We Don’t Rinse CannabisPESTICIDES&PUBLICHEALTH

Exposure & Health Effects of Pesticides Used in the Cultivation

of Cannabis

LeslieMcAhren,MPH,MFA,DrPH (expectedMay2020)

https://youtu.be/6z2HNCIsHzg

Outline

• ImportantTerms/Concepts• DetectionofPesticidesinCannabis• Lessons/ResearchFromTobacco&Pesticides• SettingtheResearch&PolicyTrajectoryfortheIdealCannabisPesticide

Post,2019

TypicalPestsinCannabisCultivation

• Insects• Mites• Thrips

• Fungus• Powderymildew

RoutesofIngestionforCannabis

Abramsetal,2007

CannabisForms&TheExtractionProcess

Pyrolysis

• decompositionbroughtaboutbyhightemperatures

WhatisaPesticide?

• Apesticideisanysubstanceintendedtocontrol,destroy,repel,orattractapest• Thisincludesinsecticides,fungicides,herbicides,rodenticidesandsanitizers.

USAPesticideRegulation

• TheFederalInsecticide,Fungicide,andRodenticideAct(FIFRA)isaUnitedStatesfederallaw• U.S.systemofpesticideregulationtoprotectapplicators,consumers,andtheenvironment

• TheEPA isresponsibleforregulatingpesticidesundertheFederalInsecticide,Fungicide,andRodenticideAct(FIFRA)andtheFoodQualityProtectionAct(FQPA)

TimingofPesticideswithintheCultivationLifecycle

• Sprayingatdifferentpointsinthelifecyclehasdifferentimplications• Sprayingduringthefloweringphase endsuponthefinishedproduct• Howdoweknow?

PesticidesHavebeenDetectedinCannabisSmoke

• Chemicalresiduespresentonthecannabisflowersdirectlytransferintothemainstreamsmokeandultimatelytotheenduser(1)• Pesticidesaredesignedtodegradefairlyquicklyintheenvironment(2),butmultiplestudiesnotethedistillationbehaviorofpesticidesinsmoke(1)(3)• Whencomparing“abong”toaglasspipe,thequantityofpesticiderecoverywasthehighestinhand-heldglasspipe• Routeofingestionisaconsideration

(1)NicholasSullivan,2013 (2)Purkis 2011(3)Lorenz,1987

PercentRecoveryofPesticidesFromTheSmokeStreamofDifferentDevices

Sullivan,2013

TobaccoisFiltered– CannabisTypicallyisNot

• Priorstudyhada7.5gcarbonfiltercartridge

• AccordingtoTitle35,Article9,C.R.S.,Coloradoisprimarilyusingpesticidesapprovedontobacco

• Falseassumptionsaboutconsumerbehaviormaymakepesticidesusedontobaccoalessviableregulatorycomparison

• Therearenopesticidesregisteredspecificallyforuseoncannabis.• Theuseofpesticidesoncannabisplantshasnotbeenreviewedforsafetyorhumanhealtheffects.

Massachusetts- Sept2018– CaseStudy

• CodeofMassachusettsRegulationsexplicitly statedthat“applicationofanynon-organicpesticideinthecultivationofmarijuanaisprohibited”

• MADept ofPHruledthat“animmediateorseriousthreattothepublic’shealth,safety,orwelfare”andissuedacease-and-desistandquarantine

Massachusetts- Sept2018

• PesticideregulationsweremodifiedafterManagementandOperationsProfile(MOP)submitted• GoodChemistrygrowingfacilityinBellinghamwasusing• Sulfur,pyrethrinsandReynoutriasachalinensis (giantknotweedextract)

• AllhavebeenapprovedbytheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyforotheragriculturalpurposes

• ThestatesofColorado,Nevada,Washington,andOregonspecificallyallowthesepesticidestobeusedoncannabiscrops.

