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Growers Continue to Face Challenges with Pesticides and Mold


Growers in the Cannabis business will do whatever it takes to yield ample and potent product, but if their protocols and environments don’t produce clean crops that pass state regulations, not only are their consumers in danger but their businesses too. Some even use harmful pesticides for mold prevention. The challenge is those who opt out of using harmful chemicals may succumb to bad crops because of mold overgrowth, especially if they’re unable to find a cleaner solution for maintaining healthy plants.

As the market continues to grow exponentially, these two dreaded P’s, pathogens and pesticides, continue to plague the Cannabis Industry. Just this past week, High Times published an article on the “Dirty Cannabis Crisis” in California bringing attention to the 675 dispensaries that were said to be in violation of Prop. 65’s requirement.

Earlier this year, SC Labs, an official laboratory for the Emerald Cup Competition (a famous gathering for marijuana enthusiasts) disqualified five percent of flowers and twenty-five percent of 263 concentrates samples because of contamination due to pesticides. While some may feel that the caliber the Cup sets is too high or unfair, there’s a reason why more and more industry leaders agree with its standards for marijuana.Pathogen Zero™
Selling contaminated product to consumers can pose a high risk of danger, especially for patients with compromised immune systems. The fungus Aspergillus and other infections are of concern especially to doctors who are treating cancer patients with very weak immune systems. This was recently in the news and investigated after a young cancer patient died from a rare fungal infection in a very short time span. Also, creating an environment that breeds mold can destroy the quality of cultivation, the revenue generating product.

Another motivation for producing marijuana in a pesticide free environment stems from concerns over burning chemicals like myclobutanil that are found in pesticides. When myclobutanil is heated, it decomposes into hydrogen cyanide. This toxic compound that has been known to cause many serious health problems including neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular, and many other health issues.

Unfortunately, both pathogens and pesticides could present financial concerns for Cannabis business.

The biggest problem is long as Marijuana remains illegal on a Federal level, states will be responsible for setting limits. In states where the plant is legal, legislation sets varying standards when compared to other states. Thus, consumers in those states aren’t always assuming the same level of risk nationally when it comes to the products they purchase, and even though the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently sets pesticide standards and tolerance levels nationally for agriculture, it has not approved pesticides specifically for this industry. Two states, Oregon and Nevada, have set limits on myclobutanil particular, with the former banning it completely.

So what can growers and Cannabis businesses do when it comes to both pesticides and mold?
CaliCropDoc believes one of the biggest issues that gardeners face is the “blind faith we seem to have on products that “do this or do that “without any real unbiased data to confirm or back up their claims.” In addition, he finds that the majority of people who aren’t educated enough, entrust their hydro store salesman to provide all the right answers.

“Many times they (these salesmen) are driven by margins on products more than the desire to actually help and just because a product is organic or safe for edible food crops does not mean it is safe for combustible crops. It’s the residue the products leave behind that are the real issue,” he says.

Regardless, CaliCropDoc stresses that every grower is capable of having and maintaining a clean grow room. After 18+ years in the industry, he conceived a product using a proprietary formula that is showing exceptional results eliminating both mold and the need for harmful pesticides. As an all natural plant protector and growth enhancer, PathogenZERO, could be the answer to the industry’s problem with “dirty” weed.

What is it exactly?

PathogenZERO is formulated with an antimicrobial plant based bioflavonoid. Bioflavonoids, or flavonoids, are a large class of antioxidants. They are compounds abundant in the pulp and rinds of citrus fruits and other foods containing vitamin C. Pathogen Zero has passed multiple field studies and is an effective solution for pathogen prevention, control and eradication, fighting off hundreds of mildew, fungi, bacteria, viruses, and airborne pollutants. The team is also nearly complete with their certification through the USDA for use in Organic Agriculture.

Could this be what growers in the industry need to stay in the game?