Richard Sams, PhD, Joins Cannabis Science and Technology®’s EAB
Cannabis Science and Technology® is pleased to announce the addition of Richard Sams to its editorial advisory board (EAB).
Dr. Richard Sams earned his Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in pharmaceutics from Ohio State University. After his time working as a research scientist at Ciba-Geigy Pharmaceuticals in Suffern, New York, he served as a faculty member in the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy at OSU. There, he specialized in veterinary pharmacology and directed the testing and research activities of the Analytical Toxicology Laboratory, which is the official testing laboratory of the Ohio State Racing Commission. In 2001, Sams became a scientific consultant to the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and became a member of its Scientific Advisory Committee.
From 2006–2010 Sams served as a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida where he was responsible for teaching veterinary clinical pharmacology and directing the Florida Racing Laboratory, the official testing laboratory of the Florida Department of Business Regulation Division of Racing. After his time at the University of Florida, Sams became the director of the HFL Sport Science Laboratory in Lexington, Kentucky. This laboratory was the official testing laboratory for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, the Indiana Racing Commission, the Maine Harness Racing Commission, the Virginia Racing Commission, the Puerto Rico Racing Authority, the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, and the Trinidad & Tobago Racing Authority. Since 2019, Sams has held the role of the scientific director of KCA Laboratories, a cannabis testing and research laboratory located in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Currently, Sams is serving on the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Association of Racing Commissioners International, Inc. In addition, he has authored more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific studies. Frequently, he is requested to consult on cannabis-related matters and the disposition of drugs and other substances in animals.
For a complete list of the Cannabis Science and Technology® Editorial Advisory Board please visist: www.cannabissciencetech.com/cannabis-science-and-technology-editorial-advisory-board.
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.
