In what has become a recurring theme, the use of banned insecticides during the growing of marijuana is the culprit in this latest recall in Colorado.
Mountain High Suckers products tested positive for the banned pesticide chemicals imidacloprid and myclobutanil, according to Governor John Hickenlooper, who said the pesticides “constitute a threat to the public safety.”
On Wednesday, Mountain High Suckers voluntarily recalled 99,574 packages of its suckers, lozenges and powdered candy over concerns about potentially dangerous pesticides. This was the company’s first recall, and it was discovered the sourced material used in the edibles was from two cultivation facilities, Western Remedies, and Rocky Mountain Farmacy, according to the Cannabist.
In September, Mountain High Suckers had several hundred lozenges quarantined after inspectors found the package labels listed the unapproved pesticide spinosad, which is slightly toxic to humans. The hold order was lifted one day later after the lozenges tested negative for the pesticide. It was found that old labels were being used.
Mountain High Suckers took to Facebook, as required by Denver health officials, to announce the recall. In the announcement, the company said: “The results of the tests have come through and we ask that anyone who possesses any of our products with the following concentrate batch numbers to please dispose of them promptly and responsibly. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns! Medical: 515, 516, 517, 518, 519 and 523, Recreational: 002 and 003.”
The cannabis insecticide conversation
In October 2015, Digital Journal reported on the U.S. marijuana industry’s first class-action lawsuit brought about because of the inappropriate use of a pesticide called Eagle20 that contains myclobutanil, a dangerous chemical.
However, Colorado has been in a political and legal gray area from almost day one of the legalization of pot in the state. When marijuana was legalized, the state failed to set up regulations on the use of pesticides in growing the plant, and the federal government wasn’t able to help because pot is still considered an illegal drug at the federal level.
Not only is there a problem with pesticide use, but Colorado’s State Attorney general is now looking into the use of the word “organic,” a term used by many growers, perhaps illegally. Colorado’s former agriculture commissioner said the marijuana industry “was the biggest obstacle we had” in devising any effective pesticide regulation, says the Cannabist.
There have been so many recalls of marijuana products that in November, Denver health officials ordered that “marijuana companies that recall products tainted with unapproved pesticides are required to use websites and social media accounts to alert consumers.
For those consumers interested in knowing if any of their cannabis has been recalled because of banned insecticides, the following listing of all 16 recalls since Sept. 8 has been made available. To view the list, go HERE.
