Safeguarding Consumers in the Era of Intoxicating Hemp and Synthetic Cannabinoids: A GMP Collective Webinar

Hosted by David Vaillencourt, CEO of the GMP Collective, the webinar, “Intoxicating Hemp and Synthetic Cannabinoids: Insights into Lab Testing,” provided an in-depth discussion on the latest information and complications arising from synthetic cannabinoids available to consumers without undergoing the same testing requirements or being subjected to the same regulations as other cannabis products. Contributing to the discussion were two guest speakers, Chris Hudalla, PhD, founder and Chief Scientific Officer of ProVerde Labs, and Jeffrey Williams, Manager of Phytocannabinoid Research and Development with Cayman Chemical. The webinar was moderated by Bethany Moore, Director of Content Strategy and Market Growth for the GMP Collective.

During the hour-long webinar, the panel discussed cannabis compound productions, risks from contaminants, and current regulations. They provided analyses of natural and synthetic cannabinoids, decarboxylation, the process of converting cannabidiol (CBD) into tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and laboratory testing processes. Also discussed were the legal status of cannabis compounds, especially when comparing state and federal regulations, and how regulators and lawmakers should approach these nuances and loopholes.

Consumer safety was also highlighted using examples of the percentage of unknown synthetic compounds typically found in Delta-8-THC gummies and the increase of ingesting synthetic cannabinoids leading to adverse events reported after the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill.

Solutions to providing more consumer safety and legal clarity included the implementation of basic safety standards, universal legal standards, label standards, and a better understanding of production processes.

The webinar concluded by discussing a question from an attendee: “Do you feel, believe, or think, that intoxicating cannabinoids—whether they’re derived, synthetic, or otherwise—should be made available in the stream of commerce exclusively through adult use and/or medical cannabis dispensaries?” 

Find more information on GMP Collective webinars here or watch the full recording of this episode here.