On this month’s episode, we are joined by Miyabe Shields, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Riley Kirk, PhD, Cannabis Research Scientist at Real Isolates, LLC.

Ep 10: From TikTok Connections to Cannabis Education—Two Cannabis Scientists Design Their Own Path

Check Out the Cannabis Science and Technology September Issue!

Check out the Cannabis Science and Technology July/August Issue!

The beginning of 2023 will be a huge step to the US’s legalized psilocybin industry!

Psilocybin Rule Update: Oregon’s Newly Released Regulations

What would legalization and widespread availability of psilocybin therapy look like? We connect with Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, a palliative care physician and cofounder of the Advanced Integrative Medical Science Institute to find out.

The Path to Legalized, Accessible Psilocybin Therapy

In a recent pre-print article by Kevin McKernan and Yvonne Helbert of Medicinal Genomics (1), they present latest findings from their laboratories demonstrating that certain trichome-rich strains can be mistaken for pathogen-rich samples.

Kevin McKernan, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of Medicinal Genomics, recently explained to 

) that his team is frequently being asked to have more modern techniques like quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) emulate the legacy technologies of plating. “Many regulators write laws that speak to colony forming units (CFU)/g, but what is a colony forming unit? It varies depending on what temperature you use. It varies based on which carbon sources you have on your plates. It is now known to also vary if you have trichomes in your sample. But these metrics are poor correlates for patient risk,” said McKernan.

In the abstract of their article, McKernan and Helbert explained their process in conducting the study (1): “We plated cannabis trichomes on multiple different plating media and observed elevated colony counts on 3M Rapid Yeast and Mold Petrifilm plates. Further investigation revealed cannabis trichomes induce a blue color change with the phosphatase-based indicator dye used on 3M RYM Petrifilms. We confirmed these events with microscopy and note the color change doesn’t dilate in diameter as quickly as yeast and molds.”

 that in this study they simply took kief from a kief collector and plated them on various plating technologies and noticed the plating system that used phosphatase reactions as its read-out chemistry also painted trichomes as CFUs.

“This data implies that 3M Petrifilms may generate false positives compared to more traditional plating methods, if used for less than 48 hours with trichome rich cannabis flowers. Longer incubation times may be necessary to differentiate trichome derived false positives from true yeast and molds,” they further explained (1).

“If you are breeding for trichome rich plants, contact your testing to lab to ask if they are using these plates. It may explain elevated TYM [total yeast and mold] counts and product being failed due to false positives related to the non-specific phosphatase reaction these plates rely on,” said McKernan. “Few foods are bred for high trichome density but certain spices in the food industry are reported to create similar false positives. Trichome rich cannabis will be falsely penalized at testing labs that use these plates.”

The paper concludes that microbial testing methods that falsely elevate yeast and mold counts will improperly select against trichome rich cultivars. The authors emphasize that care should be taken to understand what triggers each microbial test and what percent of yeast and molds can grow on these media (1). McKernan also added that people should “use plates that don’t rely on this phosphatase indicator reaction or use qPCR where trichomes are purified away before quantification of TYM DNA.”

Articles

Kevin McKernan, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of Medicinal Genomics, shares some insight behind his recently published paper related to cannabis trichomes and positive results on rapid yeast and mold plates.

New Research Shows that Cannabis Trichomes Trigger Positive Results on Rapid Yeast and Mold Plates

In a recent press release (1), the Association of Official Analytical Collaboration (AOAC) INTERNATIONAL published the winners from their Annual Meeting held in August 2022 in Scottsdale, Arizona with more than 600 attendees. At this meeting, “over a dozen awards recognized scientific excellence across the spectrum of AOAC activities, including method development, expert review panels, editorial contributions to the 

, and technical service,” (1). The mission of AOAC INTERNATIONAL is to “bring together government, industry, and academia to establish standard methods of analysis that ensure the safety and integrity of foods and other products that impact public health around the world,” (2).

Among the award winners was Richard van Breemen, PhD, professor at the Linus Pauling Institute and the Global Hemp Innovation Center at Oregon State University. Dr. van Breemen, along with three other members of the food safety community, received the Fellow of AOAC INTERNATIONAL Award, which recognizes the dedication of the volunteers who serve the Association (1).

