Analytical Cannabis 

Analytical Cannabis Expo 2019

The Science of Cannabis Extraction 2019 Online Symposium

The Science of Cannabis 2017 Online Symposium

The Science of Cannabis Extraction Online Symposium 2020

Workshop on Optimizing Performance and Maximizing Productivity When Measuring Heavy Metals in Cannabis and Hemp by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

Analytical Cannabis Online Expo 2020

Speaking at the Analytical Cannabis Expo East Online 2020, Jini Curry, Laboratory Director at Modern Canna Labs presented her research on the link between potency and nutrients in cannabis.

Abstract: The potency of chemovars is known to be affected by the plant’s genomics. However, are genomics the only factor that plays a role in the potency of cannabis? Theoretically, healthier plants should result in potency values that are on the higher end of the known potency range for specific chemovars. This study will look at a variety of nutrients to determine if they play a role in the resulting potency. Cannabis is known to be a hyperaccumulator and will therefore, uptake nutrients from the soil and growth mediums to help the plant grow. Utilizing modified Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methodology, our laboratory will determine if specific nutrient concentrations can result in potency differences of well-known chemovars. Currently, the industry has not determined the ideal concentrations for macro and micronutrients in the buds. However, this study has focused on determining what concentrations of nutrients should be seen in the buds and has compared those results to the potency values, so that a correlation between these factors could be established.

Potency and Nutrients: Is There a Distinct Correlation?

Speaking at The Science of Cannabis 2020 Online Symposium, Rob Thomas, Principal Consultant at Scientific Solutions presented his talk on heavy metals regulation and how lessons from the pharmaceutical sector could be transferred to the cannabis industry.<br/><br/>Abstract: The lack of federal oversight with regard to medicinal cannabis and hemp products in the US has meant that it has been left to the individual states to regulate its use. Medical marijuana is legal in 33 states, while 11 states allow its use for adult recreational consumption. The sale of these products is strictly regulated by their THC and CBD content, depending on their use. However, it’s also critical to monitor levels of contaminants such heavy metals, as the cannabis plant is known to be a hyper-accumulator of heavy metals in the soil. Unfortunately, there are many inconsistencies with heavy metal limits in different states where medical cannabis is legal. Some states define four heavy metals while others specify up to eight. Some are based on limits directly in the cannabis, while others are based on consumption per day. Others take into consideration the body weight of the consumer, while some states do not even have heavy metal limits. So clearly there is a need for consistency across state lines, in order that consumers know they are using products which are safe to use. This presentation will take a closer look at how the pharmaceutical industry changed its 100-year old sulfide precipitation test for a small group of heavy metals, to finally arrive at a list of 24 elemental impurities using plasma spectrochemical techniques. The cannabis industry can learn a great deal from this process to not only understand the many potential sources of heavy metal contamination, but also how the final cannabis products can be contaminated by the manufacturing equipment, the extraction process and the delivery systems used.

Regulating Heavy Metals in Cannabis: What We Can Learn From the Pharmaceutical Industry

Speaking at the Analytical Cannabis Expo East Online 2020, Dr Ben Armstrong, Laboratory Director at Juniper Analytics, presented his talk on how to mitigate matrix effects in cannabis and hemp analysis.

Abstract: The food and pharmaceutical industries established methods for pesticide testing many years ago. However, cannabis is unique in that it contains over 500 compounds not found in other fruits and vegetables. A variety of extraction methods are currently used for sample preparation, each with its own benefits and disadvantages. This is further complicated by the large variety of sample matrices that are presented for pesticide residue analysis. Accuracy, precision and sensitivity of the method are frequently compromised by the presence of matrix effects. Techniques can be used to mitigate the matrix effects that each product presents, however this comes with its own set of challenges. This talk will discuss extraction methods used in the cannabis and hemp industry and highlight strategies for mitigating matrix effects, the need for improved extraction protocols, and validated methods.

