To address misinformation surrounding fentanyl and cannabis, the New York Office of Cannabis Management published a fact sheet.
In October 2023, the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) published “Cannabis and Fentanyl: Facts and Unknowns,” in the Educational Materials section of their website (1,2). Legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis in the state was signed into law in March 2021 and the OCM, governed by the Cannabis Control Board, was created to regulate cannabis, including issuing licenses (2). Medical cannabis had already been legal in the state before 2021 (2).
The fact sheet defined fentanyl and explained that it is becoming increasingly common in unregulated drug supplies (1). “Warnings related to fentanyl ‘contamination’ in cannabis have increased as states continue to legalize cannabis,” the fact sheet also stated (1). “At this time, there have been zero verified incidents of fentanyl ‘contamination’ in cannabis. There is no guarantee that any unregulated cannabis product is free from contaminants or harmful ingredients.”
The purpose of the two-page sheet is to (1) “address misconceptions about cannabis being mixed with fentanyl. The goal of this fact sheet is to provide evidence where it is available, to share information about what is currently known and unknown, and to provide safety tips to help alleviate some of these misconceptions, often spread through misinformed media coverage and anecdotal reporting.” It included key findings, explained ways to reduce the stigma around opioid overdoses, and provided safety recommendations for cannabis users (1).
Some of the key findings included (2):
The OCM recommended that cannabis users buy products from licensed stores to ensure they are laboratory tested for contaminants, and cautioned that products from unregulated supplies can be untested or improperly labelled (1).
References
Collaboration, Gender Diversity, and Progress: Julie Kowalski on Advancing Cannabis Science
December 10th 2024In this interview with Cannabis Science and Technology, Julie Kowalski, an experienced analytical chemist, discusses her path into the cannabis industry, starting with early work in gas chromatography. Kowalski reflects on her perspectives as a female scientist, highlighting biases she’s experienced and the benefits of gender inclusivity in the cannabis space. Greater unity and professionalism could benefit the industry as a whole, she explains. She also encourages collaboration and more women in leadership positions in order to build a stronger scientific community, and also urges women to advocate for themselves, noting that women in cannabis face unique obstacles but often demonstrate consensus-building strategies and solutions.
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Ep 23, Part III: Accreditation in the Cannabis Industry with Susan Audino
October 24th 2024In Part III of this episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC, and co-founder of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to examine the complexities of sampling in the cannabis industry, emphasizing the need for proper sampling plans, and methods.