The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) are seeking to understand why certain cannabis producers are exceeding OHA action levels when it comes to pesticides containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide. And the agencies are calling on cannabis producers to help.
Oregon officials are asking cannabis producers to communicate their pesticide test results to the ODA , along with the parameters in which pesticides containing those substances were used. With the user data and practices, officials are hoping to understand the factors that contribute to pesticide residue.
Oregon has been experiencing a testing and compliance crisis that has created backlogs at testing laboratories, which in turn has led to a drop in sales and tax revenue.
“The information will help the state improve its understanding of what influences pesticide residue levels on cannabis and enhance the state’s ability to help cannabis producers effectively use pesticide products that contain pyrethrins and/or piperonyl butoxide,” the three agencies said in a joint release.
Both pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide are currently on the ODA’s Guidelist for Pesticides and Cannabis, meaning they are currently allowed to be used on cannabis. The updated list also highlights which pesticides contain pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide.
The agencies are asking growers who have used pesticides containing those active ingredients, including those who have failed to meet testing requirements, to contact the ODA at (503) 986-4553.
“Details on use from both ‘passed’ and ‘failed’ tests will help us understand practices that would allow and maintain the availability of pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide for use on cannabis,” the agencies said in the statement.
Per the statement, the agencies have not ruled out a ban on products containing pyrethrins or piperonyl butoxide, although they “want to help retain the listing of these active ingredients on the ODA Guidelist.”
