Keenan M. Jones and Elena C. Barone Analyze Pesticide Regulation for Cannabis Growers

Partner Keenan M. Jones and Associate Elena C. Barone broke down the current regulatory landscape of pesticide use for marijuana cultivation and analyzed how the recent rescheduling of medical cannabis to a Schedule III drug could impact growers in Frantz Ward’s “Full-spectrum Wisdom” column with Cannabis Business Times.

The article, “Schedule III’s Potential Impact on Cannabis Pesticide Regulations,” details how EPA-approved pesticide labels, which growers typically rely on for crop-specific usage instructions, do not yet exist for cannabis crops due to its federally illegal status, forcing cultivators to navigate complex and inconsistent standards.

The pair examined how related federal frameworks and registration mechanisms influence marijuana pesticide regulation, including the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), Pesticides for Hemp, and Special Local Needs (SLN).

Keenan and Elena detailed current state-level practices for regulating pesticides for cannabis cultivation. These include creating lists of approved pesticides, maintaining pesticide residue testing requirements throughout growth and processing, and limiting how and by whom pesticides are applied.

They recommend cannabis entities maintain detailed records of pesticide use and testing results to ensure compliance with state law and minimize liability. They also advise operators to include pesticide compliance provisions in contracts to properly allocate risk at each stage of the supply chain.

To learn more about the current regulatory climate of pesticide use for cannabis growth, read the full article here.

Keenan represents businesses of all sizes in litigation matters, corporate formation, business development, and protection of intellectual property rights. Since 2017, he has focused his practice on assisting companies operating in the regulated cannabis space, including hemp, marijuana, and ancillary endeavors.

As part of Frantz Ward’s Business Practice Group, Elena provides support on a range of transactional and regulatory matters, focusing on healthcare compliance. She regularly assists clients to manage and evaluate corporate risk and navigate complex regulatory schemes. She also monitors developments in cannabis and hemp regulation, including Ohio’s evolving legislative landscape.

Cannabis Business Times is a publication that focuses on the business of legal cannabis for medical and adult use. They aim to provide timely information to help the reader make informed decisions about running their cannabis businesses and advancing their careers in the cannabis market.