Pubdate: Sun, 28 Jun 2015 Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR) Copyright: 2015 The Oregonian Contact: http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324 Authors: Andy Olson and Jeff Barker Note: Republican Andy Olson, of Albany, represents Oregon House District 15, and Democrat Jeff Barker, of Aloha, represents Oregon House District 28. MARIJUANA REGULATIONS MUST COVER PESTICIDE USE The recent Oregonian/OregonLive investigation, "A Tainted High," brought needed awareness on illegal use of pesticides in the medical marijuana industry. It also shines a light on what's to come regarding pesticide use on recreational marijuana. The pesticide residue levels reported in the article are concerning, especially considering that they are consumed. The Oregon Department of Agriculture, which regulates pesticides, and the Oregon Health Authority, which regulates medical marijuana, should be taking this issue seriously and conducting a thorough investigation. Pesticides are registered and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency at the federal level. Since marijuana is still federally classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, there are no pesticides approved for use on marijuana. This means that every application of a pesticide on marijuana is in violation of federal and state law. Unfortunately, some marijuana growers are ignoring those laws and using pesticides on their crops. This is not only illegal, but unsafe for patients and other consumers. Before a pesticide is approved for use it goes through 10-12 years of development and testing. It is then labeled for use on specific crops at specific rates that have been scientifically verified for efficacy and safety. None of this testing has been done on marijuana, so growers have no idea what pesticides, or how much, are safe to use. That is why it is not surprising to see The Oregonian/OregonLive find residues of pesticides on marijuana products that are far above the levels considered as acceptable by the EPA on food crops. The scary truth is that the end users of these products have no assurances that they are not being exposed to pesticides at potentially harmful levels. This is particularly concerning as the products tested by The Oregonian/OregonLive are for medicinal purposes and are often used by a very vulnerable population that may already have compromised immune systems. No one should have to worry about whether their medicine is tainted with misused pesticides. As we embark on the further legalization of marijuana after the passage of Measure 91, an entirely new regulatory structure is being created. Strong regulations are needed to ensure that marijuana products meet the same standards as other products on the market that people consume. These kinds of regulations are already in place for growers and food processors, but may seem onerous to marijuana growers who have operated outside the confines of regulation for many years. That is not an excuse to continue to ignore our laws. Pesticide labels are the law and must be followed by all users. That includes marijuana growers. It's time for marijuana products to meet the same laws as every other product in this state. Our public and environmental health depend on it. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom