Cannabis Testing Gone Wrong? (IV) feat. Kyle Boyar
By cacpodcast.comDo we even test for the right things?
Now that medical and adult-use cannabis programs have been around for some time, and with them mandated lab testing of products – we have a lot of data that we can begin to review in order to assess how well we are managing the quality of cannabis in the market.
In this episode we are joined by microbiologist and analytical technologist Kyle Boyar to confront the idea that there may be some things that regulators require testing for that will almost never show up in a sample, while there are certain toxins that show up more often than we might expect which are NEVER required for testing in any state in the country.
What’s going on? Let’s dive in and find out!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe And Never Miss an Episode! Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
Cannabis Testing Gone Wrong? (Part III) feat. Dr. Josh Swider of Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs
Continuing our series on the issues facing the Cannabis testing industry, we sit down with Josh Swider of Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs to discuss the ways that he and his lab have felt the effects of potency inflation and lab shopping over the past several years. One by one Josh has watched clients disappear after complaints that his THC potency numbers were not high enough compared to his competitors. This is a story all too familiar to most labs that have ever operated in the space. Eventually the requests to boost THC results became much more direct as clients started offering bribes including outright briefcases full of cash. When he denied these advances, he began receiving death threats.
In an effort to understand just how bad the problem was, Josh and his team began collecting products off the shelf and testing them in the lab to see how the results compared to the original test results on record for the product. The results were alarming. Not only did he find evidence of potency fraud, but he also ended up finding evidence of various contaminants in products that somehow originally tested “clean.”
In this episode Josh and I take time to discuss his journey, how the industry has gotten into the situation it is in, and some potential solutions for moving the industry in a positive direction.
Learn more about iCAL: https://infinitecal.com/
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe And Never Miss an Episode! Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
Cannabis Testing Gone Wrong (II) feat. Josh Smith of Therapeutic Health Choice Labs
In this extended 2+ hour episode, Josh Smith of Therapeutic Health Choice, an analytical lab based out of Michigan, takes us on a deep dive into his experiences of Cannabis testing fraud as we explore some potential ways to fix issues like lab shopping and bring scientific integrity back to the cannabis industry.
About Josh:
Josh Smith is a seasoned biotech executive with a graduate degree in Clinical Microbiology and over 24 years of experience in biotechnology, molecular biology, and pharmaceutical R&D. He has played a key role in pioneering various projects, including founding Premium CBD Labs and later Vardera Inc., where he built a nationally recognized laboratory network from the ground up. His work has led to several molecular biology patents, and he has served as an expert witness in legal cases across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan.
Josh is actively involved in shaping industry standards through his participation in international method committees like AOAC and ASTM. He has also lobbied in Wisconsin, advocating for improved policies in the lab testing industry. In late 2023, he was part of the team that successfully overturned the compliance testing requirement for Aspergillus spp. in the state of Oregon.
Beyond his corporate roles, Josh is passionate about advancing scientific knowledge and innovation. He serves on the Curriculum Advisory Board for the graduate-level Cannabis Applied Science Program at Fanshawe College (London, ON), is a member of the Cannabis Science and Research Organization (Oregon), and is an editor for the Cannabis and Psychedelic Science Journal.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe And Never Miss an Episode! Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
Cannabis Testing Gone Wrong (Part I) with Yasha Kahn of MCR Labs
This is the first of a series of conversations with lab owners and industry experts revolving around the topic of fraud, mismanagement, and poor regulations facing Cannabis testing labs. With issues ranging from THC potency inflation, under-reporting of contaminants, perverse incentive structures promoted by regulations, market manipulation, and more – this series dives deep into a very controversial issue to try to understand the problem at its foundation and find meaningful and practical solutions forward to restore trust and bring greater transparency to the Cannabis industry.
Yasha Kahn is one of the co-founders of MCR Labs and spends much of his time diving into data. Over the past several years, Yasha has been on a mission to collect publicly available Cannabis testing data and make it accessible to the industry in hopes of promoting fruitful research, discussion, and regulatory changes to positively impact the industry. In this episode we dive into some of the data that Yasha has gathered and start to unpack the story that it tells.
Link to the raw data: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IIlgudS3b1rvxbupeMaR_BdeUQmz3pOZ?usp=drive_link
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe And Never Miss an Episode! Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
Why Does My Weed Smell Like Cheese? and Other Funky Mysteries with Twinkle Paryani of Abstrax Tech
There is no doubt that when it comes to aroma, the Cannabis plant is LOUD. Depending on the variety, a host of smells can be found in Cannabis ranging from the sweet and floral to the funky, gassy, savory, and beyond. Chemist Twinkle Paryani has been trying to understand the chemistry behind the spectrum of aromas found in Cannabis and recently unearthed some interesting findings.
Abstrax Tech: https://abstraxtech.com/
Twinkle’s publication “Nonterpenoid Chemical Diversity of Cannabis Phenotypes Predicts Differentiated Aroma Characteristics“: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsomega.4c03225
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe And Never Miss an Episode! Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
Hidden Threats: Exploring Viruses and Viroids with IPM Specialist Matthew Gates | #101
In this episode we sit down with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) specialist Matthew Gates to delve into the often-overlooked world of cannabis viruses and viroids. In this episode, Matthew brings his extensive expertise to the table, shedding light on the insidious pathogens that can silently wreak havoc on cannabis crops.
As the cannabis industry continues to grow and evolve, understanding the hidden threats posed by viruses and viroids becomes paramount. Matthew explains the various types of viruses and viroids that can affect cannabis plants, their symptoms, and the potential economic impact on growers. He also shares insights into the latest research and diagnostic techniques that can help detect these pathogens early, enabling proactive management and prevention.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Matthew provides practical, actionable advice on how to implement effective IPM strategies to mitigate the risks. From cultural practices to biological controls and cutting-edge technologies, he covers a comprehensive range of tools and methods that can help protect your cannabis crop and ensure its health and productivity.
Whether you’re a seasoned cultivator, a novice grower, or simply interested in the science behind cannabis cultivation, this episode is packed with valuable information that you won’t want to miss. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges posed by cannabis viruses and viroids and learn how to safeguard your plants against these unseen adversaries.
Learn more about Matthew at www.zenthanol.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe And Never Miss an Episode! Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
HHC, THCP, and Beyond with Westley Cruces of Colorado Chromatography
You may have noticed that your local gas station has started selling products marketed like Cannabis products with promises that they are legal ways to get you high without THC. No, we haven’t gone back in time. This isn’t 1999 and no, you’re not reading one of those “legal bud” ads in the back of the High Times magazine. This is 2024 and we are seeing a re-emergence of synthetic cannabinoids, particularly THC analogues, now presumably legal under the guise of the 2018 Farm Bill.
Colorado Chromatography is one of the leading labs responsible for producing and studying these new cannabinoids on the block, like HHC, H4CBD, THCP, and others. In this conversation we sit down with the Chief Science Officer of and co-founder of Colorado Chromatography, Westley Cruces, to talk about their journey learning about these molecules, the results from preliminary safety studies on HHC, evidence of fraud in delta-8 and THCP products, and more!
Learn more about Colorado Chromatography: https://coloradochromatography.com/
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe And Never Miss an Episode! Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
Is Acetone Lurking in Your Terpenes? and Other Cannabis Science Musings feat. Jeff Raber, PhD
We kick off 2024 catching up with Dr. Jeff Raber of The Werc Shop to talk about Cannabis quality, Cannabis potency testing fraud, THC inflation, acetone showing up in Cannabis extracts, preparing young scientists for working in the Cannabis industry, the launch of The Werc Shop’s ENTOUR brand and more!
How do we fix the lab testing fraud issue in the Cannabis industry?
Why is acetone showing up in terpene-rich Cannabis samples?
How can young scientists prepare for the brutal realities of working for a startup Cannabis company?
We explore these questions and more in this episode of The Curious About Cannabis Podcast!
Learn more about ENTOUR at www.entourbrand.com
Learn more about The Werc Shop at www.thewercshop.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe And Never Miss an Episode! Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
Remembering Raphael Mechoulam’s Legacy on Cannabis Science with Mark Scialdone, PhD | BTS 91
In this special episode we get together with chemist and Cannabis science educator Mark Scialdone, PhD to talk about the passing of “the godfather of Cannabis science”, Raphael Mechoulam, PhD. After his passing, many media and news outlets failed to accurately portray Mechoulam’s contributions or his place in the grand story of Cannabis science – so Dr. Scialdone and I decided to try to do our part to set the record straight. Along the way we spin off into talking about a variety of other topics like delta-8-THC synthesis from CBD, common misunderstandings around Cannabis chemistry, why the boiling point of THC is almost always incorrectly reported, and more.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe And Never Miss an Episode! Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
Standards: The Final Frontier? ASTM Intl’s Effort to Standardize the Cannabis Industry with Darwin Millard (The Spock of Cannabis) | BTS 83
In this behind-the-scenes conversation I beam aboard the USS Cannabis starship to join “The Spock of Cannabis” Darwin Millard to talk about ASTM International’s efforts to bring the planet together to develop unifying standards for the Cannabis industry. In this conversation we talk about why the development of international quality standards is critical, how ASTM’s collaborative open-door process of standard development is unique compared to how other organizations or government agencies develop standards, and how everyone with any interest in Cannabis has been invited to join the table to lend a voice and help drive the future of the international Cannabis industry.
You can learn more about ASTM International’s Cannabis subcommittee and get involved here: https://www.astm.org/get-involved/technical-committees/committee-d37
You can learn more about Darwin’s work at thespockofcannabis.com
“Live Long and Process!” – The Spock of Cannabis
#CannabisEducation #CannabisQuality #Cannabis #Hemp #CannabisIndustry #HempEducation #GlobalCannabis #GlobalCannabisIndustry #ASTM #ASTMIntl #LiveLongAndProcess #CuriousAboutCannabis
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe And Never Miss an Episode! Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More