In this latest installment of Noid Knowledge, Jason Wilson from the Curious About Cannabis podcast discusses with our host Evan Friedmann and guests TJ Martin, Ian Oswald, and Kyle Boyar, their experiences at the American Chemical Society (ACS) conference in San Diego. Wilson shares insights from a conversation with colleagues about their research on volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in cannabis, which contribute to its aroma. They found that while most VSCs were present in low concentrations, some strains like Gelato and GMO had higher levels. They also discussed the importance of proper packaging, noting that mylar bags can effectively retain these compounds. The conversation highlights the need for better analytical methods and open-access research to advance the cannabis industry. Link to Companion Curious About Cannabis Podcast Episode : https://cacpodcast.com/cannabis-quality-aroma-and-terpenes-what-do-we-really-know-with-tj-martin-iain-oswald-kyle-boyar-evan-friedmann/

In this latest installment of Noid Knowledge, we are joined by Daniela Vergara, PhD, Hemp Specialist at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Anna Schwabe, PhD, Associate Lecture Professor at the University of Colorado, discussing the evolution of cannabis cultivation and the need for regional climate data. Their recent project, funded by the Agricultural Genomics Foundation, studies 10 cannabis varieties grown by farmers in different regions, specifically plant characteristics, soil type, and harvest metrics. They aim to understand how environmental factors affect cannabis yield and quality, providing actionable insights for farmers and breeders.

In this latest installment of Noid Knowledge, we are joined by Dr. Allison Justice, Founder and CEO of the Hemp Mine, and David Sandelman COO, CTO & Co-Founder of Cannatrol. Here, Allison and David discuss innovations in cannabis drying and curing, focusing on the Cannatrol technology which controls vapor pressure, preserving trichome integrity, and flower quality. Additionally, Allison shares how the Cannabis Research Center and Coalition (CRC) is transition to an open-source model to support cultivators, researchers, and home growers.

In this latest installment of Noid Knowledge we are joined by Julie Kowalski, a leading mind in analytical chemistry and cannabis testing. Julie has arranged a very compelling symposium for Pittcon entitled Cannabis Aroma: Advances and Challenges in Determining and Commercializing Cannabis Product Quality Attributes. It is taking place on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, starting at 9:30 AM in room 209. The session features top notch speakers, including several previous guests of this show, and yours truly, discussing the next generation of quality assessment in cannabis.

In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.

Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.

Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.

In Part III of this episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC, and co-founder of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to examine the complexities the complexities of sampling in the cannabis industry, emphasizing the need for proper sampling plans, and methods.

In Part II of this episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC, and co-founder of Saturn Scientific, LLC, discuss the challenges in cannabis testing, the THC cap, and the need for better regulations.

In Part I of this episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC, and co-founder of Saturn Scientific, LLC, dig into accreditation, and standards for accreditation, highlighting their importance, while also acknowledging some challenges and pitfalls for labs.

In the final part of this episode, host Evan Friedmann and Jini Glaros, Chief Scientific Officer at Modern Canna Labs, discuss the complexities of cannabis contamination, focusing on pesticides, heavy metals, and microbes, plus the need for better microbial testing, particularly for pathogenic species. Jini also explains the importance of educating physicians about cannabis testing to ensure proper recommendations. Finally, they discuss the readiness of Modern Canna for potential legalization in Florida.

In Part II of this episode, host Evan Friedmann and Jini Glaros, Chief Scientific Officer at Modern Canna Labs, continue their discussion on Jini’s upcoming presentations for the American Chemical Society Fall meeting and the AOAC International Annual Meeting, highlighting her study comparing five moisture measurement techniques. They also discuss the potential impact of Florida's cannabis legalization on the industry, both medical and recreational.

In Part I of this episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Jini Glaros, Chief Scientific Officer at Modern Canna Labs, discuss the importance of standardizing cannabis terminology to improve regulations, consumer education, and industry consistency. The Fall Meeting of the American Chemical Society will be held in Denver August 16-22, with cannabis sessions in the morning and afternoon of Monday the 19th followed by the CANN mixer and then the Sci-Mix Poster Session. There will be additional cannabis sessions in the afternoon on Tuesday and Wednesday the 20th and 21st. To learn more, click the link below: https://www.acs.org/meetings/acs-meetings/fall.html The Annual Meeting of AOAC International will be held in Baltimore August 24-28, with Jini and my workshop taking place from 3-4:30pm on Sunday the 25th. Additional cannabis focused programming will be held Monday the 26th from 3:45-5:15pm, on Tuesday the 27th from 1245 to 230 The Cannabis Analytical Science Program (CASP) will meet followed by a Cannabis Community Meeting from 4:30-6pm, and then on Wednesday from 8:15 to 9:45am. To learn more, click the link below: https://www.aoac.org/2024-annual-meeting-exposition/ Literature Recommendations: 1. Marijuana: A Short History, 2nd Edition by John Hudak 2. The Analytical Chemistry of Cannabis: Quality Assessment, Assurance, and Regulation of Medicinal Marijuana and Cannabinoid Preparations, 1st Edition by Brian F. Thomas, Mahmoud A. ElSohly 3. Agricultural Agents Utilizing Matrix Calibrations for Accurate Quantification of Contaminants in Cannabis Products by Jini Glaros et al To be published this fall in the Journal of Testing and Evaluation from ASTM International

