Well-documented as a botanical medicine for over 5,000 years, the discovery of endogenous cannabinoid receptors and evidence-based reports indicating the efficacy of medical cannabis for treating pain have renewed consideration of its therapeutic use. Dr. Block emphasizes how appreciating the biologic context of how and why endogenous cannabinoid receptors function will allow healthcare providers to better interpret pre-clinical trials and limited evidence-based data. Examination of the cannabis plant’s biochemistry and mechanisms of action revealed so-called endocannabinoid receptors and their natural ligands, comprising a previously unknown ubiquitous receptor system responsible for maintaining physiological balances that are essential to sustaining animal life. In consideration of opioids and balanced risk reduction strategies, this chapter summarizes evidence-based safety and efficacy profiles that suggest therapeutic balances of phytocannabinoid and terpenoid compounds. Dr. Block’s conclusions discuss a bioethical rationale for compassionate access to cannabis when used for the treatment of pain as well as public health concerns from contaminants to dependence.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the endocannabinoid receptors’ unique mechanism of action and their role in maintaining essential human physiologic balances

2. Discuss the clinical significance of evidence-based data vs. anecdotal reports

3. Understand how better legislation can help ensure better patient outcomes.

There is an enormous, real-world experiment happening today that will shape agriculture’s future.  Specifically, we are seeing an aggressive competition between outdoor, greenhouse, and indoor cannabis farms, and there is a heated debate about which method will win.  This session uses a historical economic-perspective to offer insights in the factors that will drive the result.  Session participants will also see research results that demonstrate the enormous potential value of better control and learning in the context of cannabis cultivation.

Learning Objectives:

​1. Give the audience a historical perspective regarding how customer preference impact the profitability of investing in technologies that enable greater control of the cultivation environment

2. Present research that illustrates that the vast majority go producers provide far too little light when growing cannabis plants

Clinical trials are the backbone of medical science. Traditional pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars and a decade plus on conducting trials to substantiate the marketing of a new drug. Cannabis is federally illegal yet 33 states and the District of Columbia are permitting the sale of cannabis and cannabis based medicines and without traditional scientifically backed proof. Additionally, the knowledge of the endocannabinoid system and how cannabis and cannabis medicines interact within that system is left to those curious enough to do the research. The federally illegality of cannabis has prevented the widespread education of the endocannabinoid system in traditional learning platforms. The majority of health care providers and scientists are not exposed to the endocannabinoid system and therefore are not thinking about this type of research. The federal landscape makes it difficult or impossible to obtain grants for research. Th sourcing of the study material poses another impediment. There are solutions to these obstacles and I will discuss the issues, challenges and successes of conducting clinical trials in the legal medical cannabis world.

Listeners will:
1. Understand the importance of substantiating claims with science backed trials
2. Learn the steps needed to conduct  clinical trials in a highly challenging and federally illegal environment.

This presentation will provide an overview of states moving towards legalization in 2020, either medicinally or recreationally.  It will also provide insight into states looking to propose mandatory testing with these legalization measures.  In addition, viewers will learn about states that have set a date for mandatory testing to begin in 2020 and be provided with an overview of the ever-changing regulatory testing landscape.

Learning Objectives:

1. What states will begin requiring mandatory testing for cannabis this year?

2. What states have recently changed their testing regulations? What states are looking to legalize cannabis, either medicinally or recreationally, in 2020?

