Marijuana-infused soda removed from pot shops after bottles explode

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Marijuana can be an explosive issue, but apparently the products can be, too.

In Washington state, marijuana-infused soda has been removed from store shelves at several marijuana distributors because the bottles have a tendency to blow up.

Why? A high-yeast concentration reportedly caused carbon-dioxide to develop within the glass bottles, which spontaneously combusted.

KOMO-TV reports a shop called Top Shelf Cannabis got 331 bottles of marijuana-infused pomegranate sparkling soda 10 days ago, sold 10 the first day, and the next morning, the rest started to self-destruct at random times throughout the day.

Two Vancouver pot shops had the same experience.

No injuries have been reported so far.

The maker, Mirth Provisions in Longview, Wash., admitted the problem to KOMO-TV. Adam Stites, founder of the company, said, "It was simply the fact that this batch had a higher yeast concentration and one of the byproducts of yeast is excess carbon dioxide."

The bottle couldn't handle the pressure.

Mirth Provisions says it will reimburse the shops for their orders, but there's a big question as to picking up and destroying the un-exploded bottles. The manufacturer is responsible for destroying unused marijuana products.

Zack Henifin, manager of Top Shelf Cannabis, said, "Everything has to have 100 percent traceability and if things are blowing up, then they are no longer good are they still going to be traced -- like, what happens?"

Top Shelf has been told by the state liquor control board the manufacturer has to come and pick them up, but Mirth Provisions says they don't have to do so, so they're letting the bottles explode on their own.