Page 35 - March 2017

The Role of Science in Testing Medical Marijuana

BY CINDY ORSER, PH.D., CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER, DIGIPATH

The policy makers in new cannabis complicit states, as backed by cannabis
industry leaders and organizations around the country, have a unique oppor-
tunity to set a new standard through embracing science and its invaluable role
in quality assured, authenticated cannabis products to both the medical and
retail marijuana markets. Science should be an unbiased articulation in objec-
tively promoting cannabis for its many medicinal benefits by clearly commu-
nicating the many benefits while curtailing any potential detrimental impacts
from adulterants, including pesticide and microbial contaminants.
There is a pressing obligation and need to unite in a collective effort to stan-
dardize cannabis testing methodologies and reporting so there can be no dis-
puting or questioning of the results. In the absence of any Federal oversight,
this effort will require the inclusion of scientists in policy-making in imple-
menting solutions and justifying current expenditures to prevent damages to
future generations’ health; rewarding collective rather than individual efforts.
Independent testing laboratories are the gatekeeper in the cannabis market-
place. All products must first successfully pass through a testing lab before
they reach the dispensary shelves. The testing labs’ role in the quality assur- Digipath, Inc. is a publicly traded (OTCQB: DIGP) independent laboratory
ance of cannabis and cannabis-based products demands that uniform testing testing and media firm for the cannabis industry whose cannabis testing busi-
standards be adopted in order to provide consistent, robust and comparable ness is operated through its wholly owned subsidiary, Digipath Labs, Inc.,
results across the country. which performs all cannabis related testing using FDA-compliant, state-of-the-
Digipath Labs both documents the potency of cannabis and cannabis-based art laboratory equipment at its flagship laboratory in Las Vegas, Nevada.
products as well as screens for potentially harmful adulterants including pes-
ticides, heavy metals, microbes and mycotoxins. Potency is comprised of 33
distinct data points including 11 cannabinoids and 22 terpenes. Cindy Orser,
Ph.D., a 25-year biotech and diagnostic industry veteran, leads these efforts on
behalf of Digipath, serving as the liaison between cannabis providers and reg-
ulatory agencies. Through Dr. Orser’s work with Nevada state officials,
Digipath has pioneered cannabis lab testing protocols in Nevada’s implemen-
tation of the nation’s most stringent policies on cannabis safety.
Dr. Orser recently penned a blog post, entitled “The Role of Science in
Society and Cannabis”, in which she elaborates on the need for further scien-
tific participation and investigation in the cannabis industry as well as society
as a whole:
“The dilemma at hand is how to get scientists to more broadly communicate
with society as a whole and to have policy makers and governmental leaders
listen to and value scientists. Scientists should be part of policy making. We
can look to cannabis policy as a good example to explore on this urgently
evolving societal topic. While science has demonstrated the medical benefits
of cannabis and the importance of quality assurance testing, our policy makers
at the Federal level from the DEA and NIDA to the White House, continue to
deny the scientific evidence. We might think that State level policy makers are
doing a better job but a recent publication in Drug Policy has just concluded
that scientific evidence was not a major factor in policy development across
the 28 U.S. states and the District of Columbia that have created medical mar-
ijuana laws.” 1
Currently, the lack of standardized naming conventions in the cannabis
industry (use of acronyms, non-standard abbreviations, etc.) is making it
increasingly difficult to know what is on the market and to make effective
comparisons. This uncertainty is impacting many ancillary efforts, including
patients’ confidence, and is creating a regulatory quagmire for trademarking
and patenting strains (i.e. cultivars). Digipath Labs has embarked on an ambi-
tious multivariate analysis of over 5,000 potency chemoprofiles from flower
samples evaluated in its Las Vegas laboratory. This analysis is expected to
result in the consolidation of unique flower chemoprofiles that will be instru-
mental in defining clinically relevant chemotypes masquerading under a
plethora of strain names in the State of Nevada. Representative strains for each
distinct chemotype cluster have been submitted for genotype analysis to help
establish standardized conventions for the classification of cannabis strains,
and pinpointing what clinically relevant strains are being cultivated, as well as
illuminating the numerous pseudonyms under which these true cultivars have
been marketed, all beginning in Nevada and expanding to other markets
worldwide.

1) Grbic J, Goddard P, Ryder D (2017) Observations of the role of science in the
United States medical cannabis state policies: Lessons Learnt. Drug Policy
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.12.019

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com March 2017 35