Cannabis crisis in California: Investigation reveals dangerous pesticides found in popular cannabis products

A joint investigation by the Los Angeles Times and cannabis industry newsletter WeedWeek has uncovered alarming levels of pesticides in cannabis products sold in California dispensaries. The findings, published Friday in the LA Times, highlight significant health risks and reveal regulatory deficiencies, as 25 of 42 products tested contained pesticide levels that exceeded state and federal safety standards, including chemicals linked to cancer, liver failure and neurological damage.

According to interviews, confidential laboratory reports and public agency records, there has been an increase in pesticide smuggling from China that “contains chemicals that are not approved in the United States and are not tested in legal marijuana.”

Some of these illegal pesticides are so toxic, the authors say, that police officers who come into contact with them are advised to use respirators and wear protective suits.

“Repeated inhalation of pesticide residues through regular smoking or vaping is very concerning as this is a relatively direct route of exposure into the bloodstream,” said Kimberly Paul, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of neurology at UCLA who was principal investigator of the Central Valley study.

Vapes contain the largest amount of chemicals

Vapes from five well-known brands had pesticide contamination levels that exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) risk limits for harm from a single exposure. Up to two dozen different pesticides were found in some products.

The investigation is consistent with numerous complaints filed over the past eight months by two private cannabis testing labs that reportedly found pesticide contamination in products certified as safe by other labs.

Economic incentives as a trigger for pollution

The growing legal cannabis market, the report’s authors say, is encouraging intensive cultivation methods to maximize yields, often leading to the use of pesticides to protect high-value crops from insect attack in greenhouses. In addition, “increasing demand” for vapes has increased the need for bulk cannabis oils, which are often made from lower-quality cannabis that is sometimes grown illegally.

California’s testing regulations have not been updated to reflect the newer, more dangerous chemicals currently used in cultivation, the report said.

Serious health consequences

At risk are the estimated five million Californians who regularly consume cannabis products, especially those who use it for medicinal reasons. The increasing use of contaminated e-cigarettes, especially among young adults who view vaping as a healthier alternative to smoking, exacerbates these public health concerns.

According to The Times and WeedWeek, the California Department of Cannabis Control has not given an interview or released any information about its testing capabilities or any actions it may take regarding the pesticides. The response has drawn criticism from private labs and industry representatives.

Where is the governor?

Despite several recalls of contaminated products, the report says, many contaminated batches are still on store shelves. Frustrated by the slow response, Josh SwiderCEO of Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs, sent a letter to the Governor of California. Gavin Newsom and cannabis regulators. “These defective products alone represented 150,000 packages of flower, vapes or pre-rolled joints sold to unsuspecting consumers,” Swider wrote. “The government’s responsibility does not end with the development of regulations.”

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