1:30pm - 3:30pm - Up In Smoke: The Truth Behind Potency Inflation
Presenters: Jini Glaros, M.S., Vernon LaLone, PhD., Wyatt Bergel, and Douglas Smith, M.S.

Total THC is king in the cannabis industry. Will the race for higher THC levels leave the industry and its consumers up in smoke? How can analytical cannabis labs lead the charge in solving this problem? This workshop will explore the complexities of cannabinoid analysis, potential sources of potency inflation, and the remediating role analytical labs will play in the evolution of the industry.

The accurate measurement of cannabinoid content is governed by sampling, homogenization, dilution, analysis, and data review methods. This workshop will focus on the major points of the analytical pipeline to explore the challenges and solutions in cannabinoid analysis with a special focus on potency inflation.

Attendees can expect the following questions to be answered during the workshop:

• Sampling Bias - How does sample selection and size impact the results produced by laboratories?
• Sample Homogenization - How can the grinding and compositing process affect the cannabinoid content that is measured in a sample? 
• Sample Extraction and Dilution - How do analytical techniques used for sample preparation impact the results that laboratories obtain?  
• LC-UV Data Acquisition - How does the analytical method and reference materials utilized by the laboratory affect the calculated concentration of cannabinoids? What safeguards can laboratories use to ensure that the data being generated is accurate, reproducible, and legally defensible? 
• Data Analysis and Review - How do high throughput laboratories calculate and apply measurement uncertainty for potency testing?

Q&A - Discussion (15-20 min.)

3:30PM - 3:45PM - Break

3:45PM - 4:30PM - LC/MS Role in  Routine Cannabinoid Testing 
Presenter: Adam Woodhouse

The most common analytical technique for the quantitative determination of cannabinoids in cannabis plants and other cannabinoid products is HPLC with UV detection. However, given the complexity of the matrix in these products, interference and co-eluting chemicals can often bias the results when using nonselective UV detectors. We compared HPLC-UV with electrospray LC/MS to illustrate the power and need of mass spectrometry for the selective and quantitative determination of 16 cannabinoids including ∆9-THC, ∆8-THC, THCA, CBD, and CBDA in food-grade hemp seed oil.

Q&A - Discussion (10-15 min.)

4:30pm - 5:30pm - Challenges with Regulating the Cannabis Industry
Join us in conversation with our panelists as they answer questions surrounding the challenges with regulating the cannabis industry. Topics include but are not limited to state-specific regulations, changing regulatory environments, chemical and microbiological testing, and lab shopping.

• Sherman Hom, PhD - Medicinal Genomics
• Kathleen May - Triskele Quality Solutions
• Michael Rashed, MBA - US Pharmacopeia (USP)
• Jeff Rawson, PhD - Institute of Cannabis Science

AUDIENCE INVOLVEMENT: Attendees will be given the opportunity to submit questions prior to the event for the panelists to answer.