As the cannabis industry evolves, employment opportunities in a countless number of fields are now opening, and the opportunities for analytical labs across the country have increased exponentially..
Washington State requires all growers to submit a representative sample of their flowers to a certified lab for microbial and THC potency testing. When buying a Blue Dream pre-rolled doobie, I can almost guarantee most will look at the THC content and buy the one that is labeled with a higher percentage. Most people would not second-guess this number printed neatly along the packaging–why would we? After all, this number has been certified in some way, right? Most consumers are trusting that the State does its due diligence to ensure the bud they are smoking is not carrying high bioloads or toxic chemicals. What if the State was not doing its due diligence? Would that make us question the products we buy? Would it make us become more discerning consumers? As of now, the State does not have a robust auditing system, nor do they have systems in place to ensure the labs that are testing these products are compliant with state guidelines.
Clik here to view.
Most of these issues stem from the fact that cannabis is illegal at the federal level. The FDA is not involved in routine audits or inspections, and the State has yet to put into place a way to fill this gap. There is a term in the lab world called “testing into compliance,” which is frowned upon, and it is something that can get a lab shut down by the FDA. If a grower goes to a lab and submits a sample for THC potency testing and receives a low result, they may go to another lab and test again, and again, until they received the higher results they want. Growers want high results. High results equal a bigger payday—more potential profit. This practice is unethical, and it provides the consumer with inaccurate data. Until the State has a system in place to capture the data and audit the labs operating in Washington, it will be hard to crack down on these loopholes.
Overstated potency is not harmful; it may be a slimy and dishonest tactic, but what we should be more disturbed by are the potential loopholes concerning microbial bioloads.
All organic materials including agricultural products will undoubtedly carry some level of microbes. As humans we carry these little invisible microbial friends with us daily, but it is not something to be concerned about. In most cases they are helpful, and we have a close-working symbiotic relationship with them. In other instances, these little guys can cause us some serious pain. It is crucial to test for microbial growth on anything we ingest or put on our bodies to ensure it is safe. The State may have set limits, but again, it has not set up a practical system to ensure these tests are being done correctly. Essentially, no one is policing the police. There have been reports of bioload results as low as zero being reported to growers. Why is that bad, you may ask? Zero seems like a pretty good number–it is not. It is a big red flag that the lab is not doing their job. An agricultural product should not have zero reportable microbial growth, because that would be scientifically unsound.
Those who do not have a baseline understanding of the scientific methods behind it are left in the dark. We as consumers generally trust our state legislators and government to have our best interests at heart and ensure public safety. We may have become too complacent, and it may be time to start asking more questions. So next time you buy your favorite product, ask the store what lab it was tested at. A little consumer awareness will raise the quality for all us.
The post Tech Thursday: Analytical Lab Consistency appeared first on Dope Magazine.
