In California’s legal cannabis industry, contamination with pesticides and harmful chemicals poses a serious threat to public health, consumer trust, and business viability.

These recent investigative reports reveal widespread issues with pesticide contamination, regulatory gaps, and the slow response of state agencies. For cannabis brands and operators, understanding these risks and taking proactive measures to ensure product safety is critical—not only to comply with regulations but to build consumer confidence and protect your business’s reputation.

The following summaries highlight the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols and the importance of industry leaders coming together to implement these standards. By participating in the ECCOsystem, we can ensure these protocols are met, while holding each other—and the industry as a whole—accountable for delivering safe, trustworthy cannabis products to consumers.

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St. John, P. (2024, December 19). New tests find ‘hidden’ pesticides, in more California weed brands. Regulators ignored warnings. Los Angeles Times

• Over half of cannabis smoking products in California’s legal market contain unmonitored chemicals, with pymetrozine found in 31% of tested samples at concerning levels.
• California's cannabis supply chain struggles with contamination tracing due to unreliable data, lax pesticide enforcement, and a lack of systematic recall processes.
• Independent tests uncovered 45 pesticides not screened by California regulators, many of which are illegal for cannabis use and pose serious health risks.
• Some cannabis companies leave contaminated products on shelves to avoid financial loss, despite identifying toxic chemicals like ortho-phenylphenol and pymetrozine.
• Organizations like ECCO are establishing voluntary standards for broader pesticide testing, aiming to fill regulatory gaps and rebuild consumer trust in the legal market.

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St. John, P., Greene, S., & Iñiguez Elebee, L. (2024, December 19) Search your stash: 538 cannabis pesticide tests show what’s in your weed. ****Los Angeles Times

NOTE: there are 52 pages of lab results for brands/products in this article - a highly advised scroll through; click on Los Angeles Times in the citation to be brought to the lab results

• The LA Times tested over 150 cannabis products from licensed stores, tobacco shops, and illicit vendors to evaluate contamination and chemical exposure risks.
• Tests screened for more than 290 pesticides and hazardous substances, finding 79 toxic chemicals, including 44 not monitored by California regulators.
• Licensed products often contained pesticides not screened by California's regulatory list, with some chemicals exceeding EPA thresholds for tobacco.