3. Of these states, which ones have put testing in their proposed legislation?

Setting up an analytical laboratory requires a clear objective and analytical resources, both instrumentation and technical. The four main areas of focus exist during this process:

1) Instrumentation and Method Development

2) Sample Flow, Tracking, and Traceability

3) Data Analysis, Data Management, and Reporting

4) Quality Assurance and Proficiency

Several tools and technology can be leveraged to assist in establishing an efficient laboratory, including Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), and a Document Management Program. These tools will aid in not only sample traceability and workflow needs, but also accreditation requirements.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding the basic elements needed to setup an analytical laboratory

2. Knowing hot topics and potential pitfalls to avoid during this process

In today’s busy Cannabis laboratory environment, users are faced with increasing laboratory analysis and management challenges, regulatory pressures, evolving customer needs and demands.  For the rapidly evolving cannabis industry, it can be a challenge just navigating the regulatory landscape. In the US, Cannabis laboratories are required to be certified to the ISO 17025 standard. As the amount of data continues to grow, better Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) software solutions are required to mange and maintain not only the laboratory analytical data, but also all the ancillary data that includes managing the supplies, reagents and standards, quantity on hand, the amount, lot number, expiration dates, vendor, safety sheets, and more. In addition, laboratories must also mange their employee credentials, their training and certifications, as well as instrument calibrations, repair and maintenance. The International Standards Organization is continually updating their requirements, providing updates to the standard that laboratories are audited against. The latest updates ISO 17025:2017 require compliance by 2020 and had an increased focus on traceability, information technology (electronic records and electronic signatures) and risk-based thinking. Primary considerations for LIMS selection reviewed will include cost of ownership, deployment (SaaS or premise), technology, features, usability, and security. This presentation will review the key market drivers for laboratories to acquire a LIMS.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain key considerations for procuring a new Laboratory Information Management System for a Cannabis Laboratory

2. Understanding automation tools that can be leveraged to maximize resources and increase data quality

3. Learning about regulatory requirements for Cannabis Testing Laboratories.

In the last two years there have been several high-profile illnesses in cannabis users, notably the e-cigarette, or vaping, product-use associated lung injury (EVALI), and heavy metal poisoning in California and Michigan. While these are undeniably deserving of attention, they have led to a focus on chemical contaminants and causes of illness, rather than microbial ones. With an estimated combined market of over $10B in retail sales this year, it’s not a matter of if, but when will the cannabis industry have its first major microbial or food-borne outbreak and product recall. This can be mitigated by implementing proper quality control measures, but what does that mean? Presented within is a general overview of quality control in 2 aspects of the cannabis industry particularly focusing on bacterial and fungal contamination and steps to mitigate it.

Learning Objectives:

1. Introduce the audience to a general overview of bacterial and fungal contamination

2. Identify areas in the growing and manufacturing industries to monitor for bacterial and fungal contamination

3. Present general steps forward to monitor and mitigate contamination.

Household produce varieties such as ‘Red Delicious,’ ‘Campari,’ and ‘Earlidew’ have been selectively bred and have been enhanced for flavor since the 1990’s because of small molecule profiling in conjunction with genomic and transcriptomic approaches. Metabolomics has also been utilized for selective breeding of Cannabis cultivars, but limited to a small number of cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD. Equally important are the over 500 natural compounds that have been identified in Cannabis, many of which are unknown or understudied. This situation results in a poor understanding of metabolic systems critical to the plant’s flowering, resistance to disease/pests, and nutrient uptake. The advancements in analytical instrumentation and statistical methods allow for high-throughput screening of Cannabis cultivars that will contain superior agronomic traits and augmented therapeutic potentials.

Learning Objectives:
1. Attendees will become familiar with analytical and statistical techniques commonly employed in metabolomics approaches.
2. Viewers will learn about the interaction of biochemical pathways in Cannabis cultivars and the importance of these interactions for selective and rapid breeding.

The cannabis industry is relatively new, and standards are ever changing.  When developing strategies to standardize and improve the cannabis growing and production process, there are many trade-offs that need to be considered.  The risks due to microbial contamination are arguably the most important as they can cause an entire crop to be destroyed or downgraded.  We review the overall quality control process, the key economic trade-offs and the cost to quality (or non-quality).  While minimum standards exist in Canada, each decision must be made considering a risk-based business model.

Learning Objectives:  
1. The main focus will be on the actual steps of the post harvest process with the key monitoring points that impact flower quality.
2. The secondary takeaway would be the economic impact of some of the ranges for monitoring points.

