The increasing size of the illegal marijuana market has given rise to an increasing number of trespass cannabis cultivation throughout the world. The heavy use of toxic pesticides by these illegal growers has had significant impact on the environment and wildlife. Many of these pesticides are so toxic, they are heavily restricted or even completely banned by many governments. In addition to the threat these pesticides pose to the environment, they also pose a great threat to responding law enforcement and agencies tasked with dismantling these operations.
With the addition of the pesticide capabilities, the MX908 provides critical identification of toxic pesticides in the field, allowing users to act immediately, while keeping themselves safe. Whether it be on site at an illegal marijuana grow, or at the border identifying smuggled pesticides, the MX908 provides accurate identification of pesticides at trace levels, in a handheld device, for the first time ever.
MX908 Advantages
The only handheld device for rapid trace detection and identification of pesticides at nanogram levels, in the field
Trace capability allows for exterior packaging sampling, reducing exposure risk
Provides actionable data at the point of need with results in less than a minute
Identify numerous pesticides by name to guide clean up efforts and keep personnel on site safe
Developed in partnership with the United States Forest Service (USFS)
Pesticide Targets
Aldicarb
Diazinon
Carbaryl
Imidacloprid
Carbofuran
Malathion
Chlorpyrifos
Methamidophos
A single drop of Carbofuran is enough to kill an adult human. Here a ~1 liter bottle is found at a trespass grow site.
Identifying containers and crop sprayers that have pesticides present reduce the cost of clean up and keep responders safe.
[post_title] => Identify Pesticides at Illegal Marijuana Grows
[post_excerpt] => With the addition of the pesticide capabilities, the MX908 provides critical identification of toxic pesticides in the field, allowing users to act immediately, while keeping themselves safe.
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => closed
[ping_status] => closed
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => mx908-mission-brief-pesticides
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2025-10-23 12:48:05
[post_modified_gmt] => 2025-10-23 16:48:05
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://908devices.com/?post_type=resource&p=6910
[menu_order] => 83
[post_type] => resource
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[1] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 5317
[post_author] => 29
[post_date] => 2022-02-02 14:56:00
[post_date_gmt] => 2022-02-02 19:56:00
[post_content] =>
Real-Time Threats Real-Time Detection
MX908
MX908 is a multi-mission, handheld mass spectrometer utilized by elite responders conducting chemical, explosive, priority drug, and hazmat operations around the world.
MX908: A CRITICAL TOOL IN THE RESPONDER TOOLKIT
MX908® detects compounds at trace levels and combines unparalleled sensitivity and selectivity, providing users with confident results and actionable intelligence other handheld technologies cannot. The power of high-pressure mass spectrometry™ (HPMS) accurately discriminates priority threats from the broad range of interferents that lead to false alarms with other commonly used technologies.
DETECT AND IDENTIFY CHEMICALS IN ANY PHASE
With the MX908, one device can analyze any sample you encounter regardless of size or phase of matter. This flexibility combined with the MX908 expanding target list ensures that responders have a device that can evolve with new and emerging threats.
MULTI-MODE THREAT DETECTION
MX908 EXCELS WITH SAMPLES ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE
MX908 EXCELS WITH A BROAD RANGE OF SAMPLES AND CONCENTRATIONS
The MX908 is powered by high-pressure mass spectrometry (HPMS) technology, which enables responders to detect and identify chemical hazards from bulk to true trace concentrations. MX908 is up to 1 million times more sensitive than commonly used Raman and FT-IR technologies. Depend on high-fidelity trace and bulk identification, for point detection or remote area monitoring, all with one device
YOUR MISSION DEFINES YOUR MODE
Based on your specific mission objectives, choose an MX908 Mission Mode that leverages specialized software and hardware configurations to optimize performance for hunting certain chemical classes.
