One of the great benefits of cannabis legalization is the ability of consumers to know what they are getting. Unfortunately, even though testing can help identify contaminants as well as the potency and even genetics of the cannabis, the lack of stringent standards has led to a current situation where the industry is battling some serious challenges. Gregory Frye explores this topic:
Pull back the curtain on the testing side of the industry, and you’ll find a complete mess – a disturbing mixture of incompetency and profiteering.
I talked to some of the top scientists in the industry who had some real eye-opening observations to share. Luckily they also came at me with possible solutions they’ve been working to actualize – solutions that involve you.
Solutions that involve all of us.
The article draws upon the insight of Dr. Jeffrey Raber of The Werc Shop, Dr. Donald Land of Steep Hill and Dr. Robert Martin of CW Analytical. Here are some of the major points:
- There are many labs who fake tests
- Incompetence is the norm
- Proper testing can be economically beneficial
- Testing is a small cost in the overall cost of production
- Contaminated cannabis can still be used in some circumstances (not if it has pesticides)
- Testing is essential for sick patients
- Increasingly, there are certification initiatives
- Newer medical cannabis states are paying closer attention
- Federal illegality is a large barrier to higher standards
Read Gregory Frye’s “The Unfortunate Truth about Cannabis Lab Testing”: http://greenflowermedia.com/article/the-unfortunate-truth-about-cannabis-lab-testing-2015-12/
