5 Table 1. LC Method Parameters.
Figure
1.Chromatography of Expanded Mycotoxin Analyte List. Commentary and Conclusion Table 2. Mass Spec Parameters.
The above described method is just one example of similar LC-MS/MS methods that can readily be found in the literature, any one of which could potentially serve as the basis for a unifi ed national approach to mycotoxin testing that would be far superior to the hodgepodge that currently exists in the US. So, given the need for rigorous and effi cacious mycotoxin testing of cannabis and the lack of signifi cant scientifi c or technology barriers, why has the status quo been so slow to change? Well, institutional and bureaucratic inertia are always handy excuses and, of course, the balkanised legal status of cannabis regulation in the US has clearly not helped the situation. But, given all that, it is still vexing that individual states, particularly those with a more progressive reputation, have not been more assertive in the area of mycotoxin testing.
A very useful review article [5] shows the many different ways that can be used to test for the presence of mycotoxins in cannabis. The author started with simple qualitative test strips and concluded with advanced tests, like the LC-MS/MS approach described here and acknowledged the advantages of these advanced analytical approaches, but listed the disadvantages as well, such as expensive equipment and the need for highly trained staff. He concluded with the observation that: “This can be a large hurdle to overcome for smaller testing laboratories or new start-ups which may not have the capital to be able to purchase the equipment and employ expert staff.”
The honesty of that observation, is much appreciated but it does raise an unsettling question. Are simple economics the reason for the slow adoption of better cannabis mycotoxin testing? Is the desire to let undercapitalised labs ‘have a go’ at cannabis testing a legitimate reason to compromise consumer safety? Surely this simplistic hypothesis is not the root cause for the slowness of adoption of advanced mycotoxin testing and it is indeed important to thoughtfully balance cost and benefi t in testing scenarios. However, mycotoxin testing should not be an area where compromises should be made.
Acknowledgements
We wish to acknowledge the contribution of Wes Maguire and his team at Columbia Laboratories, Portland, Oregon, USA for performing the analytical work.
References
1. Mycotoxins, the Hidden Danger in Foods.
https://www.intechopen.com/online-fi rst/mycotoxins-the-hidden-danger-in-foods 2. Microbial Contamination in Cannabis: What are the Dangers?
https://800ezmicro.com/cannabis-testing/67-cannabis-blog/216-microbial-contaminants-in-cannabis-what-are-
the-dangers.html
3. Map of Marijuana Legalization by States 2020 (Medicinal and Recreational).
https://www.weednews.co/marijuana-legality-states-map/
4. Expanded Mycotoxin Analysis in Cannabis Matrices by LC-MS/MS.
https://phenomenex.blob.core.windows.net/documents/71cb0146-ba45-4891-92f6-4a447fe4e6a8.pdf
5. How to Identify Mycotoxins in Cannabis.
https://www.analyticalcannabis.com/articles/how-to-identify-mycotoxins-in-cannabis-311866
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