The final part of this episode with guest speakers Dr. Allison Justice and Dr. Riley Kirk begins with a discussion on hemp and sustainability, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) art, and the importance of inclusivity and diversity in the cannabis industry. Additionally, they discuss challenges in studying cannabis use during pregnancy and the need for a more transparent system for open access research. Finally, Drs. Justice and Riley share their top three reading recommendations for the audience. Allison Justice SEM Art https://thehempmine.com/collections/sem-art Allison Justice Recommendations: 1) Integrated Management of Pathogens and Microbes in Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabis) under Greenhouse Conditions – Liam Buirs & Zamir Punja https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/6/786 2) Handbook of Cannabis Production in Controlled Environments – Youbin Zheng https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=lp0IEQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=handbook+of+cannabis+production&ots=1LTSh5XnVH&sig=OenSusPTFyzOrmW4hhRRqye0UKo#v=onepage&q=handbook%20of%20cannabis%20production&f=false 3) Google Scholar Alerts https://scholar.google.com/intl/en/scholar/help.html#alerts Riley Kirk Recommendations: 1) Cannabinoids and the Brain – Linda Parker https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=IlT5DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=cannabinoids+in+the+brain&ots=wBUwHMPtT9&sig=VkZcvmmpv7JoT2R3ilG4F_pLuH8#v=onepage&q=cannabinoids%20in%20the%20brain&f=false 2) The Midnight Library – Matt Haig https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52578297-the-midnight-library 3) Peterson Field Guides https://www.goodreads.com/series/65082-peterson-field-guides

In Part II of this episode, Dr. Allison Justice and Dr. Riley Kirk challenge common perceptions of cannabis use, discuss the importance of normalizing daily cannabis use, especially when considering the complexities of both the plant and the human body. They also examine the potential of hemp as a sustainable solution for various applications, including cleaning up pollution and providing fiber, feed, and seed. In particular, they highlight the potential uses of hemp fiber and stems and cannabis-derived terpenes.

In Part I of this episode, we are joined by Allison Justice, PhD, and Riley Kirk, PhD. Dr. Justice conducts photobiology research and co-founded the Hemp Mine, an innovative hemp farm and product manufacturer. Dr. Kirk is a natural product chemist with a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences. Here, they discuss the importance of connecting people in the cannabis industry, academia, and consumers to further the reach of cannabis education. They also explore the elements of their ongoing research project, “The Science of Smokeability,” which examines nutrient management, importance of maintaining moisture levels, accurate measurements, and the future of cannabis research. Drs. Justice and Kirk presented some of their findings at Cannabis Science Conference in May 2024.

On this month’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Iain Oswald, a principal research scientist at Abstrax Tech Inc., a cannabis research and development company located in Southern California. Here, Dr. Oswald (aka Dr. Dank) discusses the discovery of a new class of volatile sulfur compounds responsible for the characteristic gassy, skunky aroma produced by cannabis. We also discuss the recent paper published by Iain and his team highlighting their discovery of an additional range of cannabis sulfur compounds that contribute to the tropical notes in cannabis aromas.

On this special edition episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Bill Nichols, the Technical Director at Biotrax Testing Laboratory in New York. Here, Evan and Bill discuss an article that came out earlier this year addressing total yeast and mold counts as well as safety testing in the New York cannabis market. Evan and Bill take a deep dive into the article and explain why they think it needed a rebuttal.

On this month’s episode, we are joined by Steve Ellmore, veteran, filmmaker, and founder of The Unprescribed. Here, Steve shares how he created the incredible film Unprescribed, his knowledge and research surrounding veterans access to medical cannabis, his mission to help others through his non-profit, and more.

On this month’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Adie Rae, Assistant Scientist at the Legacy Research Institute. Join us as we discuss Adie’s background, her knowledge and research surrounding cannabis aroma, how the industry’s laser focus on THC percentage is decreasing the value of cannabis for patients, and more.