achieve something good and decent. unlike california. things will be much different here so long as you keep those ideas to yourself sir. there is a better way. without casting pearls amongst swine.
The department has not initiated a rule on this (surety bond) and won’t begin unless it ultimately passes.