Cannabis product testing

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Cannabis product testing is a form of product testing analyzes the quality of cannabis extracts, edibles, and THC and CBD levels in an emergent consumer market eager to sell adult use products. [1] Analytical chemistry and microbiology laboratories are important entities in consumer protection. These labs not only determine the condition and viability of cannabinoids, water content, heavy metals, pesticides, [2] terpenes, yeast, but also the presence of mold, mycotoxins, and solvents. [3] [4] These laboratories emerged when advocates of cannabis testing raised concerns about potential contaminants. [5] [6] [7]

Contents

The popularity of cannabis and cannabinoid products continues to escalate following the legalization of cannabinoid products in the United States since 2012.

Since 2012, ten states (Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, California, Nevada, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and, in November 2018, by popular referendum, Michigan) and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational cannabis consumption and, except for the District of Columbia and Vermont, acted to implement legislation that also legalizes commercial production. By 2016, 23 states had legalized medical cannabis. Additionally, a number of states, as far back as the 1960s, have decriminalized the possession of small quantities of cannabis for personal use. [8]

By 2020, the majority of the U.S. population can purchase cannabis and cannabinoid products as easily as alcohol. [1] But exposure to contaminants is often overlooked. Limited regulation threatens product safety in the "gold rush" era of a fast-growing cannabis industry. Analytical chemistry and microbiology testing that protects consumer safety and prevents unfair practices becomes an added cost that most startups avoid due to the lack of oversight of recreational and medicinal cannabis in the United States. [9] Advanced analytical testing is critical given trade-offs between safety and quality in cannabinoid therapeutics and nutraceuticals. Product or compliance testing determines the chemical makeup and overall quality of the formulation before the sale of products. [1] [10]

History

Colorado

In 2015, the first government standards for testing were proposed in Colorado's legislature, when potency and microbial testing became mandatory in the state. [11] [12] [13] Colorado cannabis testing laboratories, such as AgriScience Labs, are regulated by the Colorado Department of Revenue's Marijuana Enforcement Division and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. [14] Over the next several years, other tests became mandatory, such as residual solvent analysis and pesticides. [14] [15]

Other states

Cannabis testing is also required in other states, such as California, [16] Oregon, [17] Massachusetts, [18] and Nevada. [19] Washington State added routine pesticide testing and random or investigation-driven heavy metal testing, formerly required only for medical cannabis, to its testing suite for all cannabis on March 2, 2022. [20]

Standards

Calls have been made to unify cannabis industry standards with existing testing organizations such as ASTM International (ASTM D37) [21] or International Standards Organization (ISO/IEC 17025). [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis edible</span> Food item containing cannabis extract or cannabinoids

A cannabis edible, also known as a cannabis-infused food or simply an edible, is a food item that contains decarboxylated cannabinoids from cannabis extract as an active ingredient. Although edible may refer to either a food or a drink, a cannabis-infused drink may be referred to more specifically as a liquid edible or drinkable. Edibles are a way to consume cannabis. Unlike smoking, in which cannabinoids are inhaled into the lungs and pass rapidly into the bloodstream, peaking in about ten minutes and wearing off in a couple of hours, cannabis edibles may take hours to digest, and their effects may peak two to three hours after consumption and persist for around six hours. The food or drink used may affect both the timing and potency of the dose ingested.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical cannabis</span> Marijuana used medicinally

Medical cannabis, medicinal cannabis or medical marijuana (MMJ), is cannabis and cannabinoids that are prescribed by physicians for their patients. The use of cannabis as medicine has not been rigorously tested due to production and governmental restrictions, resulting in limited clinical research to define the safety and efficacy of using cannabis to treat diseases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis (drug)</span> Psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant

Cannabis, also known as marijuana or weed, among other names, is a non-chemically uniform drug from the cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various traditional medicines for centuries. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive component of cannabis, which is one of the 483 known compounds in the plant, including at least 65 other cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabis can be used by smoking, vaporizing, within food, or as an extract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis tea</span> Cannabis-infused drink

Cannabis tea is a cannabis-infused drink prepared by steeping various parts of the cannabis plant in hot or cold water. Cannabis tea is commonly recognized as an alternative form of preparation and consumption of the cannabis plant, more popularly known as marijuana, pot, or weed. This plant has long been recognized as an herbal medicine employed by health professionals worldwide to ease symptoms of disease, as well as a psychoactive drug used recreationally and in spiritual traditions. Though less commonly practiced than popular methods like smoking or consuming edibles, drinking cannabis tea can produce comparable physical and mental therapeutic effects. Such effects are largely attributed to the THC and CBD content of the tea, levels of which are drastically dependent on individual preparation techniques involving volume, amount of cannabis, and boiling time. Also in common with these administration forms of cannabis is the heating component performed before usage. Due to the rather uncommon nature of this particular practice of cannabis consumption in modern times as well as the legality of cannabis throughout the World, the research available on the composition of cannabis tea is limited and based broadly around what is known of cannabis as it exists botanically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States</span>