Strategies to Mitigate Matrix Effects in Cannabis and Hemp Pesticide Residue Analysis

With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill legalizing hemp and different US states legalizing Cannabis products, farmers are allowed to grow cannabis and hemp. Like any other agricultural crop, pesticides are applied to cannabis and hemp plants to protect it from pests and improve growth yield. Chronic exposure to pesticides can lead to serious health risks and therefore pesticide analysis in Cannabis and hemp is important for consumer safety and quality control. Among all of states in USA, California has issued most stringent action limits for 66 pesticides residues in cannabis flower, cannabis infused edibles, concentrates and hemp.  Normally pesticide analysis in cannabis and other food matrices is done by both GCMSMS and LCMSMS since some nonpolar and chlorinated pesticides such as pentachloronitrobenzene, chlordane and others are difficult to ionize with electrospray source used in LCMSMS systems.   We would demonstrate how we measured these compounds at low levels using LCMSMS with APCI source. The ionization mechanism of chlorinated pesticides such as pentachloronitrobenzene and others using LCMSMS system with APCI source would be presented. We analyzed all of 66 pesticides (including very hydrophobic and chlorinated pesticides typically analyzed by GCMSMS) spiked in  hemp and cannabis samples  well below the action limits specified by California State. Hemp and cannabis matrix is challenging and therefore it causes ion suppression and matrix inference for response of some of pesticides. We would demonstrate approaches to mitigate these matrix effects from cannabis and hemp. Sample preparation is the main bottleneck for achieving the high throughput analysis of pesticides in cannabis/hemp testing labs. For sample preparation, we used solvent extraction since it is a quick, cheap and easy way to achieve high extraction recovery in comparison to other time-consuming sample preparation techniques like solid phase extraction (SPE) and QuEChERS. Also, the performance of LC-MS/MS method was checked by conducting blind emerald scientific’s proficiency test for 66 pesticides in hemp. The proficiency test report generated with LCMSMS method showed acceptable results for all of 66 pesticides in hemp with no false positives and negatives.

Overcoming Challenges associated with analysis of all of pesticides regulated by California

Real-time PCR is the method of choice for contemporary microbiological quality analysis of cannabis products. Its reliability is already proven for many years for analysis of food products and beverages, outcompeting traditional culture in both specificity and sensitivity. With the ever increasing amount of cannabis-infused products on the market, BIOTECON Diagnostics as long standing partner in the food safety diagnostic industry can bring all its experience to the market. 
 Matrices in Cannabis and Cannabis-infused products can range from pure plant materials with lots of secondary metabolites to highly processed products, such as gummy bears and brownies. The sheer variety of matrices are challenging to come by, especially in regards to sample preparation and DNA extraction in many labs. The efficient removal of dead cell background, where necessary, and PCR-inhibitors during extraction is what sets BIOTECON’s extraction apart. As a leader in viability PCR, BIOTECON’s Reagent D eliminates dead microbes from the PCR, enabling results that perfectly match traditional culture.
With over 20 years of experience in real-time PCR analysis, BIOTECON Diagnostics has assembled a portfolio of open-platform cannabis testing solutions combining highest sensitivity, specificity, speed and convenience that perfectly fits the needs of any lab. This includes our unique foodproof Yeast and Mold Quantification LyoKit and our brand new multiplex kit for Aspergillus detection and identification. 
With its long standing history and experience in real-time PCR based kits, BIOTECON Diagnostics is a pioneer and a premier partner to support clients in the Cannabis industry to ensure product safety.

qPCR Testing for microbial contaminants in Cannabis and Cannabis-infused products

Speaking at The Science of Cannabis 2020 Online Symposium, Sarah Dalton, US Hemp and Cannabis Leader for Ernst & Young presented her talk on the challenges of regulating CBD from the FDA perspective.

Abstract: Recent warning letters and Consumer Updates from the FDA have sent a chill through the CBD industry. Anticipated market entrants like Coca-Cola, Mondelez, Starbucks and Kellogg’s that would have bought up much of the CBD inventory produced from a record-year of hemp cultivation have mostly stayed on the sidelines, leading to a precipitous fall in hemp and hemp derivative prices. This regulatory uncertainty is leading CBD companies to come up with novel approaches to develop and market their products while staying afloat in this volatile market. Join Sarah as she discusses what the current FDA position on CBD is, projected regulatory rules and pathways, existing CBD products and their ability to market medical claims including OTC monograph topicals, and the role of individual states in regulating CBD, THC and minor cannabinoids. 

Analytical Cannabis

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