In 2016 and 2017, Oregon State University researchers assessed pesticide use in Oregon with a focus on worker safety. Unfortunately, this is awful news. Today we will talk about dangerous pesticides in medical cannabis.
The EPA has declined to disclose cannabis industry pesticide rules (and with Andrew Wheeler at the helm, that may be a good thing). Therefore, states must set their own restrictions by prohibiting and “recommending” the pesticides they think suitable. Public health experts at Oregon State University assessed pesticide use in Oregon between 2016 and 2017 with an emphasis on worker safety in order to begin addressing the issue.
The World Health Organization has identified fifty pesticides, nine of which are categorized as very or extremely harmful. Oxamyl and cyfluthrin are two of the most toxic chemicals permitted in California’s cannabis. But it gets worse. In average, failure of medical items included four times as many pesticides as failed recreational products. About 2700 samples from the recreational market failed, compared to 900 from the medical market (this may reflect different market sizes). Concentrates contained the lowest quantities of pesticides.
Previous research demonstrated that more than one-third of cannabis business employees suffer from pesticide exposure. Due to the fact that laboratories do not record the pesticide name or concentration for samples that pass, only batches that failed pesticide testing were analysed in the current study. This is a separate issue that requires legislative intervention. However, without regulations and a legal market, these contaminated products would have been sold to consumers without their knowledge. In Oregon, around 6.7% of recreational products fail pesticide testing, and over 50% of all tested extracts contained unacceptable levels of dangerous pesticides in medical cannabis.
Marijuana Smoking Safely
As marijuana policy evolves, states are expected to impose stricter controls on producers and shops in order to protect the safety of cannabis consumption. When it comes to dangerous pesticides in medical cannabis, these limits may need tougher requirements for marijuana product labeling.
Many pesticide-free stores, for example, come back positive for myclobutanil.
Some tricks to detect pesticide residue on a cannabis plant include:
- Looking under a magnifying lens for a white crystalline powder is one approach to identify pesticide residue on a marijuana plant.
- Looking for a chalky feel in the plant.
- Keep an eye out for a strong, unpleasant taste in the smoke.
However, the best method to prevent the hazards of marijuana use is to cease consuming it.
Have you ever wondered if indoor or outdoor cannabis is better?
Well… in this article we will shed light on the pros and cons! ???
