Investigation finds pesticides in California-approved e-cigarettes

An investigation into the safety of cannabis products for sale on the shelves of licensed California marijuana dispensaries has found dangerous levels of pesticides that exceed state limits for marijuana or federal standards for tobacco products. The investigation, conducted by the Los Angeles Times in collaboration with cannabis news portal WeedWeek, discovered that vaporizers and pre-rolled joints from some of California’s most popular legal marijuana brands were contaminated with chemicals that can cause illness or injury.

Most of the pesticides identified in the investigation were present at low concentrations that can cause long-term harm if the contaminated products are used repeatedly. However, some of the products tested contained pesticide concentrations that can be potentially harmful if used once, especially in susceptible individuals. The investigation found that some individual products contained as many as two dozen pesticides.

“Twenty-five of 42 legal cannabis products that The Times and WeedWeek purchased at retail and had tested in private labs had pesticide concentrations that either exceeded the state’s permitted levels or exceeded federal standards for tobacco,” the Los Angeles Times wrote in its investigation report. “The contaminants include chemicals that can cause cancer, liver failure, thyroid disease, and genetic and neurological damage in users and unborn children.”

The investigation found that vapes from five popular cannabis brands contained pesticide levels that exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s single-exposure risk limit. Using such products could irritate the lungs, throat or eyes and cause other adverse effects such as headaches, rashes, stomach pain and diarrhea.

The investigation’s findings are consistent with complaints filed by two independent cannabis testing labs over the past eight months reporting contaminated products deemed safe by other labs. According to the two labs, as many as 250,000 vapes and pre-rolls on cannabis dispensary shelves may be contaminated with pesticides.

The report notes that public records, lab test results and interviews show that California regulators have largely remained inactive in responding to reports of widespread contamination of cannabis products. Following complaints from the two independent labs, state regulators recalled one product and removed three others from stores with an administrative order that remains confidential.

Josh Swider, the CEO of Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs in San Diego, filed many of the complaints alleging the presence of pesticides in cannabis products that had been tested and certified safe by other labs. Frustrated that regulators weren’t doing more, he sent a summary of the complaints to California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state Department of Cannabis Control in December.

“These defective products alone accounted for 150,000 packages of flower, vaporizers or pre-rolled joints sold to unsuspecting consumers,” Swider wrote.

“The government’s responsibility does not end with the drafting of regulations,” he added.

After Swider’s letter, regulators ordered another product recall due to pesticide contamination. The remaining products his lab identified as contaminated were allowed to remain on pharmacy shelves.

None of the labs in California licensed to test cannabis products are accredited to test for pesticides. The state also has no system for routinely testing products on store shelves, although the Cannabis Regulators Association recommends such testing.

“California has a poor record of enforcing regulations when it comes to public health,” said cannabis researcher Cindy Orser, a former director of a private cannabis testing lab in California.

California regulations require labs to test cannabis for 66 pesticides. This list has not been updated since 2018 to reflect current practices in the cannabis industry. The investigation found seven pesticides in cannabis products that are not on the state list, despite information that the chemicals can cause harm such as liver cancer and endocrine system disruption.

A vape from Stiiizy, California’s top-selling cannabis brand, contained more than 60 times the federal government’s maximum level for cigarettes of the pesticide pymetrozine, a chemical banned in Canada, the United Kingdom and Norway. But because the state does not require cannabis products to be tested for pymetrozine, the vape complies with California regulations.

“We adhere to all standards and limits set by the State of California, which has some of the most stringent testing requirements and pesticide limits in the country,” said Stiiizy President Tak Sato in an email to Los Angeles Times.

Regulators do not comment on investigation

The DCC declined to schedule an interview to comment on the investigation’s findings. The agency also refused to release records of internal and external communications or discussions about pesticide contamination. In addition, the department refused to share information about its ability to test cannabis for contamination, arguing that this information could potentially be used by unscrupulous companies determined to avoid detection.

The agency refused to release the results of pesticide tests conducted by other state agencies and declined to issue safety certificates for cannabis products on pharmacy shelves. The DCC also did not provide information on what action was taken on the at least 85 complaints of contamination that the agency received or whether any of the products were removed from the market.

“When we receive complaints, we quickly evaluate them, conduct appropriate investigations and take appropriate action,” the agency’s press office said in an email to the Los Angeles Times.

The DCC is currently in the process of conducting market testing for pesticides in California cannabis products. In a recent email to licensees, the agency warned cannabis companies that testing for pesticide contamination and enforcement of state standards would be increased.

“In the coming weeks, the DCC is expected to bring additional testing capacity online to further strengthen existing compliance measures and expand efforts to address pesticide contamination,” the agency wrote in its email. These measures may include additional product embargoes, voluntary and mandatory recalls, and disciplinary actions against licensees.”

However, until this system is in place, there will continue to be no system for routine safety testing of cannabis products once they hit pharmacy shelves.