Cannabis Sample Prep

Consumer access to cannabis-related products is increasing as states ease restrictions on medical and recreational cannabis.

With increased availability, consumers are demanding testing and quality control governess. While global standards for cannabis testing have not yet been adopted in many states, cannabis products must undergo testing to ensure they are safe for consumption.

While testing requirements vary from state to state, common analyses include:

Potency testing to confirm the amount of cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol, cannabichromene and/or cannabigerol. Analyzing the terpene content of different strains is crucial for developing targeted treatment plans. Also, the quantification of linalool, myrcene, limonene, terpinolene, α-pinene, β-pinene, humulene, caryophyllene and/or caryophyllene oxide are commonplace.

Organic solvents are used to extract essential oils out of cannabis to create concentrated extracts that can be used to create downstream products. Post-extraction the solvents are removed by evaporation to create oils, waxes or shatters. To ensure consumer safety, any residual solvent must be quantified to ensure the finished goods are free of potentially harmful chemicals.