In Memoriam: Anthony Macherone
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Anthony Macherone, PhD.
Dr. Anthony Macherone
Anthony Macherone, PhD., an Analytical Chemist for Agilent Technologies, was a valued member of our Editorial Advisory Board and a highly experienced expert in the field of cannabis and hemp testing and analysis. He led a team of scientists in the development of analytical methodologies to support research, safety, and quality control for the emerging cannabis and hemp fields, and has written extensively on cannabis testing, contributing to several chapters to books about cannabis. His recent articles published in Cannabis Science and Technology include, “How Manufacturing, Regulations, and Sustainability Are Affecting the Cannabis and Hemp-Based Products Industry,” and “Fast Residual Solvents and Terpenes Analyses in Cannabis and Hemp Products,” co-authored with Jeffery S. Hollis and featured in our January/February 2024 issue.
Dr. Macherone was also a trusted advisor on the educational steering committee for the Cannabis Science Conference. He presented “LC–MS For Regulatory Testing: It’s About Time,” at our Fall 2022 conference and we were fortunate to have highlighted Dr. Macherone in an interview from the conference as well.
We greatly appreciate his contributions to our publications and to advancements in the cannabis industry. He will be missed by many.
A Selection of Dr. Macherone’s Work with Cannabis Science and Technology
Interviews
Dr. Macherone on Cannabis Science Conference East Education and Future Growth Areas
Dr. Anthony Macherone of Agilent Technologies shares what he learned at Cannabis Science Conference East 2022.
Dr. Anthony Macherone of Agilent Technologies discusses what he hopes to see change in the future regarding cannabis regulations and testing guidelines.
Challenges in Developing Cannabis Testing Methods
Dr. Anthony Macherone of Agilent Technologies discusses some of the unique challenges when developing testing methods for cannabis products.
Dr. Anthony Macherone Discusses LC-MS for Potency Testing at CSC East 2022
Dr. Anthony Macherone of Agilent Technologies shares some insights from his talk at Cannabis Science Conference East 2022.
Podcast Series
"a"-Musings from the Cannabis Corner
A six-part podcast series moderated by Dr. Macherone about cannabis testing and regulations in the Americas and globally.
Articles
2020
This study highlights a potential concern for the quantitation of acid phytocannabinoids.
A Brief Review of Derivatization Chemistries for the Analysis of Cannabinoids Using GC–MS
This article focuses on the use of GC–MS for the analysis of derivatized cannabinoids in hempseed oil matrix.
2019
A study using LC-qTOF, GCqTOF, and GC–MS/MS to evaluate the selectivity of a model pesticide commonly found in regulatory target lists.
GC-TOF Discovery-Based Profiling of CBD Oil Pet Supplements
In this study, six different brands of CBD oil pet supplements were obtained and untargeted analyses using gas phase-time of flight mass spectrometry were performed.
This review introduces a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay and compares its performance to culture-based methods.
2018
The liquid chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC–TOF-MS) method presented herein allows for the accurate, precise, and robust speciation, profiling, and quantification of cannabinoids in hemp oil extracts and commercial cannabinoid products for research and development laboratories.
A Comprehensive Approach to Pesticide Residue Analysis in Cannabis
Here we present a straightforward acetonitrile extraction using a solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge and targeted dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) cleanup. The final dilute extract is analyzed with both gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for a comprehensive target list (200+ compounds) that encompasses those identified on individual U.S. state lists.
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.
