Pesticide Contamination Sparks California Cannabis Crisis

California's legal cannabis market, valued at $5.1 billion, is facing a serious crisis due to high levels of pesticides found in several products, as revealed by a Los Angeles Times investigation. Out of 42 tested cannabis items, 25 were found to contain pesticide levels exceeding state and federal safety standards, raising health concerns for consumers. The fallout from these findings has led to significant industry turmoil, including a whistleblower lawsuit against state regulators and declining sales as consumers lose confidence in the legal market. In September, licensed cannabis sales dropped to a four-year low, allowing smaller states like Michigan to outpace California in legal sales. Additionally, a study indicated that 10% of children and 22% of adults in the San Joaquin Valley are exposed to detectable pesticide levels, further highlighting the public health implications. Law enforcement has also reported the presence of illegal pesticides in cannabis from various counties, complicating the issue further.