The legalization of recreational cannabis has brought several challenges for cannabis extractors. Due to the increased scrutiny, they are required to get the product tested for an entire host of parameters such as impurities, potencies, and abnormalities to ensure consumer health and safety. For a cannabis extractor, more tests translate to higher turnaround time, and if a sample fails, they have to repeat the whole extraction process. Thus, cannabis extraction labs have started establishing in-house testing facilities. The in-house facility allows them to quickly test their product for cannabinoid and terpene fraction, which in turn accelerates their extraction process, saving time and cost.

Whether your lab is an internal quality control (QC) testing lab within a cannabis extraction facility or a third-party testing lab, quality control testing to identify potentially harmful substances and pinpoint the potency of plants and cannabis-infused products is imperative. Besides, it is also required to meet regulatory requirements for ensuring consumer safety.

With high sample throughput and specific regulatory requirements, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) is a remarkably important tool for testing laboratories. The talk will highlight how a LIMS can help testing labs manage tests and QC samples, such as a  blank, a laboratory control sample, a laboratory control sample duplicate, and a matrix spike, run with every sample batch analyzed. A LIMS also helps review all reagents and equipment calibration status used while testing to assure the accuracy of test results.

Learning objectives:

1.Significance of QA/QC for In-House Testing in Cannabis Extraction Labs: In-house testing enables cannabis businesses to make reproducible products that can substantiate label claims and test products before compliance testing required by a state. QA/QC is crucial for in-house testing to support the validity and reproducibility of test results and to determine potential anomalies in test results. The talk delineates the importance of QA/QC for cannabis extraction labs.

2. Role of LIMS in Automating In-House Testing Workflows and in Ensuring QA/QC in Cannabis Extraction Labs: Automation plays a crucial role in managing QC samples, in-house testing data, and in ensuring proper calibration and maintenance of analytical instruments before use. LIMS is a crucial tool for automation. The talk highlights the role of a cannabis LIMS in managing QC samples and their test results, automating data transfer from analytical instruments to a LIMS, scheduling instrument calibration, and managing instrument calibration and maintenance data, thereby assuring data integrity and quality in cannabis extraction labs.  

The objective of this study was to produce a fast, accurate, and precise method for analyzing terpenes in hemp using headspace/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Modern interest in terpenes and terpene analysis has grown significantly as the recreational and medicinal use of hemp has expanded across the globe. There is research that suggests terpenes provide a synergistic “entourage” effect, compounding the suggested medicinal benefits from CBD usage. Research into the relationship between the endocannabinoid system and terpenes has grown significantly.

Terpenes are built from repeating five carbon units called isoprene. Their distinction as monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, etc. is dependent on the number of isoprene units utilized in their biosynthesis. These compounds have traditionally been measured using liquid injection gas chromatography systems. Liquid injection presents a number of problems in a production environments such as dirty injection ports, persistent maintenance, and column contamination. The use of headspace eliminates these issues and provides robust sample introduction. The use of mass spectrometry allows for the separation and quantification of co-eluting peaks. This in turn allows for the rapid analysis of samples as chromatographic separation becomes less critical. Traditional use of FID (flame ionization detectors) demands complete chromatographic separation and extended run times (upwards of one hour per sample).

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain why terpenes are important in the hemp experience

2. Explain the basics for terpene analysis is hemp

3. Identify the importance of good sample preparation prior to terpene analysis

Healthcare providers are increasingly being asked from their patients for advice and recommendations for the use of cannabis in all types of conditions and disease states. One of the most challenging problems for the healthcare industry is getting evidenced-based guidance and education that will offer the practitioner comfort in knowing that they are providing proper and safe guidance to their patients. This program is designed to touch on the topics necessary for healthcare providers to consider and to be familiar with so that they a starting point to add to their educational base for an area of medicine that will only continue to grow exponentially.

