|
|
| (47 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| [[File:CCE by Draconis- laboratory work on plant essences and cannabinoid material.jpg|left|240px]]The attempts to legalize, regulate, and standardize cannabis, cannabis products, and all the activities surrounding the industry are apparent, but why is laboratory testing of cannabis important? Why test?
| |
|
| |
|
| First, from a purely research-based perspective, analytical testing of cannabis helps society learn more about the plant and its constituents, and how they positively and negatively affect human health when ingested. Though research has been difficult to accomplish in the U.S. over the years<ref name="NASEMTheHealth17">{{cite book |chapter=Challenges and Barriers in Conducting Cannabis Research |title=The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research |author=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine |publisher=The National Academies Press |year=2017 |doi=10.17226/24625 |isbn=9780309453073}}</ref>, the long-term lack of understanding about the plant and its effects of use continues to push researchers forward to expand that societal understanding.<ref name="McKeilCanna20">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabistech.com/articles/cannabis-researchers-paving-the-way/ |title=Cannabis Research - The Researchers Paving the Way |author=McKeil, J. |work=Cannabis Tech |date=05 June 2020 |accessdate=07 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="JaegerCongress20">{{cite web |url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/congress-votes-to-let-researchers-study-marijuana-from-dispensaries/ |title=Congress Votes To Let Researchers Study Marijuana From Dispensaries |author=Jaeger, K. |work=Marijuana Moment |date=02 July 2020 |accessdate=07 July 2021}}</ref> Granted, some countries such as Israel have been at the forefront of cannabis research and testing, with researchers there receiving funding from U.S. companies, as well as the U.S. government.<ref name="SchwartzTheHoly17">{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2017-04-11/israel-is-a-global-leader-in-marijuana-research |title=The Holy Land of Medical Marijuana |author=Schwartz, Y. |date=11 April 2017 |accessdate=07 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="SmithCanna19">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovation/cannabis-research-pioneer-hopes-latest-discovery-not-overlooked-again-n1059116 |title=Cannabis research pioneer hopes latest discovery is not overlooked — again |author=Smith, N. |work=NBC News |date=26 September 2019 |accessdate=07 July 2021}}</ref> Studies and clinical trials from Israeli researchers on autism<ref name="SchleiderReal19">{{cite journal |title=Real life Experience of Medical Cannabis Treatment in Autism: Analysis of Safety and Efficacy |journal=Scientific Reports |author=Schelider, L.B.-L.; Mechoulam, R.; Saban, N. et al. |volume=9 |at=200 |year=2019 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-37570-y |pmid=30655581 |pmc=PMC6336869}}</ref> and inflammatory bowel disease<ref name="PicardoInsights19">{{cite journal |title=Insights into the role of cannabis in the management of inflammatory bowel disease |journal=Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology |author=Picardo, S.; Kaplan, G.G.; Sharkey, K.A. et al. |volume=12 |pages=1–13 |year=2019 |doi=10.1177/1756284819870977 |pmid=31523278 |pmc=PMC6727090}}</ref>, as well as the agricultural<ref name="DuchinNew20">{{cite journal |title=New insights on flowering of Cannabis sativa |journal=Acta Horticulturae |author=Duchin, S.; Bernstein, N.; Kamenetsky, R. et al. |volume=1283 |pages=17–20 |year=2020 |doi=10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1283.3}}</ref><ref name="HadadLettuce19">{{cite journal |title=Lettuce Chlorosis Virus Disease: A New Threat to Cannabis Production |journal=Viruses |author=Hadad, L.; Luria, N.; Smith, E. et al. |volume=11 |isssue=9 |at=802 |year=2019 |doi=10.3390/v11090802}}</ref>, analytical<ref name="BermanANew18">{{cite journal |title=A new ESI-LC/MS approach for comprehensive metabolic profiling of phytocannabinoids in ''Cannabis'' |journal=Scientific Reports |author=Berman, P.; Futoran, K.; Lewitus, G.M. et al. |volume=8 |at=14280 |year=2018 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-32651-4 |pmid=30250104 |pmc=PMC6155167}}</ref>, and broad medical aspects of the plant<ref name="ZarhinTheTraj20">{{cite journal |title=The trajectory of “medical cannabis” in Israel: Driving medicalization in different directions |author=Zarhin, D. |volume=82 |at=102809 |year=2020 |doi=10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102809 |pmid=32516686}}</ref> continue to move the science forward for everyone. With a new administration steering the helm in the U.S. in 2021, a promise of prioritizing "the research needed to advance science-based federal policies related to the use of marijuana for medical conditions, chronic pain, and disabilities"<ref name="JaegerJoe20">{{cite web |url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/joe-bidens-new-disability-plan-includes-boosting-medical-marijuana-research/ |title=Joe Biden’s New Disability Plan Includes Boosting Medical Marijuana Research |author=Jaeger, K. |work=Marijuana Moment |date=29 May 2020 |accessdate=07 July 2021}}</ref> remains to be seen, though some in the cannabis industry appear to be cautiously optimistic.