In the aftermath of what one pithy PR executive dubbed “Pestgate”—the recent revelations that illegal pesticides were found on plants at BMF Washington and New Leaf Enterprises, two of Washington’s largest growers—the state’s cannabis industry has been scrambling to deal with the fallout.
There is currently no unified protocol for how to handle communicating information about pesticide violations to the public, or how to conduct a recall if necessary. “This is an emerging issue,” said Brian Smith, director of communications for the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, on February 16. “We’re actively working on pesticide protocols today.”…