When recreational weed became legal in Washington State, it came with strict restrictions on pesticide use, which was unique. In Colorado and Oregon, legalization came with no such guidelines. Pesticides were regulated in Colorado only after it was discovered that a major marijuana grower had been spraying its crops with the fungicide Eagle 20, which releases a toxic gas when burned. That discovery led to the nation’s first cannabis liability lawsuit. Colorado is now on its sixth pesticide-related product recall, according to Marijuana Business Daily.
With the passage of I-502, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) developed a list of 271 pesticides allowed on pot. They also required growers to record and disclose the pesticides they use on their products. Most importantly, they established strict penalties for anyone caught using an unapproved pesticide, which they planned to enforce via a combination of on-site inspections and random testing.
But nearly two years later, the state hasn’t exactly followed through on those plans…