Presence of Pesticide Residues in Cannabis Products

The literature addressing the cannabis use for medical purposes provides scientific evidence that both cannabis and cannabinoids have potential therapeutic effects. The Cannabis plant has gained substantial attention in recent years due to the growing number of countries that legalize cannabis for medicinal and recreational use. Smoking is the most common method of administering cannabis. Broad-spectrum pesticides are widely used in plant crops to control insects, weeds, and other pests. This prevention strategy is also used on Cannabis plants, currently cultivated in significant areas to produce food supplements and pharmaceuticals. Pesticides used in Cannabis crops can be insecticides, acaricides and fungicides that can accumulate in the environment and can be found in the final product, thus reaching the human body. The use of pesticides in Cannabis plants is not regulated in most countries. In countries where Cannabis use is legalized, either for medical or recreational use, there are not always guidelines for pesticide use, so sample analysis is not a priority. When the maximum permitted limits are exceeded, these substances may cause undesirable potential dangerous effects. We cannot ignore the idea that standardized testing should be considered mandatory in countries where consumption is already legal, which will help also other countries that are in the process of legalization.