Illicit cannabis contained pesticides and high levels of contaminants, including arsenic and lead, that wouldn’t be allowed in the legal cannabis market, says a B.C. study.
As part of the study, the government sent 20 dried cannabis samples seized from six illicit retailers in Metro Vancouver to a federal lab in February 2021. The lab found 24 distinct pesticides in the samples, as well as “unacceptable levels” of bacteria, fungi, lead and arsenic.
B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth urged people who use cannabis to buy from legal vendors, who are required to follow federal regulations including mandatory testing for solvent residues and contaminants. He also warned people who buy cannabis from illicit sources that their money might end up supporting the criminal underworld.
“In addition to the potential health risks, if you buy illegal cannabis, you could also be supporting organized criminal operations that pose a danger to our communities,” said Farnworth said in a statement.
Read the complete article at Vancouver Sun.