A substance put on cannabis plants to keep pests and other organisms from consuming and destroying the plant. Pesticides can be natural, such as neem oil, or synthetic, such as Azamax. Most legal cannabis markets require that products be independently tested for residual pesticides, and cultivators are required to keep pesticide levels below a certain amount in order to sell their products.
“You shouldn’t use pesticides on cannabis plants that have already flowered.”
“I only use natural pesticides in my garden.”
The difference between natural and synthetic pesticides
Natural pesticides are substances found in nature that are effective at deterring pests. They are sourced from plants, animals, and minerals, and require little to no chemical alteration to be effective. Synthetic pesticides are produced by chemically altering natural compounds.
Both natural and synthetic pesticides can be toxic when consumed. Unfortunately, most studies concerning pesticides focus on the effects of eating pesticides, as the world’s food production industries rely on them the most, and little research has been done on the long-term effects of inhaling residual pesticides found on cannabis. More research is needed in this field for definitive answers.