• GoodChemistrytoldthestatewhatpesticidestheyplannedtouseintheMOP

105CMR725.105(B)(1)(d))

NewMexico– CaseStudy

• Productlabelingshallidentify“pesticide(s)usedintheproductionofthecannabisorcannabis-derivedproducts.”• Noadditionalspecificationofbestpracticesorforbiddenchemicalcompoundshasbeenmade

• Laboratoryvalidationisexpensive• Confirmatorytestsforpesticideareexpensive- evenforNMScientificLaboratories

NMAC7.34.4.14

TheInherentFragilityOfTheMedicalCannabisPatientPopulation

• Patientswithcompromisedimmunesystems• Atriskofbacterialandfungalinfections• StrainsofAspergillusandFusariummoldandpathogenicstrainsofEnterobacter,Streptococcus,Klebsiella andSalmonella

• Exposuretopesticidesmaycreateadditionalhealthcomplicationsandinterferewithotherhealthcareapproaches

Sullivan,2014Tashkin,2002Taylor,1982

Ungerleider,1962

Leadership:California,Colorado,Canada

• UnderCalifornia law• theonlypesticideproductsoncannabisarethosethatcontainanactiveingredientthatisexemptfromresidue-tolerancerequirements

• UnderColorado law• useofapesticideinamannerinconsistentwiththeproductlabelingisprohibited

• Employeesworkinginanareawhereplantshavebeentreatedwithpesticidesorwhomixorapplypesticideshavetherighttoknow.

• UnderCanadian law…thereisMANDATORYPesticideTESTING

3CCRsection640035-10-117(1)(i)C.R.S

CannabisAct (S.C.2018,c.16)

CanadaSetAcceptableLimitsonOil,Fresh,&DriedCannabisIndividually

CannabisAct (S.C.2018,c.16)

Canadawillrequireproducerstohaveanindependentlabtestallproductsfor100differentpesticidesbeforetheycanbesold.

TheRoletheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)inRegulatingCannabisCultivation

• USEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(USEPA)determineswhatpesticidelevelsonfoodcropsareallowed.TheFederalDepartmentofAgriculture(FDA)andtheUSDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)takecareofthecontrolofcrops.• FederalPesticideWorkerProtectionStandard(WPS)• Pyrolysisstudies

40CFR152.25(f)

EPAExemptStatus(25b)=ExemptedfromFIFRA

• MinimumRiskPesticides• TheEPAhasidentifiedcertain"minimumriskpesticides,"commonlyreferredtoas“25(b)pesticides,”whichposelittletonorisktohumanhealthortheenvironment.TheEPAhasexemptedthisspecificsubclassofpesticidesfromtheregistrationrequirementunderFIFRA.• “...Anexemptionfromatolerance (maxamountallowedonafoodcrop)shallbegrantedwhenitappearsthatthetotalquantityofthepesticidechemicalinoronallrawagriculturalcommoditiesforwhichitisusefulunderconditionsofusecurrentlyprevailingorproposedwillinvolvenohazardtothepublichealth.”• 6conditionsneedtobemettobeconsidered25b

40C.F.R.,Part180,SubpartD:180.900FederalFoodandDrugCosmeticAct,U.S.C.Title21,Section408.

ConditionsforMinimumRiskPesticides

• Condition1:Theproduct'sactiveingredientsmustonlybethosethatarelistedin40CFR152.25(f)(1).

• Condition2:Theproduct'sinertingredientsmayonlybethosethathavebeenclassifiedbyEPAas:• Listedin40CFR152.25(f)(2)• commonlyconsumedfoodcommodities,animalfeeditems,andediblefatsandoilsasdescribedin40CFR

180.950(a),(b),and(c);and• certainchemicalsubstanceslistedunder40CFR180.950(e).

• Condition3:Alloftheingredients(bothactiveandinert)mustbelistedonthelabel.Theactiveingredient(s)mustbelistedbylabeldisplaynameandpercentagebyweight.Eachinertingredientmustbelistedbylabeldisplayname.