In the United States, the non-medical use of cannabis is legalized in 24 states and decriminalized in 7 states, as of November 2023. Decriminalization refers to a policy of reduced penalties for cannabis offenses, typically involving a civil penalty for possessing small amounts, instead of criminal prosecution or the threat of arrest. In jurisdictions without penalty the policy is referred to as legalization, although the term decriminalization is sometimes used for this purpose as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in the United States</span>

The use, sale, and possession of cannabis containing over 0.3% THC by dry weight in the United States, despite laws in many states permitting it under various circumstances, is illegal under federal law. As a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970, cannabis containing over 0.3% THC by dry weight is considered to have "no accepted medical use" and a high potential for abuse and physical or psychological dependence. Cannabis use is illegal for any reason, with the exception of FDA-approved research programs. However, individual states have enacted legislation permitting exemptions for various uses, including medical, industrial, and recreational use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in California</span>

Cannabis in California has been legal for medical use since 1996, and for recreational use since late 2016. The state of California has been at the forefront of efforts to liberalize cannabis laws in the United States, beginning in 1972 with the nation's first ballot initiative attempting to legalize cannabis. Although it was unsuccessful, California would later become the first state to legalize medical cannabis through the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, which passed with 56% voter approval. In November 2016, California voters approved the Adult Use of Marijuana Act with 57% of the vote, which legalized the recreational use of cannabis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction</span>

In the United States, cannabis is legal in 38 of 50 states for medical use and 24 states for recreational use. At the federal level, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, determined to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, prohibiting its use for any purpose. Despite this prohibition, federal law is generally not enforced against the possession, cultivation, or intrastate distribution of cannabis in states where such activity has been legalized. On May 1, 2024, the Associated Press reported on plans by the Drug Enforcement Administration to move cannabis to the less-restrictive Schedule III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steep Hill (company)</span> Cannabis testing, analytics and research laboratory

Steep Hill, INC. is a California-based medical cannabis and adult-use cannabis testing, analytics, and research laboratory that opened in late 2007. It was the first commercial medical cannabis testing lab to open in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of cannabis laws in the United States</span>

The legal history of cannabis in the United States began with state-level prohibition in the early 20th century, with the first major federal limitations occurring in 1937. Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis, sparking a trend that spread to a majority of states by 2016. In 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte's Web (cannabis)</span> Strain of medical marijuana

Charlotte's Web is a brand of high-cannabidiol (CBD), low-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products derived from industrial hemp and marketed as dietary supplements and cosmetics under federal law of the United States. It is produced by Charlotte's Web, Inc. in Colorado. Hemp-derived products do not induce the psychoactive "high" typically associated with recreational marijuana strains that are high in THC. Charlotte's Web hemp-derived products contain less than 0.3% THC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Iowa</span>

Cannabis in Iowa is illegal for recreational use if classified as marijuana but consumable hemp products including CBD products are legal for consumers to possess and registered retailers to sell. Possession of even small amounts of marijuana is a misdemeanor crime. The state has a medical program for patients with qualifying debilitating medical conditions that allows for the legal sale and possession of no more than 4.5g of THC per patient every 90-day period. Allowed modes of consumption are oral & topical forms including, but not limited to; tablets and tinctures, nebulizable inhalable forms, suppositories, and vaporization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis dispensaries in the United States</span> Local government regulated location

Cannabis dispensaries in the United States or marijuana dispensaries are a type of cannabis retail outlet, local government-regulated physical location, typically inside a retail storefront or office building, in which a person can purchase cannabis and cannabis-related items for medical or recreational use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 California Proposition 64</span> Referendum on recreational cannabis

The Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) was a 2016 voter initiative to legalize cannabis in California. The full name is the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act. The initiative passed with 57% voter approval and became law on November 9, 2016, leading to recreational cannabis sales in California by January 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Nevada</span>

Cannabis in Nevada became legal for recreational use on January 1, 2017, following the passage of Question 2 on the 2016 ballot with 54% of the vote. The first licensed sales of recreational cannabis began on July 1, 2017.

Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, or D4DPR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as a global voice for licensed health professionals and scientists advocating for evidence-based drug policies and best practices that advance public health, reduce stigma, and minimize harm. D4DPR leverage the expertise, compassion, and influence of licensed health professionals to enact changes in drug policy necessary to improve public health, human rights, social justice, and consumer protections. D4DPR, formerly DFCR, was founded in 2015 by David L. Nathan. In 2021, Dr. Bryon Adinoff, an addictionologist, researcher, and editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse succeeded Nathan to become D4DPR's second president.

The Donald Trump administration took positions against marijuana and against the easing of laws regarding marijuana. Although Trump indicated during his 2016 presidential campaign that he favored leaving the issue of legalization of marijuana to the states, his administration subsequently upheld the federal prohibition of cannabis, and Trump's 2021 fiscal budget proposal included removing protections for state medical marijuana laws.

