Oregon MJ growers told to quit using pesticides

Cannabis growers in Oregon have a new business hurdle: The state doesn’t want them using illegal pesticides, which leaves cultivators with very few options to fight off pests.

While the Oregon Department of Agriculture is working on a list of pesticides that will be approved for use on marijuana, the new policy statement from the agency means that essentially all regular pesticides are now prohibited from being used on cannabis, according to the Oregonian.

“It is important to note, pesticide applications that do not follow the pesticide product label pose risks to public health and safety and are a violation of state and federal law. THE LABEL IS THE LAW,” reads a letter sent out to licensed cannabis growers, the Oregonian reported.

Because marijuana is still federally illegal – and since all pesticide labels must be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – there are no legal pesticides for cannabis.

That’s an issue Oregon, as well as Washington and Colorado, are still grappling with when it comes to regulations and deciding which – if any – pesticides to allow for use on marijuana.