Pesticides

Regulators with the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission this week issued fines totaling $165,000 to Curaleaf and Ascend Wellness, two of the state’s largest cannabis companies, for self-reported violations including improper pesticide use and failing to follow the state’s track-and-trace program.

A former California cannabis official has filed a lawsuit claiming she was fired after exposing widespread lab fraud and regulatory inaction.

California regulators recently destroyed hemp being grown in 22 greenhouses in Sutter County due to the presence of banned pesticides.

California this week ordered product recalls for five licensed cannabis products including four vape pens and a vape cartridge due to contamination with chlorfenapyr, which is a banned pesticide.

California’s Department of Cannabis Control recently issued mandatory and voluntary recalls for specific cannabis products from Urban Therapies Distribution, LLC and Echsen Industries, LLC, due to health concerns related to mold and pesticide contamination

Washington state regulators shut down operations at several outdoor cannabis farms and processing facilities after testing revealed high levels of a dangerous pesticide used at the site, a former orchard, decades ago.

Nevada regulators have warned that cannabis harvested by Clark Natural Medicinal Solutions from July 2021 through January 2023 used an unapproved pesticide. The regulators recommend that consumers avoid any affected products.

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority recalled 99 medical cannabis products approved by Scale Laboratories after an inspection of the testing site found numerous alleged rule violations and record manipulations.

The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board has adopted pesticide testing mandates for cannabis products sold in the state.

Two California cannabis companies are facing steep fines for breaking state environmental laws including multiple allegations of improper use of pesticides and herbicides, among other charges.

ScottsMiracle-Gro Co. has created a new subsidiary to invest in the legal cannabis industry and announced a $150 million loan to RIV Capital, a cannabis investment and acquisition firm.

The provincial government in British Columbia, Canada is urging cannabis consumers to purchase legal cannabis after tests of unregulated products returned concerning results.

Alaska officials have filed misdemeanor charges against the owners of a licensed cannabis cultivator for allegedly using illegal pesticides.

Cannabis regulators in Oregon issued an immediate recall after an extract product failed pesticide testing. The contaminated cannabis originated from a medical grower whose product was transferred to the adult-use industry.

A recent investigation of rolling paper products found that 90% contained some quantity of heavy metals, with 8 percent testing higher than “the allowable limits” under California’s cannabis rules.

After years of encountering garbage and chemicals at unlicensed cannabis cultivation sites, the United States Forest Service has entered a contract with NES Hazmat as part of its cannabis eradication program.

Washington cannabis regulators have adopted emergency rules banning vitamin E acetate in cannabis vapor products and aim to expand cannabis testing requirements.

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved 10 different pesticides for use on industrial hemp crops — the new approvals include nine biopesticides and one conventional pesticide product.

A recent investigation found that just five percent of cannabis products currently available in Canada contained pesticides.

A panel of mostly Arizona medical cannabis industry operators is set to determine which pesticides should be allowed in the industry; any final decision must be approved by the Department of Health Services.

A California study is offering $20 gift cards to cannabis consumers in exchange for anonymous information about how much cannabis they use, which will help in determining safe pesticide levels for cannabis crops.

In a recent randomized test of Denver cannabis products, about 80 percent of products tested by the city’s Department of Health and Environment failed tests for potential yeast and mold.

Purdue University in Indiana has received a $1 million grant from the USDA for researching organic hemp production.