Earlier this year, Dr. van Breemen published findings from his laboratory showing that specific hemp compounds demonstrated the ability to prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from entering human cells, which he presented as a keynote address in the analytical track at Cannabis Science Conference West 2022.

Read more about Dr. van Breemen in an interview with 

https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/cannabinoids-and-covid-19-an-interview-with-professor-richard-van-breemen-of-oregon-state-university

https://www.aoac.org/news/analytical-science-leaders-honored-at-aoac-international-annual-meeting-2/

https://www.aoac.org/about-aoac-international/

The Association of Official Analytical Collaboration (AOAC) INTERNATIONAL announced the winners of more than a dozen awards presented at their Annual Meeting.

Analytical Science Leaders Honored at AOAC INTERNATIONAL Annual Meeting Award Ceremony

Dr. Macherone highlights a talk he attended at Cannabis Science Conference East that he found beneficial as well as a potential area for future coverage: the use of Raman technology for the speciation of plants during cultivation.

View the video for more of the discussion.

Dr. Anthony Macherone of Agilent Technologies shares what he learned at Cannabis Science Conference East 2022.

Dr. Macherone on Cannabis Science Conference East Education and Future Growth Areas

Several major food and beverage companies—such as Molson Coors, Anheuser-Busch, and Mondelez International—recently expressed their interest in selling products containing cannabidiol (CBD), but the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not given any indication this will happen soon. These companies have either already launched CBD-products or have expressed interest in the market, though most companies are waiting for clear guidelines and a regulatory pathway from the FDA (1).

In an article by STAT (1) it was reported that: “Technically all products containing CBD, or cannabidiol, are illegal under FDA’s rules—regardless of whether they’re a dietary supplement sold at the Vitamin Shoppe or a CBD seltzer from Whole Foods. But the FDA is showing itself particularly concerned about the latter.”

In contrast to its position on food and beverage products, the FDA has been considering regulatory fixes to allow companies to legally sell supplements containing CBD. “They seem to concede that there should be a pathway for dietary supplements, but they seem opposed to food and beverages,” said Jonathan Miller, the general counsel of the Hemp Roundtable, which lobbies for companies that produce CBD products (1).

The FDA has previously raised concerns with the health effects of CBD on vulnerable populations, overconsumption, and with legislation introduced by a bipartisan group of House lawmakers to legalize CBD food and drink products (1). Lawmakers are replying to the FDA by pointing out that the administration would have complete authority regulating the labeling, packaging, and serving of CBD products, and also by asking for information on how it gathers its data (1). These latest contentions are part of the larger, years’ long struggle to regulate the CBD market.

https://www.statnews.com/2022/09/20/cbd-food-and-drink-regulation/

Recently, some major food and beverage companies expressed interest in selling products containing cannabidiol (CBD), but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not indicated any regulatory progress.

Companies Want to Sell CBD Food and Beverages; Food and Drug Administration Gives Mixed Responses

Here, Dr. Macherone explains the benefits of more comprehensive pesticide testing for cannabis products and the benefits it would offer to consumers.

Dr. Anthony Macherone of Agilent Technologies discusses what he hopes to see change in the future regarding cannabis regulations and testing guidelines.

Dr. Anthony Macherone Calls for More Comprehensive Pesticide Testing for Safer Consumer Cannabis Products

In Baltimore, Maryland more than 80 presenters gathered from across the nation and globe to share the latest developments, trends, research, and best practices in the cannabis industry with more than 600 attendees at Cannabis Science Conference East. The event was kicked off with a full-day interactive workshop—the Canna Boot Camp—held at Evermore Cannabis Company, which gave attendees an inside look into cultivation, pre-processing, sample prep, analytical testing, extraction, and more.

The first full day of the conference program began on Thursday, September 15th. The conference featured analytical science, medical cannabis, cultivation, and hemp tracks as well as the new addition of a psychedelics track.