Learning Objectives:

1. Overview of cannabis and its constituents

2. Review the most clinically important families of the CYP450 system that are impacted by phytocannabinoids

3. Review the different delivery methods for cannabis and their impact on onset and duration of affects

4. Review common side-effects of cannabis and how they relate to the route of administration.

Here we present a case study on the combined use of cannabis, psilocybin, and conventional oncology treatments which induced remission in a stage IV metastatic breast cancer patient. A 49-year-old woman was diagnosed with ER+, PR-, HER2+, BRCA- invasive ductal carcinoma which progressed to metastatic disease including bone, liver, and lymph node involvement. In addition to conventional oncology treatments, she began cannabis and psilocybin treatment protocols. Five months later, Pet/CT revealed no evidence of disease. A brief explanation on the cannabis chemovars that were selected and the scientific theory behind the overall adjunct strategy.

Learning Objectives:

1. Palliative and cytotoxic potential of cannabinoids, tryptamines and Ketogenic diet for ER+,HER2+,BRC1- breast cancer patients used in combination with standard of care

2. Explain current approaches with natural and plant-based medicines to improve the efficacy of standardized care in breast cancer patients

Vaporizing cannabis concentrates is increasing in popularity as a potentially healthier alternative to smoking. However, little is known about the chemical profiles of aerosolized concentrates including the levels and identities of thermal degradation products that are produced during vaping or dabbing. Our lab has focused on the mechanisms of degradant formation as a function of the different components/additives of cannabis extracts that are consumed using vaporizing devices, and the development of unique methodologies adapted to studying the consumption of cannabis.

Learning Objectives:

1. Fundamentals of aerosol science

2. Chemistry of cannabis aerosols derived from vaporizers, smoking, and grow rooms

Given that the hemp industry in the United States is still nascent, certified seed offers American farmers a way to minimize the risk of growing hemp. For hemp, certification carries additional weight because of the issue of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) compliance. Certified seed establishes a standardized feedstock suitable for servicing the emerging U.S. industrial hemp supply chain. It also provides growers access to ancillary services, like affordable insurance, consistent yields, maturity ranges, and performance specifications. Seed certification refers to the replication of a known, distinguishable variety for commercial use. This ensured seed quality and preserves genetic purity and varietal identity. This is accomplished by managing the production of a given lot so that the seed that results is uniform for the grower. This is a fundamental part of our traditional agricultural system. The yield and resulting revenue potential of a standardized crop input is higher than that of what we traditionally refer to as an heirloom variety. It helps set standardization within a given commodity at a fundamental level. In the U.S., seed certification is overseen by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) , a crop improvement trade organization that develops and promotes certified seed varieties for use in commercial agricultural, through various State-level vested member agencies in conjunction State Departments of Agriculture . Following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, AOSCA has convened the Variety Review Board, beginning the seed certification process for industrial hemp varieties. While the Interim Final Rule did not specifically address the issue of certified seed, the success of the American hemp experiment will hinge on the development of stable genetics and crop standardization, especially as the U.S. is faced with competition as it enters the global hemp economy from nations that have been leading hemp production for decades.

Learning Objectives:

1. Implications of Certified Seed for the Industrial Hemp and Cannabis Industries

2. Seed Nursery Stock: Production and Forecast Following the 2018 Farm Bill

In the post prohibition era, a vacuum of regulations, standards, and best practices is quickly being filled.  Learn how those who truly care about the cannabis industry are acting through existing non-profits to create these standards for the betterment of the cannabis industry.  We will discuss what various non-profits have been up to including the ACS, AOAC, AOCS, USP, AHPA and ASTM.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about what non-profit organizations are contributing to the cannabis industry

2. Learn how standards are developed and adopted

Every cannabis variety has unique genetics, but the plant's potential is limited by its environment. Manipulating inputs and modifying the environment is the most effective way to maximize plant yield, but the effect of the environmental delta on plant quality characteristics is often overlooked. Advances in horticultural biotechnology like growth-promoting bacterial consortia and biostimulating fertilizers allow growers to fine-tune their plant's environment to accelerate growth and yield while simultaneously enhancing quality characteristics of their crop. In addition to improving the grower's top and bottom line, the use of biostimulants and other environmental input technologies in cultivation can be leveraged to communicate a brand's commitment to quality and sustainability and help brands distinguish themselves in a competitive marketplace.

