The use of dangerous pesticides in cannabis production has led to nine product recalls in Colorado—all in just 10 weeks. And while the companies involved have issued statements regarding the recalls to inform consumers, the incidents shed light on a growing problem for legal cannabis states: the use of pesticides.
As the legal cannabis industry continues to find new states in which to plant roots, states are left to their own devices to address pesticide use, which can pose a serious threat to public health. Unlike other crops that are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, legal-cannabis cultivators are not given federal guidance on what pesticides and fungicides they may or may not use. And while some states have created their own pesticide-use policies for legal cannabis growers, others lack such regulatory guidance, or have struggled to enforce it. Fortunately, patients in Illinois are guaranteed pesticide-free medicine through the state’s strict controls for medical cannabis cultivation.
Serious safety concerns
Cannabis contaminated with certain pesticides poses a significant health risk to both those who work around the plant and those who consume it. And pesticide exposure can be especially harmful for patients, many of whom may already have a weakened immune system.
“As medical cannabis patients already possess negative health complications, exposure to pesticides may create additional health complications and interfere with other health care approaches,” explained an article in the Journal of Toxicology.
“In addition, the awareness of proper and safe pesticide use and application is very important to any crop that will be consumed, especially one that will be inhaled.”
A patchwork of laws
While legal cannabis states are starting to tackle pesticide use head on, advocacy groups recognize the “void” created by a lack of federal oversight due to cannabis being a Schedule 1 drug. Cannabis’ Schedule 1 status means states’ cannabis laws continue to clash with federal law. “In the absence of federal regulations governing pesticides in cannabis production, the use of pesticides not registered by the EPA is understood to be illegal,” explained Beyond Pesticides, a D.C.-based nonprofit that addresses pesticide use in regard to public health and the environment. An examination of legal cannabis states’ pesticide policies reveals a myriad of approaches to protecting consumers and the environment.
Earlier this month, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper issued an executive order directing state agencies to “address threats to public safety posed by marijuana contaminated by pesticide.” The state also continues to update its guidance for cultivators regarding what chemicals they can and cannot use on cannabis.
In Oregon, recreational and medical cannabis will soon be required to undergo laboratory testing that will screen for nearly 60 pesticides commonly used in cannabis cultivation. “Though Oregon currently mandates pesticide testing for medical marijuana, a combination of lax state rules, inconsistent lab practices and inaccurate test results has allowed pesticide-laced products to enter the medical marijuana market,” explained The Oregonian in a recent article, noting the new testing rules will go into effect next year.
California, which has been coined the “Wild West” of medical cannabis states, recently enacted new legislation to go into effect next year that clearly addresses pesticide use. “The use of pesticides is not adequately regulated due to the omissions in federal law, and cannabis cultivated in California for California patients can and often does contain pesticide residues,” explained the new law.
Illinois Sets Example
Illinois is among the few states that created a strong regulatory framework to limit pesticide use from the start of its medical cannabis pilot program. Protocols, which include mandatory testing by a third-party laboratory, ensure patients are receiving safe medical cannabis.
To learn more about how strict controls in Illinois ensure high-quality medicine, click here.