Pesticides and Recalls – How CA is Showing a Need for Cannabis Regulation

Over the years, California has been at the forefront of the cannabis industry, starting way back when they were the first to pass a medical marijuana ballot initiative in the 90s. But being the first to do something doesn’t always mean you’re going to be the best – and in the case of legalization, CA has consistently been an example of why we need a regulated industry (and often, how not to regulate it). This time, California’s cannabis industry has issued multiple recalls after finding excessive use of banned pesticides.

California Cannabis Recalls Over Use of Harmful Pesticides in Cannabis Should Be Viewed as “Lessons Learned”

A recent L.A. Times piece has been highlighting the use of questionable and even proven harmful pesticides within the California cannabis industry. This piece was one of many prompted by the sudden recall of 28 cannabis products in 2024, compared to the three recalls per year the two years before.

The most recent recalls involve batches of vape cartridges from West Coast Cure (WCC), who happens to be a top-selling brand in the state. The affected products were 1 gram vape cartridges that the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) found to contain a pesticide known to be potentially fatal.

Chlorfenapyr is a pesticide used to ward against pests like caterpillars and mites and is not only banned in the state of California where these products are being sold, it’s also restricted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use only on non-food greenhouse crops as of 2001.

Considering cannabis plants are grown with a versatile intention, one of which is to make edibles, and many of which involve direct ingestion or inhalation, only food-grade pesticides (if any) should be used in the cultivation process.

These Issues Happen With or Without Legalization – But Regulation Can Save Lives

The reason for the sudden spike in recalls appears due to the fact that the DCC in California may finally be doing their jobs! I know this may sound harsh, but the truth is the west coast market has been one of the least regulated since its inception and it’s largely been allowed to continue as the industry has matured.

What this makes clear is the fact that regulation is essential for making sure that consumers get safe and quality cannabis products. No matter who you believe should take the blame, it’s a failing on the part of the DCC to allow these products to make it to dispensary shelves in the first place.

The unfortunate truth is that just like any crop, there are going to be growers willing to use risky, banned, or otherwise untested chemicals to “enhance” their crops in one way or another. While some may attempt to twist this negativity into an argument against legalization, it’s actually an argument for legalization with proper regulation.

One theory about why the U.S. government hasn’t intervened with state-legal cannabis is purely to allow the states to operate as an experiment of sorts. It’s an interesting thought as the patchwork of laws has allowed us to see what regulations work, which are arbitrary, and which need to be watched closely and/or carry higher penalties to incentivize regulatory compliance.

Ideally, the U.S. (and other countries) could use this data to create a regulation framework that truly regulates the sale and production of the plant in a way that is responsible and keeps the end consumer in mind above all else.

Consumers Blame the Brand, Brands Blame the Labs, and Regulation Forces Both to Take Responsibility

Unfortunately, this negative press does make some people weary of dispensaries and whether or not to trust the legal cannabis industry – at least in California, where the DCC seems to be issuing pesticide-related recalls left and right. Looking at brands like West Coast Cure attempting damage control only makes it that much worse, as everyone tries to blame the other guy for a problem that is clearly happening at the cultivation level.

“The Department of Cannabis Control oversees licensed labs. We rely on the labs to verify that the material we purchase meets state standards,” a WCC spokesperson told MJBizDaily via email.

While this may be true, ultimately, it would’ve only taken having a different lab test on the products for these pesticide concerns to come up long before products made it to customers. So, while WCC has a valid point – the poor regulation of testing facilities in the state played a crucial role in how we got here – they are not entirely blameless in this situation.

Fortunately, the DCC exists for a reason, even if it’s taken them a long time to realize what that reason is and why it’s important. Now both the labs providing inaccurate certificates of analysis (COAs) and the brands that source and sell these products will rightfully be held responsible for the potential hazards they are posing to consumers.

Which Cannabis Vapes Were Recalled for Pesticides in California?

Most recently, there have been five 1-gram Curepen vaporizers in different strains that have been confirmed to contain chlorfenapyr. These were joined by a voluntary recall for cannabis flowers also sold under the West Coast Cannabis label for inaccurate labeling.

The five most recent vape products recalled were:

• Birthday Cake (1gram, Vape Oil Cartridge)
• Lemon Cooler (1gram, Vape Oil Cartridge)
• Lucky Charmz (1gram, Vape Oil Cartridge)
• Watermelon Sorbet (1gram, Vape Oil Cartridge)
• Slymer (1gram, Live Resin Cartridge)

Always Be Mindful of Your Cannabis Source

Not only is this scenario a clear call to action for the DCC in the state of California but also for regulators around the country and around the globe who may be implementing or considering legalization. It’s also a reminder to consumers that legal doesn’t always mean safe.

You can lessen your own risks by asking dispensaries to provide you with a COA for any products you purchase, or guarantee you know what chemicals (if any) are used by home growing if your state laws allow for it.

Yes, our goal with a legal and regulated market is to bring safer products to dispensary shelves – but that’s not going to happen 100% of the time and it’s certainly not going to happen overnight. It’s a work in progress, so for the meantime, always be mindful of where you buy your cannabis even in a legal market.