Learning Objectives:

1. Communicate how the environment limits even the best plant's potential

2. Explain how new biostimulant technology is effective and economical but also superior to traditional inputs by working in novel ways

3. Give examples of how the metabolome and volatilome are influenced by plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere and phylosphere

4. Describe how a cannabis brand's image and message of sustainability and quality start from the ground up and that a commitment to high-tech, sustainable cultivation practices and inputs can be reflected in both the brand's products and their marketing to gain a competitive advantage

With the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill legalizing hemp, farmers are allowed to grow hemp. Like any other agricultural crop, pesticides are applied to hemp plants to protect it from pests and improve growth yield. Chronic exposure to pesticides can lead to serious health risks and therefore pesticide analysis in hemp is important for consumer safety and quality control. Among all of states in USA, California has issued most stringent action limits for 66 pesticides residues in cannabis flower, cannabis infused edibles, concentrates and hemp.  Normally pesticide analysis in hemp and other food matrices is done by both GCMSMS and LCMSMS since some nonpolar and chlorinated pesticides such as pentachloronitrobenzene, chlordane and others are difficult to ionize with electrospray source used in LCMSMS systems.   We would demonstrate how we measured these compounds at low levels using LCMSMS with APCI source. The ionization mechanism of chlorinated pesticides such as pentachloronitrobenzene and others using LCMSMS system with APCI source would be presented. We analyzed all of 66 pesticides (including very hydrophobic and chlorinated pesticides typically analyzed by GCMSMS) spiked in hemp samples well below the action limits specified by California State. Hemp matrix is challenging and therefore it causes ion suppression and matrix inference for response of some of pesticides. We would demonstrate approaches to mitigate these matrix effects from hemp. Sample preparation is the main bottleneck for achieving the high throughput analysis of pesticides in hemp testing labs. For sample preparation, we used solvent extraction since it is a quick, cheap and easy way to achieve high extraction recovery in comparison to other time-consuming sample preparation techniques like solid phase extraction (SPE) and QuEChERS. Also, the performance of LC-MS/MS method was checked by conducting blind emerald scientific’s proficiency test for 66 pesticides in hemp. The proficiency test report generated with LCMSMS method showed acceptable results for all of 66 pesticides in hemp with no false positives and negatives.

Learning Objectives:

1. How to measure all of the pesticides (different polarities and molecular weight) with good sensitivity and selectivity in hemp matrix using LCMSMS method with dual ESI and APCI source?

2. Demonstrate that analysis of nonpolar pesticides (normally analyzed by GCMSMS) such as PCNB and others is selective, sensitive and linear using LCMSMS method with APCI source. Elucidate unconventional ionization mechanism of PCNB with APCI source.

3. Explain approaches to minimize matrix interference and ion suppression effects for pesticides from complex hemp matrix.

4. Present data to show that solvent extraction is fast, cheap and simple sample preparation method with good recovery for all pesticides to achieve high throughput in cannabis/hemp testing labs.

5. Present blind proficiency data obtained with LCMSMS method and emphasize the importance of participation in proficiency testing for cannabis/hemp testing labs to check the current status of their methods for pesticide analysis.

Explore the world of the vaping through a presentation where science, politics, and culture collide. Dr. Marcu guides you through a nuanced discussion of why the vaping crisis curve seems to have flattened and what we can do to help defend against it rising again. The presentation is recommended for health professionals, researchers, journalists, cannabis operators, and their employees.

Learning Objectives:

1. Be able to describe the basic components of a vape pen

2. Be able to describe the risk factors or safety issues associated with using vapes