Many cannabis cultivators regularly use bat guano for its nutrient values, but minor precautions should be taken when utilizing the mammal’s poop for fertilizer.
The story of two home growers from Rochester, N.Y., who died from a “rare fungal lung infection” connected to guano took the No. 1 spot in Cannabis Business Times’ most-read articles this month. A 59-year-old reportedly bought guano online for his home grow, while a 64-year-old had a bat infestation in his attic. It was unclear whether the latter individual began using guano to fertilize his cannabis plants before he got sick.
Although various health organizations warn about the hazards of breathing in the harmful fungal spores from bat guano, the doctors who treated the men in New York said their deaths should serve as a reminder about the potential dangers of using poop to fertilize any plants.
Also landing in the Top 10 this month were articles on the farm bill’s one-year extension that left the definition of hemp—including the omission of THCA—untouched until 2025; Illinois’ governor putting his muscle behind a bill to regulate hemp products; and an administrative law judge scolding the Drug Enforcement Administration for a subpoena request blunder.
“To be sure, a blunder of this nature on a case that has garnered a significant level of national attention is an unexpected development, particularly in light of the unique dynamic of one agency of the United States Government seeking process to compel the attendance of multiple employees from another agency of the United States Government,” Judge John J. Mulrooney wrote in an order earlier this month.
Stay tuned for CBT’s ongoing coverage in the coming months, as expert testimonials for the DEA’s hearing to reclassify cannabis are scheduled to run from Jan. 21 through March 6.
In the meantime, catch up on our Top 10 stories from December:
