Contaminants

David Hodes has written for many cannabis publications, and organized or moderated sessions at national and international cannabis trade shows. He was voted the 2018 Journalist of the Year by Americans for Safe Access, the world’s largest medical cannabis advocacy organization.

Articles

Scientists and testing experts discuss contaminant issues in the wake of a widening vaping emergency

Heavy Metals Detection and Laboratory Practices the Focus of High-Level Workshop

This review article from an experienced pharmaceutical microbiologist discusses the risks of microbial contamination for the full range of cannabis-derived products and recommends the most appropriate microbiological quality requirements for each product.

Microbiological Attributes of Cannabis-Derived Products

An explanation on the theory and measurement of water activity, its mode of action for microbial control, existing water activity regulations for cannabis, and more.

The What, How, and Why of Water Activity in Cannabis 

Brian C. Smith, PhD, is Founder, CEO, and Chief Technical Officer of Big Sur Scientific. He is the inventor of the BSS series of patented mid-infrared based cannabis analyzers. Dr. Smith has done pioneering research and published numerous peer-reviewed papers on the application of mid-infrared spectroscopy to cannabis analysis, and sits on the editorial board of Cannabis Science and Technology. He has worked as a laboratory director for a cannabis extractor, as an analytical chemist for Waters Associates and PerkinElmer, and as an analytical instrument salesperson. He has more than 30 years of experience in chemical analysis and has written three books on the subject. Dr. Smith earned his PhD on physical chemistry from Dartmouth College. Direct correspondence to: 

Cannabis laboratories can get different results on identical samples. In this article, the author explains solutions to those problems.

Inter-Lab Variation in the Cannabis Industry, Part II: Solutions

Too often, cannabis laboratories get different results on the same sample. There are a number of causes and solutions. In this installment, the problem is presented along with its causes.

Inter-Lab Variation in the Cannabis Industry, Part I: Problem and Causes

An outline of some of the current major challenges for both regulators and laboratories regarding the microbial testing of cannabis products.

Microbial Testing in Cannabis: Regulatory and Analytical Challenges 

How two different LC–MS/MS methods with ESI and APCI were used for low-level analysis of 72 pesticides

LC–MS/MS with ESI and APCI Sources for Meeting California Cannabis Pesticide and Mycotoxin Residue Regulatory Requirements

A look at the the basic principles of the major types of microwave digestion technology as well as suggestions as to which might be the best approach based on sample matrix, digestion efficiency, sample throughput, productivity, and overall cost of analysis.