In the rapidly evolving landscape of cannabis production and consumption, ensuring the safety and quality of cannabis products is of paramount importance. Microbial contaminants pose potential health risks to cannabis consumers, necessitating robust testing procedures. This presentation will first introduce the fundamental concepts of cannabis microbiology, emphasizing the significance of accurate and reliable testing methodologies. Secondly, we will break down traditional culture-based techniques utilizing specialized growth media to detect and quantify microbial contaminants while comparing molecular methods that include rapid detection and the ability to differentiate between viable and non-viable microorganisms.

Learning Objectives:

1. Summarize the basics of Microbiology.

2. Review the difference between culture and molecular microbiology.

3. Discuss quality control in Cannabis microbiology.