Plenary speaker Dr. David “Dedi” Meiri, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Biology at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, gave an incredible in-depth presentation on the remarkable research his laboratory has done with cannabinoids as a successful treatment for a variety of conditions including cancer, sleep, and autism. Dr. Meiri stressed the need to understand why certain cannabinoids work for specific conditions and went into detail on some of the research his team has undertaken to address that question. Learn more about his work in this recent 

At the end of day one, a networking mixer held in the exhibit hall provided the opportunity to make connections and exchange knowledge in-person with speakers, attendees, and more than two dozen exhibitors from all facets of the cannabis industry.

The two-day analytical track featured more than 23 presentations, including two panel discussions, focusing on topics such as testing, extraction, contaminants, microbiology, and quality control. One keynote address in this track was given by Dr. Susan Audino, Principal of S. Audino & Associates, LLC titled “Lessons Learned – Or Not – In Cannabis Testing.” Dr. Audino explained laboratory progress toward meeting regulatory requirements and how to balance business decisions that could compromise scientific integrity, plus the efforts and challenges to establishing standard testing methods. Learn more about Dr. Audino’s work in this recent 

The two-day medical track featured 22 presentations, including four panel discussions, covering topics such as nurses, veterans, research and education, and pediatrics. Dr. Dustin Sulak, founder of Integr8 Health and co-founder of Healer.com, gave a fascinating keynote presentation explaining the therapeutic potential of phytocannabinoids, reviewing the preclinical and clinical literature, clinical cases, and practical strategies for clinicians and patients. Learn more about Dr. Sulak’s presentation in this recent 

The newly launched two-day psychedelics track featured 11 presentations, including two panel discussions, and covered a variety of topics including mental health treatments and therapy, quantitation, patents, plus veteran and pediatric perspectives. In their keynote address, Dr. Andrew Coop, Dr. Chad Johnson, and Dr. Leah Sera of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy presented “There’S Room for Everyone: The Emerging Field of Psychedelic Therapeutics.” The presenters provided an overview of the history and science behind the use of psychedelics, how they function in the human body, and clinical evidence evaluating their use in treating medical conditions. Learn more about this talk 

In the one-day cultivation track on Thursday September 15th, the presentations covered important topics such as climate control, disease, grow lights, and nutrients. This track was chaired by Dr. Zacariah Hildenbrand of the University of Texas at El Paso, who kicked things off with the first talk of the day on phytochemicals found in cannabis. Learn more about Dr. Hildenbrand’s talk and research in this 

. In the keynote address, Mike Finley of Cultivo, Inc. and STACS drew upon his more than 20 years’ experience in cultivation facilities to give his presentation titled “Indoor Cultivation Climate Importance and Control.” Finley explained how to best understand thermal load calculations and equipment selection based on the relationships between atmospheric properties and the cannabis plant, plus how each decision affects the success of a facility.

In the one-day hemp track on Friday, September 16th, the presentations covered important topics such as cannabinoids, disease, hemp-containing products, and industry challenges. This track was chaired by Dr. Heather Darby of the University of Vermont, who started the day off with her talk on hemp production. Learn more about Dr. Darby’s research and talk in this

. In the keynote address, Benbruno Nkapbela, CEO of Fiction Formulations & Services, gave a presentation titled “Isolation of and Conversion of Delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol into Cannabichromene acid and Cannbigerol.” Nkapbela explained his company’s research on methods of isolating illicit compounds found in hemp, how to convert them into non-illicit compounds, the successes and challenges encountered, plus the next steps in this research. He opened the floor for open discussion with audience that led to very interesting discussions of how to continue his research and what it might mean for the industry in the future. Learn more about Nkapbela’s 

To view the full conference program, click here: 

https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/join-us-at-cannabis-science-conference-east-2022

Join us for the next Cannabis Science Conference as the industry continues to move forward!

https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/

To stay up to date on the latest information and to view photos and video from the conference, follow on social media: 

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Cannabis Science Conference East was held in Baltimore, Maryland from September 14-16, 2022. Here we provide a few highlights from the event.

