NJ Pesticides Test Results: Why They Matter for Cannabis
Pests like insects and rodents are a major hazard for cannabis cultivators. They can cause damage to plants, enough to ruin an entire grow. Unfortunately, the pesticides that are effective at warding off these pests pose problems of their own, including risks to consumer health.
In some markets, use of pesticides is banned outright for this reason. But even cannabis products that are grown and processed without the use of pesticides may be contaminated if they come into contact with pesticides at any point in the supply chain. This means that even the most conscientious of producers could find themselves with contaminated products. As a result, it is important that cultivators and manufacturers have access to reliable testing to ensure that only pesticide-free products are reaching dispensary shelves.
In this blog you will learn:
What pesticides are and how they are used
Why pesticide testing is important in the cannabis industry
What New Jersey’s regulations are regarding pesticides and cannabis
What are pesticides?
Pesticides are substances commonly used in farming and agriculture to enhance growth and control pests like insects and other organisms that are harmful to plants. Pesticides include those made from synthetic chemicals and those derived from natural sources. Some of the most common pesticides include insecticides to eliminate insects and fungicides to prevent molds and mildew.
Most of what we know about pesticide safety comes from ingestion in fruits, vegetables, and other crops. However, there is little known about the safety of pesticides in inhalation. It is not yet known whether pesticides are safe for inhalation. One study in the Journal of Toxicology found that many pesticides used on cannabis can be transferred to the body via inhalation and concluded that the high levels of pesticide residue can present health complications for consumers. However, more studies need to be conducted to understand precisely what the risks might be.
Pesticide use in cannabis cultivation
Because cannabis is a bioaccumulator, it is highly effective at absorbing and retaining chemicals from its environment. In fact, industrial hemp is so good at picking up contaminants from soil that it is used to remediate contaminated soil.
Pesticides are additionally absorbed through cannabis leaves, the plant’s stalk, and the flower directly into the plant. Some pesticides may also settle on the leaves like a film. Because these contaminants make their way into cannabis through both direct application as well as water and nutrient uptake from soil, pesticides can be especially harmful and difficult to remove from the cannabis plants.
Is pesticide use regulated in New Jersey?
New Jersey bans the use of all pesticides on cannabis outright, prohibiting cultivators and manufacturers from using them on their crops and products. New Jersey adopted its testing guidelines from Maryland’s medical cannabis program to require pesticide testing for 48 substances. Maryland’s Department of Agriculture has approved a specific list of pesticides for use on medical cannabis, while New Jersey has banned the use of them entirely.
Because pesticides are potentially dangerous and present serious health hazards to consumers, cultivators have to be very conscientious before applying any pesticides to cannabis plants. And while some states allow the use of certain pesticides under strict limits, others, like New Jersey, have fully banned the use of pesticides on cannabis plants and require testing of all cannabis products to ensure they remain pesticide-free.
Among some of the pesticides we test for at True Labs for Cannabis include:
Carbaryl: Used to control a variety of insects that may threaten plants, ongoing exposure to this pesticide is associated with blurred vision, sweating, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Myclobutanil: The active ingredient in the pesticide “Eagle 20,” Myclobutanil kills fungi such as powdery mildew and bud rot. Myclobutanil releases highly toxic gases when heated past a certain temperature. Thus, it is highly prohibited from use on cannabis, as combustion or heating are required to consume many of these products.
Etoxazole: Etoxazole is an acaricide used on plants to keep away spider mites, a common cannabis problem. When exposed to humans, etoxazole may cause damage to the liver and kidneys, as exemplified by an animal study in 2017.
Imidacloprid: Illegal for use on cannabis plants, imidacloprid is considered by most legal markets a “threat to public safety.” It is particularly dangerous to endangered insects like bees but can be harmful if ingested by humans as well. Signs and symptoms of Imidacloprid poisoning include fatigue, cramps, and muscle weakness.
Which pesticides are banned or restricted in New Jersey?
The State of New Jersey currently prohibits all pesticide use on marijuana and requires testing results for 48 pesticides. The list below indicates the most common categories.
