U.S. state becomes first in the nation to ban pesticide linked to Parkinson’s
Paraquat is one of the most widely used weed killers in the U.S., but more than 70 other countries have banned its use.
Mason Reed 
Vermont has officially set a national precedent, becoming the first state in the U.S. to implement a ban on paraquat. The controversial pesticide, which has already been prohibited in dozens of other developed nations, is now facing a legislative crackdown stateside.
A Legislative Milestone
On Tuesday, Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed a state bill into law that effectively bans both the sale and application of paraquat starting Nov. 1. While the mandate is strict, it does include a narrow window for agricultural exceptions. Farmers may apply for a permit from the state’s secretary of agriculture, food and markets for specific crops, though this authorization expires at the end of 2030.
To qualify for an exception, producers must prove that no viable alternatives exist and implement rigorous protocols to ensure the chemical does not drift onto neighboring properties.
“Today, I signed H.739, which phases out the use of the harmful herbicide paraquat over the coming years,” Gov. Scott noted in comments shared with the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He added that he hopes the move serves as a model for other states.
The Search for Answers
The debate surrounding paraquat has intensified due to its suspected link to Parkinson’s disease. In a collaborative investigation conducted late in 2025, 205focus.com and MLive profiled several farmers who are currently battling the neurodegenerative condition following years of exposure to the herbicide.
Research highlighted by the Michael J. Fox Foundation suggests that individuals who apply paraquat are more than twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s compared to those using other pesticides. This has triggered a wave of federal litigation, with thousands of U.S. farmers suing the makers of Gramoxone. The cases remain consolidated in the Southern District of Illinois.
Though chemical giant Syngenta announced earlier this year that it would stop manufacturing the pesticide, the company maintains that the science does not confirm a causal link to Parkinson’s, telling 205focus.com in a previous statement that the product is safe when used as directed.
Regulatory Landscape
Paraquat remains a highly restricted substance, known for its extreme toxicity; even a single sip is considered fatal. Despite its risks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not enacted a full ban, though officials confirmed in January that the agency is actively reassessing the chemical’s safety.
While Vermont’s annual usage is estimated at only 100 pounds according to Seven Days, the national scale is significant. Data from the U.S. Geological Survey indicates that between 11 and 17 million pounds of paraquat are sprayed across the country annually, with high concentrations utilized in agriculture-heavy states like Alabama.