Cannabis Science Conference East 2022: Connecting Cannabis Scientists, Researchers, Healthcare Professionals, Patients, and Industry Insiders for Education

On day two of the psychedelics track at Cannabis Science Conference East, Janie Maedler, Vice President of Rylie’s Smile Foundation, President of Rylie’s Sunshine LLC, and mother of three, led a panel discussion that provided a space to hear others’ stories for those new to psychedelics and also gave a presentation on harm reduction techniques. Maedler gave an overview of her family’s preparation, both physically and mentally, for psychedelics and then asked several questions of the panel such as: 

How do you plan for a positive psychedelics experience?

What are some harm reduction techniques you use?

Each panelist told her own story of how she began her psychedelics journey, the research and planning done, who they sought for assistance, and their results and reflections. Dr. Denise Vidot explained her approach as a scientist and analyst; Rita Lynn Lawrence shared how she ensured a safe and positive first journey; and Rylie Maedler provided a pediatric perspective and explained the guidance given to her and her brother by their mother. One common theme in all three stories was how medical cannabis led them to psychedelics.

The overall takeaways from the presentation, Janie Maedler noted, were the goals of harm reduction—noting a helpful app on drug combinations and promoting at-home drug testing kits—and of reflection after each experience with psychedelics. One of the responses from the audience reaffirmed the importance continuously sharing and hearing each others’ stories, especially coming from those who are first in a field.

Read more on Rylie’s Smile and Rylie’s Sunshine in this interview with 

https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/inspiration-move-me-brightly-a-closer-look-at-the-rylie-s-sunshine-journey-led-by-the-youngest-ceo-in-cannabis

In a presentation for the psychedelics track at Cannabis Science Conference East 2022, Janie Maedler, Vice President of Rylie’s Smile Foundation and President of Rylie’s Sunshine LLC, led a panel discussion with Rylie Maedler, President of Rylie’s Smile and CEO of Rylie’s Sunshine LLC; Rita Lynn Lawrence, a cannabis patient advocate; and University of Miami cannabis epidemiologist Dr. Denise Vidot. The presentation titled “Psychedelics for Beginners” discussed the basics of using psychedelics for treating mental health issues safely and successfully. Here are some highlights from the session.

Beginning Psychedelics Safely and Positively: A Panel Discussion at Cannabis Science Conference East 2022

On day two of the psychedelics track at the Cannabis Science Conference East 2022, James Schwartz, BSN, LNC gave a presentation on the science and application of psychedelics for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Schwartz first explained the definitions of trauma and PTSD, how the brain uses predictive coding to interpret environments, how trauma is stored in the brain, and how psychedelics touch on all these concepts and can help brain function and increase neuroplasticity. Guided therapy is important, he noted, in the pre- and post-stages of treatments to help the patient explore and process their triggers and memories.

He then outlined several double-blind randomized trials on using psilocybin and other psychedelics as a treatment for PTSD or depression and explained the dosing, results, and feedback he had heard firsthand from his own patients. In his takeaways for the presentation, he noted that trauma affects everyone, psilocybin therapy shows promise, and that continued research is critical.

One question from the audience focused on finding concrete information on recommended micro and macro dosing. Schwartz gave his opinion on what a microdose is and recommended working with a laboratory that can provide information on a product to ensure consistency. He emphasized that this consistency helps patients have a positive treatment experience and want to continue their treatments, giving them time to break the cycles of the disease process.

For more information on psychedelics, please check out our recent digital edition "

Psychedelics: New Frontiers in Alternative Medicine

In his presentation for the psychedelics track at Cannabis Science Conference East 2022, James Schwartz, BSN, LNC, presented “A New Beginning for an Old Therapy: Case Series Review on the Treatment of PTSD and Other Psychiatric Disorders with Psilocybin and Other Psychedelics.” He reviewed the current research and clinical trials studying the effects of psilocybin, plus side effects, potential uses, latest trends, disorders currently being studied, and potential future applications. Schwartz was a trauma trained nurse who worked in the Trauma/Critical Care ICU at Oregon Health and Science University. He is an experienced medical legal consultant and CEO of Cascade High. Here are some highlights from his session.

