Consume only Pesticide Free Cannabis!

The EPA has not approved any pesticides for cannabis production, which is not surprising since producing cannabis is federally illegal, yet pesticides are commonly used on cannabis to control spider mites and other pests which thrive and flourish in indoor mono crop production and cloning production modes.

 

Furthermore even if the EPA approved certain pesticides for cannabis production, the data would be currently based on the ingestion of that pesticide. Yet cannabis use is primarily performed by inhalation of smoked or vaporized product. Theoretically breathing some “safe” pesticides could be fatal, therefore we should be conservative in pesticide use in cannabis production.

 

We would also want to encourage the EPA or other agencies to perform safety studies on inhalation of the various approved pesticides. Currently there is no such data for the safety of any inhaled pesticide. The lack of scientific data on cannabis contaminants has led the public to perceive contaminants in cannabis as a non‐issue. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Our state's regulatory body for I502 cannabis production has punted the issue, ignoring the concern.

Why test? Are there pesticides in my cannabis?

When cannabis is tested a surprisingly high percentage is contaminated. Our own lab NW Botanical Analysis, in addition to the nationally known Steep Hill Lab and the Werc Shop Lab have all found approximately a third of their tested samples to contain molds or fungus and about a fifth of the tested samples contain pesticides. The LA City Attorney’s office in 2009 in a small study found pesticides in two thirds the tested medical cannabis samples, one containing an alarming 1600 times legal limit of bifenthrin pesticide. In an evaluative study on the quality and safety of prescription medical cannabis in the Netherlands
compared with the illicit product sold in Dutch cannabis cafes, none of the prescription medicinal cannabis product contained any contaminant and all the Dutch cannabis café product contains molds and bacteria. The Green Buddha Patient Co-op believes that we legitimate medical cannabis by performing full safety testing, by insuring we deliver products free of contaminants truly deserving of the title "medicine."

I have been using cannabis for years with no problem, why all the sudden focus on contaminated medicine?

Part of the reason for the misperception is until recently we had very little data. But the lack of data is not the same as not having a problem. The reason why we have had no data is because of the political nature of cannabis research in the United States. All federally approved cannabis research in the United States must be approved by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and theyhave no interest in the pesticides in pot discussion. While law enforcement would have access to confiscated cannabis, the rules of evidence control does not easily allow for its testing at an independent lab and the state evidence lab does not have the capacity to test for pesticides in cannabis. Cannabis as a high value crop can be damaged molds and insects and so pesticides and fungicides are commonly used in the production of commercial cannabis. With the most cannabis production dependent on cloning, the sale and exchange of these clones have spread plant diseases now across several states, and this has resulted in even greater uses of pesticides as a response. Yet the lack of data adds up to an impression that there’s no issue with contaminants in our cannabis. Nothing could be more wrong. The few studies performed consistently evidence a surprising level of contaminants in cannabis. As we begin to regulate cannabis in Washington State under I-502 safe cannabis must be our primary focus. This is why we at Green Buddha safety tested all our product. Currently September 2015 - there is no cannabis sold in the state of Washington that has bee grown without pesticides and tested for verification that no pesticides were on the final consumable product.

Why is contaminated cannabis allowed?

Money makes the world go round. Commercial cannabis growers convinced the state under I502 production that they could only produce cannabis if they were allowed to sue pesticides and the inexperience Liquor Cannabis Board agreed. Currently medical cannabis in Washington State is not regulated, although regulation for medical cannais comes into effect by July 1, 2016. Perhaps with luck medical cannabis would be pesticides tested and with even more luck there might be some I502 producers of cannabis who are not using fungicides and pesticides. Currently no agency is engaged in quality control. This means no one is monitoring the cannabis nor the products produced as being free of pesticidal residue. This is a sad fact of what "regulated" cannabius means in the state of Washington.

I see these claims of "tested" product, so what's up?

Medical cannabis collectives ought to care about patient health – it should be our primary mission ‐ do no harm. Indeed a lot of collectives will indeed claim they offer “100% tested” cannabis but these collectives are referring to having all their medicine checked for cannabinoid content. In other words they test for THC alone which is about advertising and nothing else. In the I502 indutrsy we also see "100% tested" but here too this only refers to cannabinoid and mold/fungus tetsing - not pesticides testing. Because pesticides aren’t perceived and the public is unaware our I502 cannaibs is not beng checked for pesticides. don’t test for contaminants. Call these places and ask for what they are testing and see what kind of response you get. Three years ago, Green Buddha wrote " Fortunately all the cannabis grown under I502 will be fully safety tested as well as potency tested and should outcompete the illicit markets." This has turned out to not be true and Green Buddha would argue this is part of why I502 is NOT competing well with the illicit markets.

What's the best standard?

Not in our state. Washington State approved the most pesticides of any state which has regulated cannabis or medical cannabis. We also do not verify any I502 regulated cannabisnor cannabis products as being free from the pesticides allowed to be used (or other pesticides). During the summer and fall of 2015, numerous states Maine, Colorado, California and Nevada - are starting to pay attention to the issue but Washington is still engaged in the "ostrich mode." We refuse to test for pesticidal residues and believ that means there isn't a pesticidal problem.

Our regulated cannabis industry here seems terribly confused by pesticides use. We have actually seen industry leaders claim that "only the recreational cannabis industry could adequately inform the public about consumer-health issues such as pesticide contamination." Imagine being in the audience holding a bag of I502 bud with the multiple pesticides used listed clearly on the label.

At least one prominent I502 lawyer Hilary Bricken has tried to make the industry aware of their liabilties with the use of pesticides and not having a true health and safety focus.

What can we do about this as patients?

