Marijuana and Aspergillus

by Wendy Svaren L.O.P.D.

 With the growing season upon us, it seems an appropriate time to send out a reminder of the dangers of Aspergillus as it relates to marijuana plants and the storage of those plants once seized by law enforcement agencies. Even though most of us handle marijuana on a daily basis there are still many of us that are not aware of what Aspergillus is, let alone the health hazards that surround it. The Oregon court system requires that we maintain seized marijuana for possible introduction as evidence. We must take precautions to prevent growth of this mold during storage.

Aspergillus is a type of fungus that grows on decaying plants and soil including marijuana. The mold spores can also be found in soil surrounding the plant. The problem is compounded when plants and their root balls are not dried properly and stored in plastic rather than paper packaging. Although most of us will not develop diseases caused by Aspergillus there are varieties of factors that contribute to possible disease the most important being a lowered immune system and predisposing disease such as tuberculosis or asthma.

Diseases caused by Aspergillus are called Aspergillus and range from sinusitis to life-threatening generalized infections of the pulmonary system. Symptoms for allergic Aspergillus could be coughing, wheezing, runny blocked up nose and chronic headaches. The more serious pulmonary infections are generally found in people who have previously damaged lung cavities from illnesses such as tuberculosis or sarcoidosis. The spores penetrate the cavity and germinate, forming a fungal ball within that cavity! Early on, a person may not notice any symptoms but later may see weight loss, feel tired and in extreme cases coughing up of blood. Treatment ranges from medicines to kill the fungus to surgical removal of the area infected.

Now that I have your attention, let us talk about how we can minimize the growth of Aspergillus within our evidence facilities.

 Depending on the size of your agency you may take in small amounts of marijuana to large grows on a routine basis. Even with smaller amounts of packaged marijuana, there will be the opportunity for Aspergillus to grow if the marijuana has any moisture left in the buds, or leaves. Officers should inspect the marijuana and determine whether it is moist in which case it should be packaged loosely in a paper envelop, paper bag or laid out to dry before packaging according to your agency policy. Even marijuana that appears to be completely dry may have anywhere from a 5-15% moisture content. If it is brittle to touch it is probably dry enough to package in plastic.

 With seizures of live plants, officers should photograph the plant with the root ball attached prior to drying. After photographing shake off as much soil as possible or remove the root ball entirely and dispose of it. Live marijuana plants will dry out more quickly if you can find a way to hang them to dry. If you do not have the means to do this, laying the plants out on large pieces of butcher paper will suffice but try to go back and turn the plants periodically (every 24-48 hrs) in order to completely dry them out. Of course, all of these suggestions will depend on your department's policies. The point we are trying to make is the importance of making sure your marijuana seizures are thoroughly dried before packaging.

It is especially important to keep up on your purging of marijuana cases due to the possible health hazards implicated by long-term storage and possible mold growth in the plant material. As soon as the cases are adjudicated, line the marijuana up for destruction and get it out of your facility. If you notice any of your stored marijuana developing a white powdery or blue mold, you have a problem and need to see to the destruction as soon as possible. If you must handle marijuana in this condition, it would be wise to wear a face mask and gloves to prevent breathing in the spores and dispose of it as quickly as possible.

Evidence facilities should have negative pressure ventilation systems set up with vents going to the outside of the building. There should be at least 8-10 air changes per hour especially in those rooms that store marijuana and other narcotics. Routine housekeeping would be a wise addition, especially for rooms that routinely store marijuana. Set up a schedule of wiping down the floors and walls with bleach solution quarterly or twice a year. Finally, remember as your marijuana cases are logged in monitor them closely ensuring they are in a dry state before packaging and storing. Educate your officers and department on the importance of proper drying and packaging of marijuana in order to maintain a healthy environment in your facility.