California regulators ordered a Northern California hemp grower to destroy plants in 22 greenhouses after an investigation revealed illegal pesticide use.
As a result of a May 24 investigation conducted by the Sutter County agricultural commissioner, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) reached a settlement agreement with the grower, Bin Zheng, who consented to voluntarily destroy the hemp at all 22 greenhouses.
Zheng was fined by Sutter County, just north of Sacramento, for using a banned pesticide on hemp and issued a Notice of Proposed Action to take certain steps to resolve the issue, according to a news release.
The products could have been processed and sold to consumers, the DPR warned in a news release.
“Our state’s laws and regulations provide for safe and effective use of pest management tools,” DPR Director Julie Henderson said in a statement.
“Prompt, collaborative enforcement is critical to an effective pesticide regulatory program in California that protects people and the environment,” she added, lauding the DPR’s coordination with the Sutter County agricultural commissioner.
The enforcement action was first reported by Ganjapreneur.
The enforcement actions by state regulators targeting illegal pesticides in hemp products comes on the heels of a massive outbreak of pesticide-tainted THC distillate infused in dozens of regulated California cannabis products over the past few months.
The growing crisis has led to infighting among brands, retailers, growers and the Department of the Cannabis Control, the state’s chief regulator of the industry.
Meanwhile, the scandal has shaken confidence in the validity of lab testing, certificates of analysis and the greater supply chain in the world’s largest regulated marijuana marketplace, prompting several operators to seek their own solutions.
