California Cannabis Crisis: Dangerous Pesticides Found In Popular Weed Products, Investigation Reveals
A joint investigation by The Los Angeles Times and cannabis industry newsletter WeedWeek has revealed alarming levels of pesticides in cannabis products sold across California dispensaries. The findings, published in the LA Times on Friday, highlight significant health risks and exposed regulatory shortcomings, as 25 out of 42 tested products contained pesticide concentrations exceeding state and federal safety standards, including chemicals linked to cancer, liver failure and neurological harm.
According to interviews, confidential lab reports and public agency records, there’s been a rise in pesticides being smuggled from China that “contain chemicals not permitted in the United States, nor screened for in legal weed.”
Some of these illegal pesticides, say the authors, are so toxic that law enforcement officers who encounter them are advised to use respirators and wear hazmat suits.
“Repeated inhalation of pesticide residues through regular smoking or vaping is quite concerning as this is a relatively direct route of exposure into the bloodstream,” said Kimberly Paul, …