BOYCOTT I502 products until the industry focuses a little less on Greenru$h and a little more on health and safety considerations. When I502 producers start to produce pesticides free - purchase their products. Write the Washington State Department of Health and the Liquor Cannabis Board and let them know you want to purchase only pesticides free cannabis which has been verified as such through proper pesticides testing. Insist the state foces a little less on money and a little more on health and saefty. Boycott I502 products until this is done.

Currently All Regulated Washington State (I502) Cannabis has been grown with Pesticides - September 2015 - and there is no testing of pesticidal residue on the produced product.

Other states a- Oregon, Maine, Nevada - even California are begining to understand the issues with pesticides in pot. Our state is not getting this issue - we approevd more than 300 pesticidal compounds - the most approved of any state - and we are not checking any of the final product for pesticidal residue, This is called the "ostrich mode" of scientific understanding. We approved the pesticides to appease those with cannabis busineses who convinced the state that they couldn't possible produce pot without pesticides.

California, Nevada, Maineare begining to understand the substantial issues with producing cannabis with pesticides. SO while these states may also approve certain pesticidal compounds for use in producing cannabis there will not be any residue from those pesticides (or other pestcides) allowed on the final product. This is logical because we have zero data on how safe it is to breathe these compounds in and zero data on how pesticides used on cannabis affect the cannabis plant.

 

How Safe is that Vape Pen? Not.

burn some propylene glycol?How do evapes and vape pens work?? Battery powered devices which delivery cannabinoids via heated cannabis oils composed of cannabis, propylene glycol and flavorings or other additives. The major appeal is their discreet nature and the lack of smoke.

 

Respiratory irritation and the bronchial constriction from a propylene glycol aerosol raise concerns about harm to people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. At high temperatures, propylene glycol converts intotoxic nanoparticles that can go deep into the lung and wreak havoc on respiratory organs. Though propylene glycol and glycerin are generally considered safe substances, nothing is known about the long-term effects of daily inhalation of the substance. It has never before been intended to breathe in these substances.

 

When propylene glycol is heated in a red-hot metal manner, such as often occurs inside vape pens, the potential harm from inhalation exposure increases. High voltage heat transforms the propylene glycol and other vaping additives into carbonyls. Carbonyls are a group of cancer-causing chemicals that includes formaldehyde, which has been linked to spontaneous abortions,low birth weight and is known carcinogen. Then there is the huge variability in the devices themselves, although all heat by coils. Some vape pens produce formaldehyde from propylene glycol at the higher settings (over 3.3volts).


Then there are the issues with flavors and other additives. Nothing is known about breathing these substances in for weeks, months or years. The evape industry promotes the perception they are healthy to use but the lack of safety information is not the same as saying the item is safe. There is now a huge need

for specific research on how people actually use these products and their potential benefits or harms.

 

Dr. Jahan Marcu has noted "Vape pen manufacturers don’t like to admit it, but when the heating element gets red hot in a vape pen, the solution inside the prefilled cartridges undergoes a process called “smoldering,” a technical term for what is tantamount to “burning.” While much of the vape oil liquid is vaporized and atomized, a portion of the vape oil blend undergoes pyrolysis or combustion. In that sense, most of the vape pens that have flooded the commercial market may not be true vaporizers."


Unlike vape pen devices, regular vaporizers like the volcano which use only flower have known of these concerns. Green Buddha reccommends that patients avoid the evapes and vape pens until product safety has improved

 

How Safe is that Juju Joint?

Juju Joints are one third propylene glycol.
But they are discreet so they have a certain appeal. Additionally most certainly the hash oil that goes in the Juju Joint contains pesticides. Could it be any worst for sincere patients?

 

 

From Hilary Bricken Prominent I502 Business Lawyer:

"To put it bluntly, if the cannabis industry does not clean up its act when it comes to consumer safety, we can likely expect three things to happen:

 

Not Medicine!click to enlarge

Pesticides & Cannabis Reading

Can Pesticides be Eliminated from Commercial Cannabis?

What are Pesticides?

Pesticides are often neurotoxins, poisons at high doses and at low doses have been associated with chronic brain disorders, birth defects, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, asthma, neurological disorders, allergic reactions, etc. Many if not most pesticides are carcinogens, or compounds which damage the livers, kidneys, reproductive systems or are neurotoxic or endocrine disruptors. Other pesticides are associated with developmental and learning disabilities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is charged with regulating pesticide use, states that, “By their very nature, most pesticides create some risk of harm to humans, animals, or the environment because they are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms.”

 

Research has shown that as much as 70% of the pesticides on cannabis can be transferred into Cannabis smoke or vapor.

 

Patients want their medical cannabis to be free of pesticidal. Patients want the verification that comes with pesticide testing.

Organic versus Pesticides-free

Organic food farming, in general uses practices that conserve biodiversity, are environmentally sustainable, and when these organic food products are delivered to the consumer, they are free of synthetic nutrients, and synthetic pesticides.

 

“Organic” in the Cannabis industry can often refers to the plant being grown in “soil” (actually a soil-less potting soil composed of peat and perlite. So, what does "organic" for cannabis mean? Well, until there is enforcement of the term or some way to authenticate cultivation practices (keep your radar up for Organic Cannabis Association), its just a brand-able marketing word that curries favor with consumers who believe the same federal organic standards apply to marijuana. You’ll see it on a sign, in an advertisement, or hear it as part of a bud tender’s sales pitch. It is up to you as a consumer to ask the right questions and learn more about the entity making the claim.

 

Pesticide-free means that even if a pesticide – whether toxic or OMRI certified– was used, there is no residual, even a trace amount, present in the final product. What medical cannabis users want is pesticide-free cannabis.

 

Patients want pesticides free cannabis.