Insecticides: These pesticides are formulated to kill or mitigate insects that may be harmful to plants. From an agriculture standpoint, they play a large role in protecting crops and ensuring that food is safe for consumption. When it comes to cannabis, however, pesticides can leave a residue that can be extremely harmful upon inhalation. Examples include Acetamiprid, Abamectin Insecticide, and Aldicarb.
Fungicides: These pesticides are meant to kill off both fungi and their spores, as well as fight off the development of further fungi. Because cannabis plants tend to grow in warm and humid environments and are highly susceptible to the development of mold and mildew, some manufacturers use fungicides to prevent microbial growth. However, given that some conventional fungicides can be harmful to humans, test results are essential to ensure that products are safe for inhalation. Examples include Azoxystrobin and Fludioxonil.
Acaricides: Acaridies are pesticides used to kill members of the arachnid subclass Acari, which includes ticks and mites. Synthetic acaricides are used in both agriculture and medicine but can be harmful to humans if the residue is left over. Examples include Etoxazole.
Plant growth regulators (PGR): These are pesticides used to modify plant growth. In cannabis, PGRs are typically used to increase the size, density, and weight of cannabis flower. This is used by unscrupulous manufacturers as a way to inflate prices and deceive consumers. Many regulatory agencies, including New Jersey, have banned the use of PGRs from cannabis and other food crops for this reason. Examples include Ethephon and Paclobutrazol.
This table offers a complete list of pesticides banned for use under Maryland’s regulations. New Jersey cannabis testing labs screen cannabis products for any amount of these 48 pesticides, and if any are present in higher than the maximum allowable amounts, the product will fail pesticide testing and not be legal to sell.
| Pesticide/PGR | Type | |
| Acetamiprid | Insecticide | |
| Abamectin | Insecticide | |
| Aldicarb | Insecticide | |
| Ancymidol | PGR | |
| Azoxystrobin | Fungicide | |
| Bifenazate | Insecticide | |
| Bifenthrin | Fungicide | |
| Boscalid | Fungicide | |
| Carbaryl | PGR | |
| Carbofuran | Insecticide | |
| Chlorantraniliprole | Insecticide | |
| Chlorpyrifos | Insecticide | |
| Clofentenzine | Acaricide | |
| Cyfluthrin | Insecticide | |
| Daminozide (Alar) | PGR | |
| DDVP (Dichlorvos) | Insecticide | |
| Diazinon | Insecticide | |
| Dimethoate | Insecticide | |
| Ethephon | PGR | |
| Etoxazole | Acaricide | |
| Fenpyroximate | Insecticide | |
| Fipronil | Insecticide | |
| Flonicamid | Insecticide | |
| Fludioxonil | Fungicide | |
| Flurprimidol | PGR | |
| Hexythiazox | Ovicide | |
| Imazalil | Fungicide | |
| Imidacloprid | Insecticide | |
| Kresoxim-methyl | Fungicide | |
| Malathion | Insecticide | |
| Metalaxyl | Fungicide | |
| Methiocarb | Insecticide | |
| Methomyl | Insecticide | |
| Myclobutanil | Fungicide | |
| Naled | Insecticide | |
| Oxamyl | Insecticide | |
| Paclobutrazol | PGR | |
| Permethrin | Insecticide | |
| Phosmet | Insecticide | |
| Piperonyl butoxide | Insecticide | |
| Propiconazole | Fungicide | |
| Pyrethrins | Insecticide | |
| Spinosad | Insecticide | |
| Spiromesifen | Insecticide | |
| Spirotetramat | Insecticide | |
| Thiacloprid | Insecticide | |
| Thiamethoxam | Insecticide | |
| Trifloxystrobin | Fungicide |
Ensuring the safety of your products
Beyond requirements by the state, pesticide testing is essential for all cannabis manufacturers to ensure the quality of products and safety of consumers. True Labs for Cannabis offers scientifically validated and meticulous pesticide testing to identify and quantify pesticides - providing accurate results not only to New Jersey cannabis business, but also for the consumers who rely on their products. Visit the True Labs pesticide testing services page to learn more.