Quality Control in Cannabis Laboratories: A Cannabis Science Conference West Preview with Dr. Tony Francis
Cannabis Science Conference West, taking place May 18-20 in Long Beach, California, is quickly approaching. The two-day agenda is packed with exciting speakers from around the country. In this preview, we hear from Dr. Tony Francis, Principal, SAW Environmental. Dr. Francis is also an IAS instructor and assessor and a fully qualified National Environmental Laboratories Accreditation Conference (NELAC) assessor in organic and inorganic chemistry, microbiology, cryptosporidium, radiochemistry, solids, aqueous, tissue, and air. Here he shares some insights into his talk, “Importance of Quality Control in Cannabis Laboratories,” scheduled for Friday, May 20 from 9:30 – 10:00 am. We hope to see you there!
Dr. Tony Francis
What first led you to get involved in the cannabis industry?
Dr. Tony Francis: My background is in environmental laboratory quality assurance. When the cannabis industry started to emerge, I found cannabis laboratories were often lacking the rigor of quality control and the documentation to support it. Emerging industries are always exciting.
Your presentation for the Cannabis Science Conference West is called “Importance of Quality Control in Cannabis Laboratories.” What inspired you to present on this topic? What are you most excited to share?
Dr. Francis: Quality control is important no matter the matrix—air, water, or cannabis. I have found that laboratory personnel are so often in the weeds, pun intended, they lose sight of the overarching purpose of analyzing quality control samples. I am excited to share a basic understanding of quality control as it pertains to cannabis analyses. I believe better quality data is the result.
Who will benefit most from your presentation and why?
Dr. Francis: Laboratory management, supervisors, and analysts can benefit from my presentation. No matter how experienced one is, it is always nice to get back to basics every so often.
What kind of important information do you hope attendees will gain from your presentation that they wouldn’t know otherwise?
Dr. Francis: I would hope attendees will gain a deeper understanding pertaining to the “why” of running quality control samples. Each type provides different information concerning sample preparation, instrument conditions, and contamination.
Do you face any unique challenges with your work in quality control and consulting in the cannabis industry?
Dr. Francis: Emerging industries will always have those in a rush to the finish line. Sometimes corners are cut for the sake of speed. There has been a drastic improvement over the years but there remain some laboratories in need of a little guidance and help.
What do you hope to see change in the future with analysts’ approaches to quality control in cannabis laboratories?
Dr. Francis: I hope to see continual improvement in cannabis laboratories. The data should be well-defined and of known and documented quality. Analysts working in cannabis laboratories should continue to build their skill sets and general knowledge of the chemistry behind the tests.
What are you most excited to learn at Cannabis Science Conference West?
Dr. Francis: I’m excited to learn about new technologies and methods for testing cannabis products. The science is evolving rapidly with advanced ways of performing separations and analyte detection.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Dr. Francis: Thank you for this opportunity. I’m excited to present and attend.
Cannabis, US Presidential Election 2024, and Beyond: A Roundtable Discussion, Part II
December 17th 2024With the recent 2024 presidential election behind us, the future of cannabis still has many unknowns moving forward and questions still to be discussed. In this roundtable discussion with four knowledgeable industry leaders, we explore the nuanced political landscape of cannabis legalization and rescheduling in the context of the election, including state and federal policies and possible paths forward for testing standardization. Join us in the second part of a compilation of responses from Kim Anzarut, CQA, CP-FS, CEO of Allay Consulting; Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC; Zacariah Hildenbrand, PhD, research Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso; and David Vaillencourt, CEO of The GMP Collective.
Cannabis, US Presidential Election 2024, and Beyond: A Roundtable Discussion, Part I
December 16th 2024With the recent 2024 presidential election behind us, the future of cannabis still has many unknowns moving forward and questions still to be discussed. In this roundtable discussion with four knowledgeable industry leaders, we explore the nuanced political landscape of cannabis legalization and rescheduling in the context of the election. We discuss what drives support or opposition from both sides of the aisle, the complexities of balancing state and federal priorities, and more. Join us in the first part of a compilation of responses from Kim Anzarut, CQA, CP-FS, CEO of Allay Consulting; Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC; Zacariah Hildenbrand, PhD, research Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso; and David Vaillencourt, CEO of The GMP Collective.
Empowering Women in Cannabis: Susan Audino, PhD, on Inclusivity, Integrity, and Industry Challenges
December 11th 2024Founder of S. A. Audino & Associates, LLC, Susan Audino, PhD, recently co-founded Saturn Scientific, LLC, a collaboration of five experienced individuals providing unbiased evaluations on the data and science for stakeholders in the cannabis industry. In this interview with Cannabis Science and Technology, Dr. Audino shares her unexpected path into analytical science and the cannabis industry as well as the obstacles she’s faced throughout her career. She highlights the gender bias she’s observed, such as unequal recognition of credentials and workplace challenges, while advocating for inclusivity and mentorship to empower women in science. Additionally, Dr. Audino recounts her experiences of navigating the male-dominated cannabis space, pushing for transparency, collaboration, and integrity in laboratory practices. Ultimately, Audino believes fostering mutual respect and knowledge-sharing is vital for the industry’s growth and resilience.
Collaboration, Gender Diversity, and Progress: Julie Kowalski on Advancing Cannabis Science
December 10th 2024In this interview with Cannabis Science and Technology, Julie Kowalski, an experienced analytical chemist, discusses her path into the cannabis industry, starting with early work in gas chromatography. Kowalski reflects on her perspectives as a female scientist, highlighting biases she’s experienced and the benefits of gender inclusivity in the cannabis space. Greater unity and professionalism could benefit the industry as a whole, she explains. She also encourages collaboration and more women in leadership positions in order to build a stronger scientific community, and also urges women to advocate for themselves, noting that women in cannabis face unique obstacles but often demonstrate consensus-building strategies and solutions.
Gender Diversity and Innovation in the Cannabis Space: Insights from Tess Eidem, PhD
December 9th 2024Cannabis Science and Technology sat down with Tess Eidem, PhD, PCQI, member of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to discuss her journey from antibiotic research to cannabis microbiology and her observations throughout her career. Dr. Eidem highlights challenges women face in this male-dominated industry, including limited representation in leadership roles and frequent experiences of bias and discrimination. She emphasizes the importance of gender diversity in fostering innovation, improving product safety, and addressing women’s health needs in cannabis applications. Her advice to women scientists is to build strong professional relationships and carefully evaluate work environments to advance their careers in this evolving and often challenging space.
Inside the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s Graduate Program in Medical Cannabis
September 16th 2024Leah Sera, PharmD, MA, the co-program director for the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s Graduate Studies in Medical Cannabis program sat down with Cannabis Science and Technology to discuss higher education in medical cannabis.
