Pesticide Use in Legal Marijuana Production Reveals Conflicts and Safety Concerns Between States and EPA / Telisport W. Putsavage Leads New York State Bar’s First Look at Growing Problem

Environmental attorney Telisport W. Putsavage, founder of the recently formed Putsavage PLLC law firm and a Principal in the scientific and regulatory consulting practice EnviroReg LLC, is moderating the first panel ever convened at the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) to address the conflicts regarding pesticide regulation in the cultivation of marijuana for medical and recreational uses.

Albany, NY, New York, NY (PRWEB)

The discrepancies and ambiguous legal positions regarding the use of necessary pesticides to ensure the safety of legal cannabis will be front and center at the annual meeting of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) tomorrow, January 27th, 2017. Environmental attorney and former state regulator Telisport W. Putsavage, founder of the recently formed Putsavage PLLC law firm and a Principal in the scientific and regulatory consulting practice EnviroReg LLC, is moderating the first panel ever convened at the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) to address the conflicts regarding pesticide regulation in the cultivation of marijuana for medical and recreational uses.

New York is among several states that recently opened the door for the use of marijuana and cannabis substances to help in the treatment of select, qualifying and serious medical conditions. In addition, eight states, among them Massachusetts, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and California have legalized adult recreational use. The New York State Department of Health reports that 833 medical practitioners and nearly 13,000 patients have registered under New York's Compassionate Care Act.

The cultivation of marijuana for such programs is conducted in large commercial greenhouses and warehouses, and face insect and pest pressures that any large commercial greenhouse would. However, under Federal law, a pesticide may only be used on crops listed on a pesticide product label. In light of the controlled substance classification of marijuana, no pesticide is labeled for application to marijuana. 

For the January 27th NYSBA event, Putsavage is bringing in experts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the private sector to discuss this dilemma. They will address current regulatory and industry approaches to managing pest and disease management and resulting pesticide use. 

Putsavage sees an urgent need to devise a workable system to ensure appropriate resources to deal with insects and disease that will ensure the integrity of the pesticide regulatory structure and the safety of patients and users. 

“Within these expanding markets, the growers, new marijuana patients and users all have the mutual desire for healthy crops and products safe to consume. That requires the careful selection of appropriate products coupled with strict adherence to proper use requirements,” says Putsavage. 

“With no pesticides approved for marijuana under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), growers are left without Federal regulatory guidance." 

“The growth of cannabis products is an emerging, promising industry for many state economies and needs to be treated with the same seriousness and care that EPA uses with other industries,” added Putsavage.