Measurement Science for Enhanced Cannabis Testing

Advancements in measurement science are vital in assuring the quality and safety of Canada's rapidly expanding cannabis industry. Reports of high variability in results between testing laboratories, in addition to several medical cannabis recalls, have highlighted the need for standards in cannabis testing. The National Research Council, as Canada's National Metrology Institute, is addressing this challenge through the promotion of documentary standards for cannabis testing methods and the development of cannabis certified reference materials (CRMs). These standards will ensure accuracy and consistency of testing results, assist licensed cannabis producers in achieving regulatory requirements, and ultimately promote confidence in the regulated cannabis industry. This presentation will highlight recent advancements in metrology in support of the cannabis industry. Specifically, a liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for cannabinoids will be described, which is being proposed as a candidate ASTM International standard method. A pesticide method using liquid chromatography – high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) will also be discussed. The presentation will also highlight progress on the development of a cannabis CRM (NRC MARI-1) to be certified for major cannabinoids and select contaminants. The production and certification will discussed, including the establishment of SI-traceability through the purity assignment of cannabinoid standards by quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (qNMR). The availability of a cannabis CRM will facilitate method validation for cannabis testing laboratories and allow laboratories to assess their entire method, from extraction to analysis.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).