By contrast, when you buy weed from the black market, you’re not buying product that’s been approved by a licensed lab. And while it likely won’t make you immediately sick, it could be unsafe for consumption.

Especially in the long term.

The Many Reasons for Testing Cannabis

Regulating substances isn’t some novel new trend. It occurs with countless other substances such as medicine and alcohol. And while regulations for cannabis testing vary from state to state, they are all tested for potency.

Testers also do a visual inspection to look for human hair, insect parts, rodent feces, and other unsavory items. And Michigan is one of two states that also requires terpene testing – which is actually good thing.

Perhaps most importantly, cannabis is tested for the following contaminants or harmful substances:

1. Mycotoxins

Every state tests for mycotoxins which are harmful substances produced by mold. They’re especially detrimental when inhaled. They look like residue on the flower and can cause acute liver damage and even cancer if used long term.

2. Water Activity

Some states test for mold. But others are now focusing on how much water is available in the plant for microbial growth. This is known as water activity. When the water activity is below a certain number, mold cannot grow. This enables the flower to endure a longer shelf life.

3. Bacteria

E.coli and salmonella are not just food-borne bacteria. Since they, and many other bacteria, are found in soil or feces, it’s not unusual for them to find their way onto cannabis plants grown outdoors. Particularly if the plants are laid on the ground after harvesting.

4. Pesticides

Wouldn’t it be nice if all cannabis were grown organically? If every producer made a commitment to use no pesticides or, at the worst, organic pesticides? And maybe throw in some beneficial insects that happily eat cannabis-destroying bugs?

Alas, the world is far from perfect. And pesticides show up in cannabis products pretty regularly. So testers ensure that such plants have only the safest levels of pesticides for consumption. Particularly because the consequences of smoking pesticides is still unknown.

5. Solvents

Moving out of the fields and into production, there’s the possibility of all sorts of solvents ending up in the product. For example, solvents like butane and propane are used in making certain cannabis concentrates. Any residual solvents must be at a level that’s safe for consumption.

Add to that the fact that the solvents themselves may contain contaminants and a chemical such as benzene could end up in the finished product.

6. Heavy Metals

The sturdy cannabis plant does a great job with soil remediation. That’s because it easily uptakes chemicals in the soil. Unfortunately, if the soil happens to have heavy metals, so too will the plant after diligently doing its job.

Heavy metals aren’t just in the soil though. Manufacturers who skimp on getting food-grade metal racks for drying flower also run the risk of contaminating the plants with heavy metals.

And it’s safe to say nobody wants that.

Do You Own a Reputable Cannabis Business?

If you’re a responsible cannabis business owner who respects the important reasons for testing cannabis, then we want to talk to you.

We’re a well-established cannabis marketing and public relations firm and we’re eager to get the word out about cannabis businesses with a focus on consumer safety.

So contact us today and let’s get started.

The post Reasons for Testing Cannabis appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

Roberts says he believes after the string of contamination scandals that occurred, there will be an increasing demand for accurate and reliable marijuana testing. He says one scandal involved two of Health Canada’s officially licensed marijuana companies who were found using a banned pesticide in their patient’s products, causing patients to say they felt sicker.

Another scandal he talks about involved a cancer patient in California who died after being exposed to a fungal contamination possibly found in smoked cannabis. Businesses and patients need to be aware of the substances they could be ingesting within their marijuana products.

If you’re interested in testing cannabis products, IRON Laboratories is the Nation’s premier medicinal and recreational testing facility. They provide a variety of testing options for flower, concentrates, edibles, and infused products. They say their mission is to provide knowledge for the benefits of patients, caregivers and producers.

IRON Labs says a variety of contaminants can occur in cannabis, including, molds, mildews, yeasts, bacteria, insect and rodent droppings, pesticides, herbicides, and other agents that can pose health issues. To combat this, they offer chromatography, microscopic analysis, and other cannabis testing techniques to determine if your cannabis is contaminated. However, they don’t test products dosage, but instead recommend you consult your physician or caregiver with any dosing questions.

IRON Labs says, “The federal government prohibits the delivery of cannabis through the mail, so product must be delivered directly to our facility.” If you wish to send in a sample, they say they will need at least 1.5 grams of flower, 0.6 grams of concentrate, or a full serving size of edibles to provide optimal results.

For more information about IRON Labs, call (248) 313-9000, email info@ironlaboratories.com or visit their office located at 1825 E. West Maple, Walled Lake, MI 48390.

The post Iron Labs Cannabis Testing Laboratory appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.