Treating Psychiatric Disorders with Psychedelics: A Case Series Review at Cannabis Science Conference East 2022

As acreage of hemp increases in the Northeast and growing practices are established, the impacts of crop loss due to lack of or improper agronomics, fertility, pest and disease management, storage, and drying are becoming more evident. Clearly, the industry is growing rapidly and scientific-based research and education is critical to help farmers succeed with this new commercial crop. Dr. Heather Darby’s presentation on Friday, September 16th covered practical aspects of field-based hemp production including grain, fiber, and flower crops. Basics of soil, pest, and crop management were also covered with some focus on post-harvest management.

 Dr. Darby explained how she got involved in the hemp industry. She grew up on a farm in northern Vermont. “It was a dairy farm, but we were always dabbling in all kinds of diversification. So, I think I was always inspired by my mom and dad to kind of always look outside the box, and look for new opportunities,” said Dr. Dr Darby. “When I started working at UVM and I started to hear that it might become possible to actually research hemp and work with farmers to adopt and grow hemp on their farms. I got really excited, looked at it as a new opportunity, and started moving forward to develop research and outreach for the farming community.”

Dr. Darby would also like to see more hemp research in the future. "In every facet of growing hemp, there's so much to be done—and research is way, way behind where it should be," she said. "Part of that, of course, has been because it's been illegal to research hemp and grow it. So there hasn't been much done in the United States or really anywhere else."

"There's not a ton of literature to draw from, even from other growing regions. So, I think practically speaking, there's a huge need on the marketing and development end for hemp products and hemp markets, and that's really important clearly for farmers to be able to grow and then have a place to sell their crop," she added. "We need more information on how to properly fertilize, breeding, and what varieties to be growing, and then, of course, some people are really struggling with pest and pest management. So helping develop research around that as well. So I wish it was only one thing, but there's a lot that needs to be done."

Dr. Heather Darby, an Agronomist with the University of Vermont, served as the program chair for the Hemp Track at Cannabis Science Conference East and gave the first talk to kick off the session on day 2. 

CSC East: Hemp Production from Seed to Flower with Dr. Heather Darby

On the first day of the Cannabis Science Conference in the psychedelics track, Dr. Matthew Johnson presented a keynote address highlighting important results from the past 18 years of his research on the treatment of addiction and other psychiatric disorders using psychedelics. He gave a history of how psychedelics have been used in the past primarily to treat alcoholism and cancer-related distress, explained the recent uptick in interest in studies involving psilocybin and hallucinogens, and gave his vision for future studies.

“I'm excited to present the high rates of success that we've seen so far,” Dr. Johnson explained in a 

recent interview with Cannabis Science and Technology

. “It's been surprisingly effective and research is ongoing, but the things that makes psilocybin different are the high rates of success, and the different way in which it works. That's the thing that's difficult to really digest because it is different than other anti-addiction medications in a lot of ways. In one sense, as I mentioned earlier, it's not a substitution treatment.”

In his presentation, Dr. Johnson outlined several published studies, comparative efficacy trials, and pilots in terms of which psychedelic was used and for which condition, how patients were screened and selected, and the results plus the unexpected outcomes. If we take a step back and look at the commonalities of these promising findings, he asked, what are the common mechanisms? What does an addiction disorder mean in a broad sense? How do reported “mystical experiences” during treatments affect patients’ understanding of themselves and their addictive behaviors?

In looking at ongoing studies and into the future, Dr. Johnson listed possibilities such as an expansion of experimental work with different compounds, suggestions for making these types of treatments less expensive, and the types of institutions that could develop as this type of alternative therapy becomes more popular. At the end of the hour-long session, the audience asked several questions about topics such as details on the patient screening process, pharmacology, and dosing.

In his keynote address for the psychedelics track at Cannabis Science Conference East 2022, Dr. Matthew Johnson presented his talk “Psilocybin in the Treatment of Tobacco Addiction,” which reviewed the treatment of substance use disorders with classic psychedelics (5HT2A agonists) including LSD and psilocybin. Dr. Matthew Johnson, PhD, is the Susan Hill Ward Professor of Psychedelics at Johns Hopkins and is one of the world’s most widely published experts on psychedelics. Here are some highlights from his session.

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