From the Editor: Expanding Horizons
A letter from editor-in-chief, Megan L'Heureux, announcing new columns and plans for Cannabis Science and Technology in 2019.
Megan L'Heureux
Happy New Year! 2019 is poised to be an exciting year for Cannabis Science and Technology (CST) as we expand our coverage to six print issues and continue our monthly newsletters as well as special webinars throughout the year. As we prepared for 2019, we also decided to bring on more regular columnists to write on important topics. We are thrilled to have launched the regular column series “Cultivation Classroom” in the November/December 2018 issue with columnist Roger Kern of Agate Biosciences. Roger will be discussing the various aspects of cultivation in his column by conducting feature interviews with experts from different sides of the cultivation process as well as his own thoughtful commentary on the topics. Look for his next installment in the March/April issue.
On page 20 of the January/February issue, we are kicking off the new “Extraction Science” column series with an informative piece by guest columnist Amber Wise of Medicine Creek Analytics. Amber discusses some basic clarifications on extraction terminology and processes, an overview of why every extraction company should have a trained scientist on staff, and general guidelines for using correct terminology.
In the March/April 2019 issue we are excited to launch a regular column by Patricia Atkins of SPEX CertiPrep titled “Navigating the Labyrinth: Challenges of Cannabis in the Laboratory.” Patricia’s column will deal with the challenges of different laboratory and quality practices and how those challenges apply to the cannabis industry along with tips and advice to navigate around them.
As the cannabis industry rapidly expands, our goal at CST is to continue to provide education to people in the field who are advancing cannabis research and quality issues. With that goal in mind, we will also be taking a global look at cannabis research, testing, and policies in other countries in our new series “Cannabis Around the World” (see page 32 of the January/February issue).
In addition to our new columns, we are pleased to continue to present regular pieces from our contributing editor Josh Crossney in the “Cannabis Crossroads” series and columnist Brian C. Smith in the “Cannabis Analysis” column. Both of those columns can be found in every issue in 2019.
We welcome comments and article submissions from all of you, so please feel free to reach out to me at mlheureux@mjhlifesciences.com. Enjoy our latest issue and let’s continue to expand our cannabis horizons!
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