• Condition4:Theproductmustnotbearclaimseithertocontrolormitigateorganismsthatposeathreattohumanhealth,orinsectsorrodentscarryingspecificdiseases.

• Condition5:Thenameoftheproducerorthecompanyforwhomtheproductwasproducedandthecompany’scontactinformationmustbedisplayedprominentlyontheproductlabel.

• Condition6:Thelabelcannotincludeanyfalseormisleadingstatements.

Whatistheidealpesticide?

• Aswithmedications,theidealpesticideissafeintermsofhumanandecosystemhealthandeffectiveatcontrollingthetargetspecies

• USDADefinitionofCertifiedOrganicProducts• organicoperationsmustdemonstrateprotectingnaturalresources,conservingbiodiversity,andusingonlyapprovedpesticidesubstances

IntegratedPestManagement

• TheEPAdefinesIntegratedPestManagement(IPM)asanenvironmentallysensitiveapproachtopestmanagement• Californiaisaleaderinthis• Thelifecyclesofpestsareusedtointerruptandcontrolinfestations

• NewYorkisaleaderinIPM• CornellUniversity

• Managepestswhilesimultaneouslyintroducingtheleastpossibleriskhumanhealth,property,andtheenvironment

Radcliffe,2019

OccupationalHealth&WPS• FederalWorkerProtectionStandards(WPS)offerguidelinestoreduceriskinoccupationalsettings• WPSmeasuresincluderestricted-entryintervals,useofpersonalprotectiveequipment,andpostingsthatnotifyworkersofpesticideapplicationsandre-entrytimes• Employersshouldprovideasafeworkplaceandtrainingtoworkersinalanguagetheycanunderstand.Thisincludesfilingapesticide-relatedworkplacecomplaintorcontactingalocalcountyagriculturalcommissioner

Stone,2014

FarmBill2018

• Allowsindustrialhempcultivation• Thiscouldproducefederal-levelcannabispesticideregulations• OnAugust12,2016,TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)inconsultationwiththeU.S.DrugEnforcementAdministration(DEA)andtheU.S.FoodandDrugAdministration(FDA),publishedaguidancedocumentontheorganicproductionofUSDAcertifiedindustrialhemp.

• Insteadofaddressingproductionstandardsfortheconsumableproduct,theUSDAhasaddressedtheindustrialproduct

Section7606oftheAgriculturalActof2014/HempFarmingActof20187C.F.R.§ 205.501GeneralRequirementsforAccreditation

TakeHomeMessgaes• Regulatingpesticideswillbedifficultbutwehaveaplaybook(USDAorganicandUSP)andexperienceregulatingpesticidesalready!

• Routeofingestion- matters• Temperature- matters(burningmaybebetterthanvaporization…)• Concentration– matters(concentratesmaybeworsethanflower)• Whenyouspray– matters(don’tsprayduringflowercycle)

• Wedon’twanttoretrofitourregulations–aswe’vedoneforalcohol &tobacco

Richter,2014

References• California- LegalPestManagementPracticesforCannabisGrowersinCalifornia

• Colorado- ManagementBestpractices

• SullivanN,ElzingaS,RaberJC.Determinationofpesticideresiduesincannabissmoke.JToxicol.2013;2013:378168.

• SubritzkyT,PettigrewS,LentonS.Intothevoid:RegulatingpesticideuseinColorado'scommercialcannabismarkets.IntJDrugPolicy.2017;42:86-96.

• GourdetC,GiombiKC,KosaK,WileyJ,CatesS.HowfourU.S.statesareregulatingrecreationalmarijuanaedibles.IntJDrugPolicy.2017;43:83-90.

• RussoEB.Currenttherapeuticcannabiscontroversiesandclinicaltrialdesignissues.FrontPharmacol.2016;7:309.

• SubritzkyT,LentonS,PettigrewS.Legalcannabisindustryadoptingstrategiesofthetobaccoindustry.DrugAlcoholRev.2016;35(5):511-513.

