Overview
In Pennsylvania, certain pesticides can be used for growing and processing medical marijuana. To use a pesticide, it must be registered and labeled for use in greenhouses or on food crops. Pennsylvania pesticide registration can be checked here.
PDA evaluates potential pesticide active ingredients for inclusion on this list on an annual basis. Persons seeking review of an active ingredient for addition to this list must submit an application to PDA by June 1st of the calendar year. This submission must include the name of the active ingredient, the EPA registration number for a pesticide containing the active ingredient, and a recent market label for a pesticide containing this active ingredient. This list will be reviewed and updated September of each calendar year. Deletions of active ingredients will occur on an as-needed basis. Applications may be sent to:
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Attn: Pesticide Registration
2301 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg PA 17110
The PDA will utilize the following criteria when evaluating active ingredients for inclusion on the list:
- The active ingredient is in at least one EPA registered pesticide, or is exempt under FIFRA 25(b)
- Pesticides containing this ingredient are labeled for unspecified food or herb crops
- The active ingredient is exempt from the requirements of a tolerance on all food crops
The PDA may also consider other factors, such as pyrolysis data or whether addition of an active ingredient may likely lead to widespread misuse. This Notice shall become effective immediately upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This publication supersedes all previously published Notices related to pesticide active ingredients for use by Medical Marijuana Growers and Processors.
List of Pesticide Active Ingredients approved for use by Medical Marijuana Growers/Processors
EPA Status | Pesticide Type | Comments | Active Ingredient |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Castor Oil |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Cedarwood Oil |
25(b) | Fungicide, PGR, Nematicide, Bactericide | Only 25(b)-compliant pesticides may be used on medical marijuana | Chitosan |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Cinnamon |
25(b) | Fungicide, Insecticide |
| Cinnamon Oil |
25(b) | Fungicide, Insecticide |
| Citric Acid |
25(b) | Bactericide, Fungicide |
| Clove |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Clove Oil |
25(b) | Fungicide |
| Corn Oil |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Cornmint Oil |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Cottonseed Oil |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Garlic |
25(b) | Insect Repellent |
| Garlic Oil |
25(b) | Fungicide |
| Geraniol |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Geranium Oil |
25(b) | Fungicide, Insecticide |
| Lemon Grass Oil |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Peppermint Oil |
25(b) | Fungicide |
| Potassium Sorbate |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Rosemary |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Rosemary Oil |
25(b) | Fungicide, Insecticide, Miticide |
| Sesame Oil |
25(b) | Fungicide, Insecticide |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| Soybean Oil |
25(b) | Fungicide |
| Thyme |
25(b) | Fungicide, Insecticide, Miticide |
| Thyme Oil |
25(b) | Insecticide |
| White Pepper |
Sec 3 Products | PGR |
| 24-Epibrassinolide |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Azadirachtin |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747 |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain MBI 600 |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Bacillus pumilus strain GHA 180 |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Bacillus subtilis QST713 strain |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. israelensis |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki strain EVB-113-19 |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Beauveria bassiana strain ANT-03 |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Beauveria bassiana strain GHA |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Burkholderia ssp. strain A396 |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Canola Oil |
Sec 3 Products | Insect Repellent |
| Capsicum Oleoresin Extract |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Chromobacterium sub strain PRAA4-1 Cells |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide, Insecticide |
| Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem Oil |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Clonostachys rosea strain J1446 (formerly known as Gliocladium catenulatum strain J1446) |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Copper Octanoate |
Sec 3 Products | PGR |
| Cytokinin (Kinetin) |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Diatomaceous Earth |
Sec 3 Products | PGR |
| Gibberellins (Gibberellic Acid) |
Sec 3 Products | PGR |
| Harpin Alpha Beta |
Sec 3 Products | PGR |
| Homobrassinolide |
Sec 3 Products | Antimicrobial, Fungicide | Post-harvest application prohibited | Hydrogen Peroxide |
Sec 3 Products | PGR |
| IBA (Indole-3-Butyric Acid) |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Isaria fumosorosea Apopka strain 97 |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Isaria fumosorosea strain FE 9901 |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide, PGR |
| Kaolin |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Metarhizium brunneum Strain F52 |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Mineral Oil |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Mono- and Dipotassium Salts of Phosphorous Acid |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Monopotassium Phosphate |
Sec 3 Products | Nematicide |
| Myrothecium verrucaria |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide, Insecticide |
| Neem Oil, Cold Pressed |
Sec 3 Products | Antimicrobial, Fungicide |
| Peroxyacetic Acid |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Potassium Bicarbonate |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Potassium Laurate |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide, Insecticide |
| Potassium Salts of Fatty Acids |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Pseudomonas chlororaphis strain AF5009 |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide |
| Pyrethrins |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Reynoutria sachalinensis extract |
Sec 3 Products | Molluscicide |
| Sodium Ferric EDTA |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Streptomyces lydicus WYEC 108 |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide | Foliar spray prohibited | Streptomyces sp. strain K61 |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide, miticide |
| Sucrose Octanoate Esters |
Sec 3 Products | Insecticide, Fungicide | Only EPA-registered products are approved for use on medical marijuana. Burning sulfur for pest control is prohibited | Sulfur |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Trichoderma asperellum strain ICC 012 |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Trichoderma asperellum strain T34 |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Trichoderma gamsii strain ICC080 |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Trichoderma harzianum Rifai strain T-22 |
Sec 3 Products | Fungicide |
| Trichoderma virens strain G-41 |