Government

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: 

Articles

This column discusses where the USDA went wrong in their final rule regarding hemp and how the author thinks it can be fixed.

Hemp Testing Insanity III: This Time It’s the USDA!

Here we take a closer look at the cannabis industry in Canada and speak to several Canadians involved in the industry.

Around the World: Canada’s Footprint on the Cannabis Industry

A discussion on how extractors need to monitor the chemical processes they perform.

The FDA is Coming…Will the Cannabis Industry Be Ready? Part III: Process Control for Extractors

Congress passes the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act and the Medical Marijuana Research Act in two historic votes, signifying a growing shift toward cannabis legalization.

Congress Passes Two Historic Cannabis Reform Bills

How will the need for increased testing impact extractors?

The FDA is Coming…Will the Cannabis Industry Be Ready? Part II: In-House Testing for Extractors

Ann M. Brum and Wayne Smith discuss their roles as cannabis advocates fighting for reform and veteran access to medical cannabis.

Cannabis Activism: The Fight for Veteran Access

What does FDA oversight mean for cannabis businesses and the industry as a whole?

The FDA is Coming…Will the Cannabis Industry Be Ready? Part I

The U.S. House of Representatives will be voting on a historic cannabis legalization bill in September, titled the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act.

US House of Representatives to Vote on Momentous Cannabis Legalization Bill in September

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently issued a temporary delay regarding enforcement on two provisions of its hemp regulations (1).

Hemp Regulations Receive Temporary Changes from USDA

Kentucky Passes Medical Cannabis Legislation

USDA Announces Crop Insurance Programs for Hemp

On Tuesday, December 3, 2019, Brazil’s pharmaceutical regulator Avinsa approved regulations for the roll-out of medicinal cannabis-based products.

Brazil OK's Medical Marijuana, Denies Cannabis Cultivation

November 20, 2019 marked a monumental day in the prohibition of cannabis. The House Judiciary Committee (1) approved a bill that would federally decriminalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substance Act and expunge particular crimes related to marijuana.

Congressional Committee Passes MORE Act to Legalize Marijuana 

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, announced the establishment of the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program on October 29, 2019.  

USDA Announces Domestic Hemp Production Program

A number of causes of hemp testing insanity are documented such as different states using different THC measures to determine legality, lack of representative sampling, and more.

Hemp Testing Insanity

According to a press release from the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), a standalone cannabis policy reform bill was brought before the House of Representatives for a vote on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 and passed with an overwhelming bipartisan majority.

House of Representatives Approve Cannabis Banking Reform in Historic Vote

DEA Announces Plan to Improve Access to Cannabis for Researchers

Here we take a closer look at Australia’s medical cannabis program, the laws surrounding it, and speak to Australian pharmacist Paul Mavor.

Australia’s Cannabis Market: What Can the U.S. Learn?

A look at energy consumption in the cannabis industry and suggestions on how cultivator’s can reduce those costs.