Putting Cannabis Labs to the Test with Morgan Keefer

Ben AmiraultPodcast, Safety

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Morgan Keefer is a Board Member for the Institute of Cannabis Science, and an experienced cannabis testing laboratory accreditation professional. She has presented at conferences, including CannMed, Pittcon, and Cannabis Science Conference regarding the importance of inter-laboratory comparison and method validation for the cannabis industry.

At CannMed 26, Morgan will present Frequently Identified Nonconformances Applicable to Cannabis Testing, which will explore some of the challeges that come with operating a cannabis lab as well as opportunities for improvement.

During our conversation, we discuss:

  • Cannabis labs must be ISO/IEC 17025 accredited to prove they are competent to test for potency, contaminants, and other critical safety markers that protect consumers.
  • Inconsistent state regulations and federal illegality create unique challenges for cannabis labs, including the need to rapidly validate new test methods as rules change.
  • Sample manipulation by producers (i.e., bleaching samples or inflating potency) is a real problem that undermines lab results and puts consumers at risk.
  • Many labs fall short on method validation and measurement uncertainty, sometimes reporting results for years without fully validating their methods across all product types.
  • Consumers can protect themselves by requesting certificates of analysis, asking labs to confirm their results directly, and watching for measurement uncertainty disclosures.

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: CANN

Since 2015, CANN has been building a strong network of scientists in the cannabis space to promote scientific innovation, safety, and development through education, research, and the empowerment of the scientific community. To learn more about what CANN has to offer please visit their website at www.cann-acs.org.

Additional Resources