Pesticides change the taste – Approved by Health Canada

In the last three to four years, Health Canada has declined one question. The department declined to explain why it allowed licensed producers to spray sulfur on flowering cannabis intended for smoking. Finally, after the third try, Health Canada concedes that pesticides alter the taste.

Shortly after legalization, rules for ACMPR-licensed patients sharing semen were passed back and forth like a ping-pong ball between Health and Justice Canada. Eventually, Health Canada responded. Health Canada’s media department even addressed the question of whether they are considering the possibility of strange quantum structures (hop ions) in liquid crystals in relation to Covid vaccines. Admittedly, the answer was general. But her media department responded to the question anyway. In fact, considering sulfur for cannabis is the only question that Health Canada declined to answer — and they did so twice.

Pesticides after incineration

What considerations has the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) made when approving vaporizable and wettable sulfur-based pesticides? blossom Cannabis for inhalation (i.e. cannabis in a pre-rolled jointt’)?

Before a pesticide product is approved for use in Canada, Health Canada’s PMRA must determine if it has value (e.g., that it works as the manufacturer claims). And that there are no health and environmental risks of concern. This is the process used for approving all pesticides in Canada, including those registered for use on cannabis.

Specifically, the PMRA assessment of pesticides considers toxicity and levels of exposure, including rate, timing, and frequency of applications, to characterize risk. There are no health concerns when Agrotek Vaporizable Sulfur and NM Bartlett, Wettable Sulfur are used according to label directions.:

Tammy Jarbeau | Senior Media Relations Advisor | Communications and Public Affairs Branch | Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada

Interestingly, burning sulfur produces toxic and deadly gases known as sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). A sulfur product approved for use in commercial cannabis production will contain this warning on the Safety Data Sheet. The Health Canada Trust should assume that if a grower follows the label, no residues of environmental sulfur will be left on the flowering plants.

Diagram of a sulfur burner courtesy of Zhang et al. 2020

Sulfur is an oxidizing agent

Has Health Canada (or the PMRA) considered acceptable limits for sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide when approving vaporizable sulfur and wettable sulfur as IPM strategies for flowering cannabis crops?

Good cannabis production practices are such that it is best to achieve pest control before flowering. Applying a pesticide such as sulfur to leaves can leave a residue that alters the desired flavor profile of the harvested cannabis.

Tammy Jarbeau

Sulfur and oxygen have similar effects on molecules in cannabis. However, the former is more dynamic and causes a complex series of chemical reactions. A simple explanation is that sulfur affects flower chemistry, shifting or breaking down terpenes.

Self-regulated solutions

Health Canada is re-evaluating numerous pesticides, including sulfur. Potassium salts and potassium bicarbonate are approved for use in cannabis but are currently in the information gathering phase for a re-evaluation later this year. At the same time, diatomaceous earth ended a reassessment consultation last month. In the years that followed, mineral oil and Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner ssp. kurstaki (used in AEF Globals Bioprotec.)

Self-regulation before government oversight is crucial. To achieve this, a grower can use a crop exclusively for edibles and topicals if they absolutely want to spray sulfur-based pesticides during a late flowering phase. Keep in mind that sulfur converts to sulfides in the gut, but only causes gastrointestinal problems after large doses.

Producers should work hard to keep sulfur residue and powdery mildew off of joints, bongs, and those pesky vape pens that burn concentrates. A successful harvest requires beneficial insects, better growing practices, and good genetics. However, Section 81 of the Cannabis Regulation allows manufacturers to treat edible cannabis with products that are not permitted under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA).

Let us know in the comments if you think pesticides change more than just the taste of cannabis.

Sources

1. Zhang, Feichi & Heidarifatasmi, Hosein & Harth, Stefan & Zirwes, Thorsten & Wang, Robert & Fedoryk, Michal & Sebbar, Nadia & Habisreuther, Peter & Trimis, Dimosthenis & Bockhorn, Henning. (2020). Numerical evaluation of a novel double concentric swirl burner for sulfur combustion. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 133. 110257. 10.1016/j.rser.2020.110257.