aiexpress – A California cannabis company has taken the proactive step of recalling one of its products due to the presence of a pesticide that was banned in 2020.
Grizzly Peak Farms, an indoor farm situated in Oakland and San Diego, recently notified state regulators on December 7th regarding the presence of chlorfenapyr, a pesticide, in a batch of its flower product named “Zoap.” The batch, which was produced and packaged on September 15th, has been identified as containing the pesticide.
The duration of time the marijuana has been available on the market, the quantity of pesticide that was found, and the number of consumers who may have been impacted remains uncertain.
In October 2019, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), a department under the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), made an announcement. They stated that the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos in California would come to an end. This decision came after an agreement was reached with manufacturers who agreed to withdraw their chlorpyrifos products. Chlorpyrifos has been commonly used for termite control and crop protection purposes.
The ban on chlorpyrifos products took effect in February 2020, prohibiting marijuana growers across the state from possessing or using these products beyond December 31, 2020.
In August 2018, a scientific review panel on toxic air contaminants brought its findings on chlorpyrifos to the attention of the DPR. The panel stated that exposure to this chemical is linked to developmental neurotoxicological effects, which have been observed in both human epidemiology studies and laboratory animal studies. Additionally, chlorpyrifos has been found to cause serious health effects in children.
The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has recently identified the presence of chlorfenapyr and has taken swift action. Starting from December 7, the department has been sending notices to retailers and distributors who have the contaminated product in their possession.
According to an email obtained by MJBizDaily, a notice has been issued, warning that all retail sales and distribution of the adulterated batch must immediately cease. The notice emphasizes that it is illegal to distribute, sell, hold, or offer for sale any cannabis product that has been adulterated.
According to reports, the DCC has instructed the companies involved to take action regarding the affected flower batch. They have been directed to collect, segregate, and quarantine all units of the batch until the recall process is completed. The goal is to ensure that the product is either transferred to the responsible licensee or destroyed appropriately.
According to a spokesperson from the DCC, they believe that Grizzly Peak’s call for the recall is the appropriate course of action and aligns with the goal of safeguarding consumers in our state.
According to the Grizzly Peak website, the farm is committed to being pesticide-free, ensuring that their products are free from any harmful chemicals.
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“Our approach to pest control is centered on cultural practices and the use of safe products,” states the website. “We prioritize the use of OMRI certified solutions and primarily rely on biological methods for pest control. To ensure the highest level of safety, each batch of our flower undergoes lab testing.”
The city of San Diego filed a lawsuit against Grizzly Peak Farms in 2020, seeking nearly $10,000 in penalties and interest. The company was accused of not paying taxes on cannabis products that were delivered to dispensaries in San Diego from their Oakland location. The alleged failure to pay taxes occurred between January 2018 and June 2019.