• KraussMJ,SowlesSJ,SehiA,etal.MarijuanaadvertisingexposureamongcurrentmarijuanausersintheU.S.DrugAlcoholDepend.2017;174:192-200.

• McDanielPA,SolomonG,MaloneRE.Thetobaccoindustryandpesticideregulations:casestudiesfromtobaccoindustryarchives.EnvironHealthPerspect.2005;113(12):1659-1665.

• RichterKP,LevyS.Bigmarijuana--lessonsfrombigtobacco.NEnglJMed.2014;371(5):399-401.

• BarryRA,HiilamoH,GlantzSA.Waitingfortheopportunemoment:thetobaccoindustryandmarijuanalegalization.MilbankQ. 2014;92(2):207-242.

• Post,L.(2019).HigherEtiquette:AGuidetotheWorldofCannabis,FromDispensariestoDinnerParties.TenSpeedPress.

ApprovedPesticideCountbyState

State Number ofpermittedpesticidesregistered(approved)

California

Colorado 12,000(200)

OR (362)– test59

Canada Test100

Washington (330)

ActiveIngredientsExemptedUnder25(b)oftheFederalInsecticide,Fungicide,&RodenticideAct• Castoroil(U.S.P.orequivalent)*LinseedoilCedaroilMalicacidCinnamonandcinnamonoil*MintandmintoilCitricacid*Peppermintandpeppermintoil*CitronellaandCitronellaoil2-Phenethylpropionate(2-phenylethylpropionate)Clovesandcloveoil*Potassiumsorbate*Cornglutenmeal*PutrescentwholeeggsolidsCornoil*Rosemaryandrosemaryoil*Cottonseedoil*Sesame(includesgroundsesameplant)andsesameoil*DriedBloodSodiumchloride(commonsalt)*EugenolSodiumlaurylsulfateGarlicandgarlicoil*SoybeanoilGeraniol*Thymeandthymeoil*GeraniumoilWhitepepperLaurylsulfateZincmetalstrips(consistingsolelyofzincmetalandimpurities)Lemongrassoil

Wang,2014

&

ManagementBestPractices

• Limitingventilationcanalsobehelpfultobiosecurityeffortsandinminimizingexposuretocontaminants,possiblyreducingrelianceonpesticidesorfungicides.• Universalwastesareasubsetofhazardouswastesthathavereducedmanagementstandardsasdefinedbyfederal,stateandlocallaws,regulations,rulesorotherrequirements..Theseincludemercury-containinglightingandballasts,manytypesofpesticidesorotherchemicalsusedinthecultivationprocess,orotherchemicalsusedintheproductionofcannabisconcentrates.• Purchasematerialsinsmallerquantities andbuynomorethanaone-yearsupplyofproduct.Thishelpsavoidexcessmaterialexpiringorbecomingobsoleteasregulationschange.• Innearlyallcases,productionofcannabiscropsreliesontheuseofbiologicalcontrolagents(“BCAs”),asthegoalofzeropesticideresiduesisfavorableforproductqualityandpatienthealth.

Citation:CDPHE,2018

Questions

• Whatareyourpolicyandenvironmentalhealthideas?• Couldcannabiscultivationbeanallegoryforclimatechangeandresponsiblestewardshipofnaturalresources?• Whatwouldyoustillliketoknow?

Whydowecareaboutpesticides?HumanHealth• Pestshaveplaguedhumankindsincethebeginningoftime,asrecordedintheancientwritingsoftheChinese,Egyptian,andHebrewpeoples.(locustsatealltheplantsintheland)• Diseasessuchasplague andmalaria—bothpropagatedbypests—havechangedthecourseofhumanhistory(McNeill,1976;Zinsser,2007).• Aswithmedications,theidealpesticideissafeintermsofhumanandecosystemhealthandeffectiveatcontrollingthetargetspecies.• Healtheffectsofpesticideexposureisanemergingfield• Safetysensitiveproduct(considerthesafetysensitiveworkplace)

Occupationalhealth– crossdisciplinaryviewBurningPesticides- Heatingpesticidescanchangetheircomposition.…• Sugarcane– workerexposure• Linkthisallbacktooccupationalhealthtopicspresenthereinourschool.