Women have been active in the cannabis industry, cannabis legalization, cannabis testing, and cannabis rights since the earliest days of commercialization, but they have also faced gendered obstacles impeding their growth in an industry worth over 12 million dollars since 2019. "The American cannabis industry accounted for $10 billion of 2018’s [global] figures, with the average U.S. dispensary pulling in $3 million a year."

Occupational health concerns over the use of cannabis among workers are becoming increasingly important as cannabis becomes legal in more areas of the US. Of note, employers have concerns of workers either coming to work acutely impaired or recent use of cannabis still being detected in the body. Employment issues such as ADA law as it relates to accommodations for cannabis, paying unemployment benefits or paying out workers compensation benefits and disability claims are all important issues. While federal law still prohibits use, employers in different states have taken different stances based on whether they are federal contractors, perform safety sensitive work or whether the cannabis use is acutely impairing the employee.

Rowshan Reordan is the founder and CEO of Green Leaf Lab LLC. Founded in 2011, as the first accredited, woman-owned cannabis and hemp CBD analytical testing laboratory in the United States certified by the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and AOAC International.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Clarke, Vanessa; Lin, Melody (December 1, 2020). "Cannabis Compliance Testing: Safety vs. Quality". Cannabis Industry Journal. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  2. ↑ CEM, C. (2018). "Extraction of Pesticides from Cannabis" (PDF). AP0168: 1–5.
  3. ↑ Small 2016.
  4. ↑ St. Louis 2018, p. 384.
  5. ↑ Matt Ferner (December 4, 2013), "Marijuana Can Be Covered In Mold, E.Coli, Insect Parts And Pollutants", Huffington Post
  6. ↑ Joel Grover; Matthew Glasser (February 22, 2017), Pesticides and Pot: What's California Smoking? An NBC4 I-Team investigation found evidence suggesting that pesticides could be present in a lot of marijuana legally sold in California, Los Angeles: KNBC-TV News
  7. ↑ Ben Parker Karris (June 22, 2016), "Unknown Unknowns: Why Cannabis Needs Standardized Lab Testing Now – From fentanyl-laced weed to pesticide-polluted flower, the importance of accuracy in lab test results cannot be overstated", Kindland, Kind, archived from the original on June 24, 2017, retrieved June 26, 2017
  8. ↑ Prestemon, Jeffrey P., Frank H. Koch, Geoffrey H. Donovan, and Mary T. Lihou. "Cannabis legalization by states reduces illegal growing on US national forests." Public Law 91 (2016): 513. https://forestthreats.org/products/publications/Prestemon%20et%20al%202019%20Ecological%20Economics.pdf
  9. ↑ Goldman, Stephen; Bramante, Julia; Vrdoljak, Gordon; Guo, Weihong; Wang, Yun; Marjanovic, Olivera; Orlowicz, Sean; Di Lorenzo, Robert; Noestheden, Matthew (June 15, 2021). "The analytical landscape of cannabis compliance testing". Journal of Liquid Chromatography & Related Technologies. 44 (9–10): 403–420. doi: 10.1080/10826076.2021.1996390 . ISSN   1082-6076. S2CID   245157194.
  10. ↑ Pusiak, Ryan JP; Cox, Chelsea; Harris, Cory S. (July 1, 2021). "Growing pains: An overview of cannabis quality control and quality assurance in Canada". International Journal of Drug Policy. 93: 103111. doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103111. ISSN   0955-3959. PMID   33478804. S2CID   231677596.
  11. ↑ Kristen Wyatt (March 26, 2015), "Colorado bill seeks to standardize marijuana lab testing", The Cannabist , The Denver Post
  12. ↑ Jennifer Kovalesk (June 15, 2017). "Medical marijuana testing: 5 things you need to know". The Denver Channel. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  13. ↑ Lisa Rough (May 10, 2017), Leafly's State-by-State Guide to Cannabis Testing Regulations, Leafly , retrieved June 26, 2017
  14. 1 2 Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (October 14, 2014). "Inspection of marijuana testing facilities" . Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  15. ↑ Melissa Schiller. "Pesticide Testing is Mandatory in Colorado Starting Aug. 1: Are You Ready?". Cannabis Business Times. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  16. ↑ Michael R. Blood. "California testing of cannabis products off to rough start with high failure rate". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  17. ↑ Oregon Health Authority. "Marijuana Testing Requirements" . Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Medical Use of Marijuana Program product testing". Mass.gov. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  19. ↑ Colton Lochhead (January 24, 2018). "Nevada officials cracking down on marijuana testing labs". Lad Vegas Review. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  20. ↑ Board Adopts Pesticide Testing Rules (press release), Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, March 2, 2022
  21. ↑ "Standards development", Patient Focused Certification (website), Americans for Safe Access , retrieved April 27, 2017
  22. ↑ "Washington Could Have the Safest Pot in the World If It Just Made This Simple Change", The Stranger , May 31, 2017

Sources

See also

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