While most growers strive to improve their product with careful growing techniques and handling, there are a few who attempt to employ more…questionable means. As an analytical laboratory operating in a competitive market, the receipt of doctored samples puts us in an awkward position. We’re not generally in the business of turning away samples, but there are times when scientific integrity demands … Read More
The Black List: Pesticides
In addition to the tests required under WAC 314-55-10, new testing requirements are being implemented for Medical Cannabis as it comes under the purview of I502. The new section, WAC 246-70-050, requires testing for 13 prohibited pesticides for all flower, trim, leaves, or other plant matter. Concentrates require testing for 15. The Washington State Dept. of Health issued a post … Read More
Some Relief from the IRS
“A taxpayer who paid the State of Washington marijuana excise tax should treat the expenditure as a reduction in the amount realized on the sale of the property,” says the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Income Tax and Accounting). Per the memo from Thomas D. Moffitt,Chief of Branch 2 of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel, “We interpret the State … Read More
Terpenes and Tasting
Whenever you open a fresh bag of cannabis, you probably note a variety of smells that come forth. It might smell like skunks, flowers, or berries. The cornucopia of aromas found in the many phenotypes of cannabis out there are numerous and varied. Terpenes are not limited to just marijuana. Terpenes are naturally pre-sent in a wide variety of plants … Read More
Cannabis Flavor/Scent Wheel
Organoleptics is based in ISO methodology and FDA regulation for conducting scientific testing in which sensory evaluation is used to evaluate quality of product. For cannabis, it is a complex test designed to provide a quality evaluation metric that looks well beyond the THC quantity of the plant, and considers a multitude of variables to identify and express the merits … Read More
Solvent Quantity, Yield, and Purity
Anyone who uses solvents to extract Cannabinoids on a large scale will tell you that the solvents are expensive. Not only is it cost-effective to recover and reuse the solvents, it is wise to use only as much solvent as is necessary, and not more. Using excess solvent lengthens the purge time and reduces the capacity of your equipment. Of … Read More