Mandatory Chemical Medical Cannabis Testing

Mandatory Chemical Medical Cannabis Testing

Cobo Hall Convention Center Detroit, Michigan

Friday June 9, 2017

• Potency

• Pesticides

• Residual Solvents

• Microbiological Contaminants

What Are They Testing For?

Safety Compliance Facilities License

• Need a Building

• Need Instrumentation, Materials, Standards

• Need a Bachelor Degreed Level Scientist

• Validated Method - American Pharmacopeia Herbal

• Standard Operating Procedures

Six Steps to a Successful Lab

1. Validate Every Method and Everyone Working On It

2. Implement an Employee Training Program

3. Check the Lifespan of Reagents and Standards

4. Document Chain of Custody of Samples

5. Keep Excellent Lab Records

6. Ensure Proper Equipment Installation and Validate and don't to it yourself.

Production Chain Chemical Testing

• Vegetation Stage

• Flowering Stage

• After Harvest

• After Extraction

• Point of Sale

The Pesticide Problem

• EPA regulates and licenses all pesticides

• Products Must be Used According to Label

• Broad Label and Below Tolerance Products

Caregivers for Life• January 2016 Voluntary Recall of 2,300 Units of Oil

• Blamed their suppliers of trim

• Lost Reputation

• Plummet in Revenue and Profit

Colorado Pesticide Recalls

• 16 Recalls in 2015

• 23 Recalls in 2016

• 5, so far, in 2017

The Variable Results Problem

• There exist no federally mandated or researched studies on how to test cannabis

• Two or more labs in the same state may receive different results

Best Advice for Provisioning Centers and Processors

• Test your own

• Know Your Supplier

• Contract for Damages

• Adequate Product Liability Insurance

Best Advice for Cultivators

• Construct Your Operation Right The First Time

• Validate Your Methods

• Perform Your Own Independent Testing Protocol with Records

• Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management

• Certification of Applicators (Training Manual in Materials)

• Signage Requirements

• Times and Specifications of Use

• Personal Safety Precautions

• Record Keeping

• There will not be enough labs to handle initial demand

• There will not be enough dispensaries to accept supply