Integratedpestmanagement

• Aphiiosphy asoldasrachel carson• Bugonbugwarfare

HowNottoDie…video

• https://nutritionfacts.org/video/pesticides-in-marijuana/?utm_source=NutritionFacts.org&utm_campaign=ecd04992e7-RSS_VIDEO_DAILY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_40f9e497d1-ecd04992e7-25723773&mc_cid=ecd04992e7&mc_eid=1af7f5bccd

Pesticidesincannaabi smoke

• https://www.fundacion-canna.es/en/pesticides-cannabis-smoke• Jeffraber,werc shop

Howarepesticidesregulated/tested–generally?• Thelabelisthelaw• Ifyouapplypesticidestoafield,youmustobtainanoperatoridentificationnumberfromtheCountyAgriculturalCommissioner• Then,submitpesticideusereportstothatoffice.(FAC§ 11408;3CCR§ 6622;3CCR§ 6626.)

Howcould pesticidesberegulatedforcannabis?• U.S.EPAdesignatescertainpesticideproductsasfederally“RestrictedUse”productswhentheydeterminethoseproductsmaycauseunreasonableadverseeffects

• California“RestrictedMaterials”• requireapermitissuedbytheCountyAgriculturalCommissioner.Permitswillnotbeissuedforcannabiscultivationsites.(FAC§ 14001,etseq.;3CCR§ 6400.)

• PermitonlyminimumriskpesticideunderFIFRAsection25(b)and3CCR§ 6147.(FAC§§ 12973,12995;3CCR§ 6490

• IntegratedpestmanagementApproach?Whatistherealpracticiality ofthis?

PesticidesandtheConsumer

• Lightingpesticidesonfireandthenconsumingthemisnottypical• Pyrolosis studiesdoexistattheEPA• (seepaperformore)• Dose-responserelationship…needsisbeingestablishedinanaturalexperiement....

ProductLabeling&LabTesting

• Whatwemighthavetoleratedintheillegalmarketinthepast,wenolongeracceptinamedicalmainstreatm• Illegal,tolerated=coffeeshop(pesticides,heavymetals,bacteria/mold,viarability instrength• Legal=pharmacy

• Coloradocurrentlyhasproducres labelforpesticides• (nothealtheffedts)• Manylabscannottestforpesticidesbecauseitisveryexpensive

Isthisaglobalhealthissue?

• Indiausesverylittlepesticidecomparedtoothercountries– whataretherecultivationcapabilities?

Studentvideosaboutpesticides

• Sprayingpesticidesoncherrios• Sprayingafield

Chemicalsserveasnaturalpesticides&protecttheplantfrompredators• Thc• B-caryophyllene

Anotherfunstudentvideo– lyme

Isthistrue?

• ThefederalgovernmentrefusestoaddresspesticidesandothercontaminantsincannabisbecausemarijuanaisanillegalScheduleOne substance.

TobaccoAdditive- pyrolysisproductsoftobaccoadditives

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27622657• USEPAallows37differentpesticidesontobacco,buttherearenolimitsonthemaximumquantityofpesticidesontobacco

bifenthrin

• Foundoncannabis1600x.

• Tobaccosmokersoftenusecigaretteswithcottonfilters.

Cigarettemokers atleasthavefilters

Edibleshavebeenrecalledforpesticides

• BacaandMigoya,2015• Recallofcontaminatedmarijuanabatchesfrompesticides

Pesticidelevelsare10xinconcentrates

• Voelker andHolmes(2015)• Light,Orens,Lewandowski(2014)

Growerssometimesresorttonucleartactics

• Quiteoverwhelmedbypestissues• Danko (2010)p.49