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that operate within strict state and local requirements. Edible Cannabis products can be bought on-line and in retail outlets, but the accessibility is extremely varied between states.
Health Benefits
There is a bank of evidence to suggest that Medicinal Cannabis can help relieve a multitude of health ailments including - pain and muscle spasms or cramps associated with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord damage; nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss and debilitation due to cancer or AIDS; nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy used in the treatment of cancer, hepatitis C or HIV infection and AIDS; chronic pain (mainly pain associated with the nervous system, for example that’s caused by a damaged nerve, phantom pain, facial neuralgia or chronic pain which remains after the recovery from shingles); Gilles de la Tourette syndrome and therapy-resistant glaucoma. Patients and doctors have also reported positive effects on a range of other conditions, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, epilepsy, itching, migraine, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and brain trauma [3].
Furthermore, a recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has stated “substantial evidence” that marijuana or related compounds can effectively treat chronic pain, nausea caused by chemotherapy treatment for cancer, and spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis [4]. Further scientific research is required to confirm these positive effects and relief of symptoms for patients. As with any treatment for illness, therapeutic drugs can have negative side effects. These undesired effects can be a result of an adverse reaction to the presence of a specific compound or from receiving a different dosage to the amount clinically prescribed.
The need for Testing for Residual Solvents and Pesticides
Pesticide Testing
As Cannabis production becomes legalised across the United States and other countries such as Australia, the governing regulations regarding the use of pesticides have not been looked into. With no regulations in place, the safety of patients and consumers is at risk. There are risks that pesticides deemed illegal or harmful to humans or wildlife can be used during the production
Conditions
GC Conditions Injector Temperature Detector Type
Detector Temperature Carrier Gas Type
Simulated Constant Flow Split Flow
Column Type
Temperature Program Initial Temperature Ramp 1
250˚C FID
300˚C
Hydrogen 3.5 ml min-1 70 ml min-1
EL-5 30 m x 0.25 mm x 0.25 µm 100˚C 30˚C min-1 to 200˚C (hold 5 mins)
Figure 1: A 1.0 µL injection of a Synthetic Pyrethroid Pesticide standard 1. Tefluthrin 2. Transfluthrin
3. Anthraquinone 4. Bioallethrin 5. Resmethrin
6-7. Tetramethrin 8. Bifenthrin
9-10. Phenothrin 11. L-Cyhalothrin
12. Acrinathrin 13. c-Permethrin 14. t-Permethrin 15-18. Cyfluthrin
19-22. Cypermethrin 23. Flucythrinate 24. Fenvalerate
25. tau-Fluvalinate 26. Fenvalerate
of Cannabis and go undetected, resulting in pesticides considered dangerous for human consumption being inhaled, ingested and absorbed.
Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other chemicals used in cultivation and storage of Cannabis products could remain within the plant structure and result in a patient being exposed to potentially toxic chemicals. Screening for these chemicals is fundamental.
Residual Solvents
Several potentially harmful compounds are used in the process, when cannabis components are extracted. They can be
left in the extraction and cause harm to consumers. Residual solvents analysis will determine if any solvents have been found within the finished product, and this ensures that consumers are not at risk. Testing for residual solvents is essential. Hydrocarbon gases as well as organic solvents are used to extract essential oils from cannabis for medicinal products. Residual solvents are any solvents used in extraction that remain in the extracted product. They can be consumed by users in significant quantities.
If cannabis were regulated in the same way as a pharmaceutical drug, each batch of medicinal cannabis would need to be tested for potency, flavour profiling and
27. tau-Fluvalinate 28. Deltamethrin
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