California’s legal cannabis industry has been marketed as a model of safety and regulation, promoting thoroughly tested, pesticide-free products. However, an investigation by The Times and WeedWeek revealed a different reality. Many cannabis products on dispensary shelves are far from the safe, regulated goods they claim to be, partly due to the absence of federal regulations for pesticides in cannabis production, posing potential health risks for recreational and medical cannabis users.
But, if you’ve yet to read this investigative piece because paywalls are a thing, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ll discuss some key insights from the investigation and why it’s important to know what goes into your cannabis products.
Investigation Highlights
To give you a summary of the findings, here are some of the key highlights from the investigation:
Toxic Pesticide Residues Contamination
The Times and WeedWeek conducted an extensive investigation, testing 42 cannabis products from dispensaries across California. The results were alarming: 25 of these products contained pesticides at levels exceeding state or federal standards, posing significant concerns and risks associated with pesticide exposure for cannabis consumers. These contaminants included chemicals known to cause cancer, liver failure, thyroid disease, and neurological damage. The presence of pesticide residues in cannabis samples highlights the potential health risks associated with consuming contaminated cannabis. Shockingly, some products even harbored as many as two dozen different pesticides.
Vapes were particularly concerning, with products from five major brands showing pesticide levels surpassing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) risk thresholds. This can lead to immediate symptoms such as lung, eye, and throat irritation, rash, headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Chronic exposure through regular use could result in long-term health risks, especially for medical marijuana users relying on these products for their health conditions. In one striking example, a vape from the top-selling brand Stiiizy was found to contain over 60 times the maximum amount of the insecticide pymetrozine allowed in cigarettes.
Regulatory Failures and Cannabis Industry Dynamics
Despite the severe risks, regulatory oversight has been inadequate. California’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has faced criticism for its lax enforcement, with delayed recalls and confidential orders allowing contaminated products to remain on shelves. The state’s cannabis testing requirements haven’t been updated since 2018, failing to account for new and dangerous pesticides currently used in cultivation.
For instance, tests identified seven off-list pesticides in legal products on store shelves, including fenvalerate, a fungicide banned in the U.S. since 2008, and pymetrozine, known to cause liver cancer and reproductive disorders. The widespread use of multiple pesticides in California’s marijuana products raises significant health concerns.
Profit incentives drive intensive growing practices and pesticide use by cannabis growers. The presence of pesticides on cannabis crops and their transfer into the cannabis smoke that users inhale pose serious health risks. The demand for bulk oils to produce vapes often leads to sourcing from lower-quality, sometimes illegally grown cannabis. These practices compromise product safety and undermine consumer trust in the legal market.
The Impact on Consumer Safety and Further Health Complications
Despite the state initiating market tests for pesticides and issuing some product recalls, many tainted products remain available to consumers. This is particularly troubling given the widespread use of cannabis among young adults and the reliance of medical users on these products. For example, contaminated batches identified by The Times and WeedWeek included over 250,000 vapes and pre-rolled joints on store shelves in two days.
The DCC has been slow to act on contamination complaints, and efforts to strengthen testing and enforcement have stalled. Legislation requiring independent fraud and accuracy checks has stalled in Sacramento for two years amid backroom negotiations between industry players and regulators. Meanwhile, consumers, including cannabis users, continue to be exposed to harmful chemicals, often without their knowledge.
Activists like Josh Swider have been instrumental in bringing these issues to light despite facing personal and professional repercussions. Swider’s efforts led to the recall of products like the Zoap flower sold by Grizzly Peak Farms, although many other tainted batches were left to sell out. The findings underscore the urgent need for updated regulations, rigorous enforcement, and transparent oversight to protect public health and ensure the safety of California’s legal cannabis market. The regulatory framework and actions taken by states like the Colorado Department highlight the importance of restricting pesticides in marijuana cultivation.
Honor Roll’s Promise to You
At Honor Roll Weed Delivery, we take the issue of pesticide contamination in cannabis products very seriously. We agree that the California cannabis industry needs significant improvements in regulation and enforcement to ensure the safety and quality of products available to consumers. Our commitment to working with small batches and ethical practices sets us apart and ensures we deliver only the best, clean cannabis products to our customers.
Our Commitment to Safe Cannabis
At Honor Roll, we maintain the highest standards of product quality and operational efficiency through a strategic approach known as small-batch purchasing. By consistently ordering smaller quantities of products, we ensure our inventory remains fresh and that we can swiftly adapt to fluctuations in customer demand. This meticulous selection process allows us to source products from safe cultivators who adhere to ethical cultivation practices, significantly minimizing the risk of pesticide contamination.
We prioritize clean cultivation methods aiming to avoid toxic pesticides and relying instead on sustainable and organic farming practices. By partnering with trusted growers and brands, we ensure that the cannabis crops we source are free from harmful pesticide residues and other contaminants.
Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of our business. We believe in complete transparency with our customers, clearly displaying our pricing without hidden fees and offering competitive rates to build trust and loyalty. Our customers can be confident that the price they see on the menu is the price they will pay. Additionally, we provide detailed information about the safety and testing of our products, ensuring our customers are well informed about what they are consuming.
The Need for Industry-Wide Change
The findings from The Times and WeedWeek investigation highlight the urgent need for change within the cannabis industry. The use of harmful pesticides and other contaminants not only poses a threat to consumers’ health but also tarnishes the industry’s reputation as a whole. Without proper regulations and standards in place, unethical practices can prevail and jeopardize the progress that has been made toward legalization.
We hope that by shedding light on these issues, we can bring attention to the need for industry-wide change and push for stricter regulations and enforcement. It is our responsibility as cannabis providers and members of the cannabis community to prioritize consumer safety above profits.
