The cannabis industry has grown exponentially over the past decade as more states and countries around the world have legalized cannabis for medicinal and recreational use, including the Government of Canada, which legalized the Cannabis Act in 2018. However, with this growth has come a new set of challenges for the industry to face, particularly in product quality control and education.
To overcome these challenges and consolidate the recent gains made by the cannabis industry, there’s a need for more concerted efforts on the part of industry specialists and professionals. Our Cannabis – Management, Quality and Edibles Diploma is instrumental in providing budding industry players with the comprehensive and holistic training required for them to be significant contributors to the industry in future. Read on to discover how analytical testing is tackling the problem of THC inflation in the industry.
THC Inflation and the Cannabis Industry
One of the most pressing issues facing the industry today is THC inflation, which refers to the tendency for cannabis producers to overstate the THC content of their products. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the “high” associated with the plant. As a result, many consumers are willing to pay a premium for products with higher THC levels, making it tempting for producers to inflate their THC numbers in order to boost sales.
Cannabis education helps make THC inflation clearer and easier to understand for students.
The problem with this practice, however, is that it can lead to misleading labelling and inconsistent dosing for consumers. If a product is labelled as having 20% THC, but actually contains only 15%, consumers may take more of the product in order to achieve the desired effect. Conversely, if a product is labelled as having 15% THC but contains 20%, consumers may take less of the product than they need, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction.
Analytical Testing During Cannabis Courses
To combat THC inflation and ensure consistent product labelling, the cannabis industry has turned to analytical testing. Analytical testing involves the use of laboratory equipment to analyze the chemical composition of cannabis products, including THC and other cannabinoids, terpenes, and contaminants. By using analytical testing to verify the THC content of their products, producers, quality assurance professionals, and students undergoing cannabis industry training can provide accurate and reliable information to consumers, which can help build trust and loyalty in the brand.
Cannabis industry training exposes students to various analytical testing techniques.
However, analytical testing is not without its own set of challenges. For one, the testing process can be expensive and time-consuming, particularly for smaller producers who may not have the resources to invest in sophisticated laboratory equipment. Additionally, there is currently no standardized testing protocol for cannabis products, which means that results can vary widely depending on the lab and the equipment used.
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
To address these challenges, the cannabis industry has begun working to develop standardized testing protocols and improve access to testing facilities for all producers. One such protocol, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), has emerged as an outstanding and promising option.
HPLC is a powerful analytical technique used to separate, identify, and quantify the components of a sample. HPLC is commonly used in the cannabis industry to measure the potency of cannabinoids such as THC and CBD in cannabis products.
As taught in cannabis industry training, HPLC is one of the most reliable analytical techniques.
HPLC offers several advantages over other analytical techniques, including its high sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility. It can detect very small amounts of analytes and is capable of separating complex mixtures with high resolution. HPLC is also highly versatile, as it can be used to analyze a wide range of compounds, from small molecules to large biomolecules
In the cannabis industry, HPLC is commonly used to measure the potency of cannabinoids in different cannabis products. This information is essential for consumers who want to know the potency of the product they are using, as well as for producers who need to ensure the consistency of their products from batch to batch. HPLC can also be used to test for contaminants, such as pesticides and heavy metals, in cannabis products.
If you’re pursuing cannabis education and want to know more about this and other analytical techniques, you can open yourself up to a world of knowledge by attending our Cannabis Analytical Testing Workshop. The workshop, which promises a myriad of career-enhancing knowledge, skills, and opportunities, is to hold on selected dates between the 15th and 30th of April, 2023. Click here to register online.
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