<ref name="SacirbeyDEA20">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/dea-might-start-issuing-marijuana-cultivation-permits-in-early-2021/ |title=DEA might start issuing cannabis cultivation permits in early 2021 |author=Sacirbey, O. |work=Marijuana Business Daily |date=24 December 2020 |accessdate=07 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="KoehnPot21">{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/pot-stocks-riding-high-on-biden-optimism-20210119-p56v5c.html |title=Pot stocks riding high on Biden optimism |author=Koehn, E. |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=19 January 2021 |accessdate=07 July 2021}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| Second, similar to how we have mechanisms like laboratory testing in place to ensure the safety of medicines, foods, beverages, and cosmetics for human use, we should be performing similar testing for the human and animal use of cannabis and cannabis-related products. Microbes, heavy metals, pesticides, and solvents that are dangerous to consume—particularly for medical marijuana patients with fragile and weak immune systems—must be identified and quantified through quality control in order to protect public health.<Ref name="ShafferMedical19">{{cite web |url=https://www.genengnews.com/insights/medical-cannabi-poses-unique-testing-challenges/ |title=Medical Cannabis Poses Unique Testing Challenges |author=Shaffer, C. |work=Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News |date=01 August 2019 |accessdate=07 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="MaddoxInto17">{{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/lab-matters/Pages/into-the-weeds.aspx |title=Into the Weeds: Cannabis Testing and Public Health Labs |author=Maddox, N. |work=Lab Matters |publisher=Association of Public Health Laboratories |date=Spring 2017 |accessdate=07 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="BrownFalse20">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/false-lab-results-lab-shopping-put-cannabis-consumers-at-risk/ |title=False test results, lab shopping put cannabis consumers at risk |author=Brown, R. |work=Marijuana Business Daily |date=09 November 2020 |accessdate=07 July 2021}}</ref> Without quality testing and safety oversight, cannabis products can cause sickness or even death.<ref name="MontoyaCanna20">{{cite journal |title=Cannabis Contaminants Limit Pharmacological Use of Cannabidiol |journal=Frontiers in Pharmacology |author=Montoya, Z.; Conroy, M.; Heuvel, B.D.V. et al. |volume=11 |at=571832 |year=2020 |doi=10.3389/fphar.2020.571832 |pmid=33013414 |pmc=PMC7516211}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| Third, growers and sellers of cannabis and cannabis-related products should be held accountable for the claims they make about their products. When growers, sellers, and even the testing laboratories themselves are held accountable, consumer confidence can be gradually built.<ref name="BrownFalse20" /> This can be difficult, however, given a lack of a federal regulatory framework for both THC-containing and low-THC/high-CBD products. For example, independent testing in 2020 of CBD-containing products found an abysmally low 13 percent of products tested matched their label claims, findings similar to those of a 2020 FDA market survey.<ref name="KellerIndep20">{{cite journal |title=Independent Testing of Well-Known Beverages Provides Further Evidence of CBD Products Not Meeting Label Claims for Cannabidiol Content |journal=The National Law Review |author=Keller and Heckman |volume=10 |issue=237 |year=2020 |url=https://www.natlawreview.com/article/independent-testing-well-known-beverages-provides-further-evidence-cbd-products-not}}</ref> Law firm Keller and Heckman warn that "buyers need to be cautious" concerning the purchase of largely unregulated CBD products<ref name="KellerIndep20" />, which highlights the difficulty of improving consumer confidence in the face of little regulation. However, most U.S. states that have legalized some form of cannabis have also mandated laboratory testing, not only for the two prior reasons but also to hold accountable those producers and sellers supplying the legal cannabis market with products containing specific cannabinoid amounts.<ref name="BrownFalse20" /><ref name="PeñaWhy18">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/why-marijuana-infused-businesses-have-experienced-testing-and-labeling-challenges-in-california/ |title=Why marijuana infused businesses have experienced testing and labeling challenges in California |author=Peña, J. |work=Marijuana Business Daily |date=25 September 2018 |accessdate=07 July 2021}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| When considering these three points, it's easier to understand the "why" of testing. But what gets tested and how? The next chapter addresses this question, as well as the workflows surrounding the "how."
| |
|
| |
| ==References==
| |
| {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
| |
