Colorado state officials have, for the first time, issued a health-and-safety advisory for marijuana products from two Colorado Springs cultivation facilities found to be treated with an unapproved pesticide.
Issued in November, Gov. Hickenlooper’s new executive order declared marijuana containing banned pesticides a public health hazard — ensuring that any and all recalled products would be destroyed. It also established a state agency called the Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) to investigate possible violations.
Over the last few months, Denver Department of Environmental Health officials have recalled a number of cannabis products that tested positive for banned pesticides. But this is the first time that state-sponsored MED has issued an official advisory. The advisory comes after Colorado Department of Agriculture inspectors discovered the fungicide Myclobutanil on products from the two facilities.
It’s up to the Colorado Department of Revenue’s enforcement division to decide whether the two culvitators, Dr. Releaf Inc and Levity Wellness, will face disciplinary action.
The advisory is for plants grown as far back as August 2015, and affects an unknown quantity of products.
“Over time,” said Andrew Freedman, director of the Governor’s marijuana policy, “we anticipate that compliance rates will improve and these instances will become less prevalent.”