Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
The 2025 YouGov survey data from more than 31,000 US adults show significant support for recreational cannabis legalization, medical use, and federal reclassification.
A lack of standards for cannabis vape devices puts consumers at risk, but several organizations are committed to the research, collaboration, and solutions needed to promote safety and quality in the industry.
Cannabis genetics fundamentally dictate the plant's potential for chemical signatures, including cannabinoid and terpene profiles, and physical traits, such as yield. Cultivators use selective techniques, such as "stacking," to enhance specific compounds. Ultimately, successful cultivation involves balancing superior genetics with environmental "levers" to optimize gene expression and create targeted strains.
It’s that time of year again—the Cannabis Science and Technology (CST) top 10 articles from the previous year. CST published a wide variety of content throughout 2025. Here is just a small snippet of some of the top articles that our readers enjoyed. See if any of your favorites made the list!