420 with CNW — Laboratory Owners Reveal Unknown Compounds Found in Marijuana Samples

Cannabis News Wire, Media Partners

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The regulated cannabis sector has been facing a significant challenge lately: lab-tested products containing pesticides. More alarmingly, some cannabis samples sent for testing now contain a mixture of unknown compounds not previously identified in cannabis.

According to lab executives, these enigmatic substances emerge during the conversion of hemp-derived cannabinoids into delta-8 and delta-9 THC. The issue is made worse by the fact that testing for cannabinoids, heavy metals and mold is required in most jurisdictions, but testing for these byproducts is not. As such, their impact on customers is still unknown.

Cannabis naturally includes trace levels of delta-8 THC. However, most delta-8 products are synthesized by converting nonpsychoactive CBD, potentially leaving behind dubious byproducts.

According to chemist Susan Audino, who consults with biological and chemical laboratories, these are side reactions of the chemical process. “It is impossible to produce one compound without also producing others,” she added.

According to Josh Swider, CEO and cofounder of Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs in San Diego, up to 60 unknown chemicals are frequently present in many delta-8 products made via chemical procedures. Many of them remain unidentified. This suggests that previously undiscovered cannabis chemicals are being digested and introduced, according to Swider.

ACT Laboratories CEO and chief scientific officer, Bob Miller, pointed out that unethical methods used in THC-potency testing are partially to blame for the paucity of investigation into these unidentified chemicals. “Potency testing creates an opportunity for unethical interactions between labs and grower-processors,” Miller said. “Higher potencies benefit everyone except the consumer because they mean more money for the tests and higher sales prices.”

Miller highlighted that his lab in Michigan has observed an increase in delta-8 THC entering the market, posing a significant issue. “Producers often claim they have hemp and sell it across state lines. In reality, it’s a mix of delta-9 and delta-8 THC,” he said. The conversion process from CBD to delta-9 and delta-8 is often imprecise, resulting in a mix of various compounds, many of which remain unidentified due to the lack of required testing.

Certain molecules that arise from these intricate combinations in lab settings have the potential to be more psychotropic than delta-9 THC. “If we detect significant levels of any compound, we inform our clients,” Miller explained. “Some clients are eager to understand, while others just want us to test for the legally required cannabinoids.”

The tests carried out are chosen by the lab’s clients, the manufacturers of the products. “Manufacturers usually don’t request specific tests if regulations don’t demand them,” said Audino, who also pointed out that the majority of state regulators are lawyers enforcing laws rather than scientists.

Miller drew attention to the fact that the influx of these unidentified substances was unintentionally facilitated by the 2018 Farm Bill, which authorized industrial hemp. “There’s a federal movement to change regulations to eliminate unknown chemistry and stabilize the supply chain,” he said.

Swider criticized the cannabis-lab industry for moving away from science. “Labs have become more cookie-cutter, focusing only on mandated tests and ignoring other potential issues,” he said. Swider believes the industry needs a reset, urging states to establish stricter mandates. “Many labs prioritize profit over safety, and about 70%–80% of them probably shouldn’t be operational.”

Making the needed changes will require the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, including established cannabis entities such as TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF), so that only accepted compounds remain in the products that reach the market.

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