DRUG HUNTER
Methamphetamine
Cocaine
Fentanyl and 2000+ Fentanyl Analogs
Heroin
Cannabinoids
Cathinones
And More…
Identify narcotics in low concentration mixtures (well below 5%)
Establish trace chemical evidence linkages for interdiction, checkpoint operations, and more
Improve officer safety with limited exposure risk
Fentanyl Classifier provides coverage for 2000+ fentanyl analogs
Add case information with the MX908 remote application
CW HUNTER
Novichoks or A-series Agents
Legacy Warfare Agents (G, V, and H-series)
Pharmaceutical Based Agents (including fentanyl, carfentanil, and remifentanil)
Only field deployable detector for trace identification of Novichoks
Only field deployable detector for identification of aerosolized threats
Quantify chemical warfare agents in real time
Identifying Novichoks and other CWAs by name is essential for decontamination and medical response
Allow for broad threat coverage in any state with a single device
Remote area monitoring with MX908 Beacon
EXPLOSIVE HUNTER
Homemade Explosives
Military Explosives
Commercial Explosives
Precursors
Identify trace explosive residues
Identify explosives by name to guide response
Analyze samples safely with no threat of igniting sensitive materials
Identify aerosolized chemical threats dispersed from IEDs and other munitions
Establish trace chemical evidence linkages for checkpoint operations, HME lab response, and more
The increasing size of the illegal marijuana market has given rise to an increasing number of trespass cannabis cultivation throughout the world. The heavy use of toxic pesticides by these illegal growers has had significant impact on the environment and wildlife. Many of these pesticides are so toxic, they are heavily restricted or even completely banned by many governments. In addition to the threat these pesticides pose to the environment, they also pose a great threat to responding law enforcement and agencies tasked with dismantling these operations.
With the addition of the pesticide capabilities, the MX908 provides critical identification of toxic pesticides in the field, allowing users to act immediately, while keeping themselves safe. Whether it be on site at an illegal marijuana grow, or at the border identifying smuggled pesticides, the MX908 provides accurate identification of pesticides at trace levels, in a handheld device, for the first time ever.
MX908 Advantages
The only handheld device for rapid trace detection and identification of pesticides at nanogram levels, in the field
Trace capability allows for exterior packaging sampling, reducing exposure risk
Provides actionable data at the point of need with results in less than a minute
Identify numerous pesticides by name to guide clean up efforts and keep personnel on site safe
Developed in partnership with the United States Forest Service (USFS)
Pesticide Targets
Aldicarb
Diazinon
Carbaryl
Imidacloprid
Carbofuran
Malathion
Chlorpyrifos
Methamidophos
A single drop of Carbofuran is enough to kill an adult human. Here a ~1 liter bottle is found at a trespass grow site.
Identifying containers and crop sprayers that have pesticides present reduce the cost of clean up and keep responders safe.
Despite the global trend of marijuana legalization, the illegal marijuana market continues to thrive, with criminal operations becoming more efficient. Many illegal growers are setting up “trespass grows” on public lands, bypassing regulations that ensure consumer safety and causing severe environmental damage. These grow operations often involve the use of toxic cannabis pesticides that harm wildlife, contaminate water supplies, and pose health risks to law enforcement and cleanup workers. In the U.S., the Forest Service has dismantled over 1,000 grow sites between 2017 and 2020, finding significant amounts of trash, hazardous chemicals, and illegal pesticides. Traditional detection methods for these chemicals, like colorimetric tests or lab-based mass spectrometry, are either imprecise or slow. To address this, the MX908 handheld mass spectrometer was developed, allowing for rapid and accurate identification of cannabis pesticides at illegal grow sites, enabling safer and more efficient cleanup operations.
[post_title] => White Paper: Pesticide Detection and Identification at Illegal Marijuana Grows
[post_excerpt] => With pesticides posing an imminent danger for wildlife in the area, responding law enforcement also find themselves potentially exposed to the hazardous chemicals
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => closed
[ping_status] => closed
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => mx908-white-paper-pesticides
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2025-10-23 13:06:41
[post_modified_gmt] => 2025-10-23 17:06:41
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://908devices.com/?post_type=resource&p=6913
[menu_order] => 77
[post_type] => resource
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
)
[post_count] => 1
[current_post] => -1
[before_loop] => 1
[in_the_loop] =>
[post] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 6913
[post_author] => 34
[post_date] => 2022-11-08 10:11:33
[post_date_gmt] => 2022-11-08 15:11:33
[post_content] =>
Despite the global trend of marijuana legalization, the illegal marijuana market continues to thrive, with criminal operations becoming more efficient. Many illegal growers are setting up “trespass grows” on public lands, bypassing regulations that ensure consumer safety and causing severe environmental damage. These grow operations often involve the use of toxic cannabis pesticides that harm wildlife, contaminate water supplies, and pose health risks to law enforcement and cleanup workers. In the U.S., the Forest Service has dismantled over 1,000 grow sites between 2017 and 2020, finding significant amounts of trash, hazardous chemicals, and illegal pesticides. Traditional detection methods for these chemicals, like colorimetric tests or lab-based mass spectrometry, are either imprecise or slow. To address this, the MX908 handheld mass spectrometer was developed, allowing for rapid and accurate identification of cannabis pesticides at illegal grow sites, enabling safer and more efficient cleanup operations.