It’s estimated that the cannabis industry will be a $20 billion dollar market by 2025. Unfortunately, as suppliers attempt to keep up with demand, the desire to take shortcuts increases with more growers overlooking the use of harmful pesticides or even falsifying ‘organic’ claims.

Similar to organic fruits and vegetables, organic cannabis is free of pesticides and heavy metals. This means that at no point during the cultivation process were harmful synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, sewage sludge, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) introduced. Additionally, it means that the plant was never exposed to food ingredients or food processing substances like volatile solvents. However, at the federal level cannabis is still illegal, and there are limitations to USDA regulation. Ultimately this makes it impossible for any grower to acquire the USDA ‘certified organic’ stamp of approval.

Organic Cannabis Product Testing

With no federal regulation, increased product testing is imperative for growers seeking to self-regulate and provide their customers as much safety assurance as possible. Especially considering that while one may not use pesticides in their growing process, it’s still possible for runoff chemicals to invade their soil and cannabis plants.

Testing organic cannabis typically involves examining the final flower for harmful pesticides or chemicals. It’s important to continuously conduct batch testing that abides by state regulations. Doing so will ensure your cannabis is free of harmful pesticides and can technically be considered ‘organic.’

Can Toxic Chemicals in Marijuana Mutate DNA?

Historically speaking, marijuana testing was rarely done. Organizations like the EPA are far behind in understanding the impact of harmful chemicals and pesticides found in marijuana. There’s mixed evidence out there speculating that chemicals found in marijuana have the power to actually mutate one’s DNA. A study conducted by the University of Western Australia argues that marijuana has the power to cause chromosomal shattering, resulting in serious health issues like birth defects, kidney disease, and even cancer. While they may not appear in one’s lifetime, they can lie dormant in one’s DNA and be passed on through to descendants. The effects are still widely unknown, but it’s a reason to be weary and conscious of the heightened need to conduct product tests from a company standpoint.

Terpenes in Marijuana Vaping Products May Produce Toxic Chemicals

A recent study conducted by HealthDay reveals that when the e-liquids (otherwise known as ‘dabs’ or waxy pot concentrates) found in vaping products are heated, there’s potential for the production of harmful chemicals such as benzene (a known carcinogen) methacrolein, xylenes, toluene, styrene and ethylbenzene. It’s believed that this is a result of the production process which involves removing the aromatic terpene compounds and adding them back into the final THC product. For the many teenagers who have contributed to the rise in popularity of vaping products, this is especially concerning given the impact such chemicals can have on brain development.

What Toxic Chemicals are in Illegal Marijuana and Why Test for Fertilizers and Pesticides?

Although legal marijuana is slowly becoming the norm, illegal growing is still common and more often than not, illegal marijuana is grown using harmful practices. In fact, in 2019 in California alone, the government seized roughly 25,000 plants grown in its national forests. An article by Quartz highlighted that in some instances, there was even the presence of some of the most dangerous chemicals such as Carbufuren. According to AP News, an estimated 9 out of 10 illegal farms discovered in California used illegal chemicals in its growing process. When toxic chemicals are introduced to marijuana plants, there’s a chance of disrupting the natural breakdown process of enzymes which can actually result in an even more toxic combination. Compounds like Cannabinoids have actually been shown to inhibit specific enzyme breakdowns, resulting in even more toxic pesticides.

What Toxic Chemicals are in Marijuana?

The cannabis plant is unique in that during the cultivation process it soaks everything it’s exposed to, almost like a sponge. Unfortunately, this means the plant is at a much higher risk of contamination from anything like air, soil, or runoff. The most harmful chemicals found in marijuana include mold and fungus. This is especially concerning for anyone using marijuana for medicinal purposes or those with asthma, allergies, or weak immune systems. Heavy metals are also extremely dangerous contaminants found in cannabis. These can include cadmium, lead, arsenic, or even mercury. For those relying on cannabis for medicinal purposes, these contaminants can have incredibly detrimental side effects no matter how they’re consumed: inhaled, ingested, or absorbed.

Toxic Chemicals are in Marijuana

As more research comes out on the chemical makeup of cannabis, it’s clear both harmful and unknown compounds are abundant. In a report conducted by the University of Alberta, it was found that one puff of cannabis smoke contained 2,575 chemical compounds with roughly 110 identified as toxic chemicals.

As the landscape of cannabis continues to rapidly change, the call for increased product testing is crucial to ensuring safe products and ethical business practices in a time when testing and regulation resources are scarce.