ATOZ Laboratories, Inc.

An update from the CCC regarding moisture correction. This is a great step towards enhancing industry standards. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

At ATOZ, we want to tell you the information you want to know about. Please leave us some feedback about the content you'd like to see more of? Leave a comment if you have another suggestion!

Residual solvents testing is a required compliance test in Massachusetts to protect consumer safety. Solvents, including butane, ethanol, isopropanol, hexane, and heptane, are used to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from flower to create concentrate. Typically, these concentrates are then left to off-gas or allow the solvent to evaporate. Solvent that is left over in the final product is known as residual solvent and can cause harmful effects when inhaled or otherwise consumed. The residual solvents required to be tested for (with Massachusetts limits) include: Propane (12 mg/kg) Isobutane (12 mg/kg) Methanol (3000 mg/kg) Butane (12 mg/kg) Acetonitrile (410 mg/kg) Ethanol (5000 mg/kg) Acetone (5000 mg/kg) Isopropanol (5000 mg/kg) Hexane (290 mg/kg) Heptane (5000 mg/kg) Most of the solvents included on the list of required compliance compounds pose a potential hazard to human health. Prolonged exposure to these solvents may cause respiratory issues, dizziness, and nausea. The solvents used for cannabis extraction are typically safe in low dosage. However, when a product is not tested or if a batch is not thoroughly homogenized, consumers run the risk of consuming the solvents in a much higher amount, leading to negative side effects. Ethanol for example, poses few health risks, but a study has shown that continuous ethanol exposure can cause cravings or dependence. It should be noted that these claims are reported examine exposure levels that are significantly higher than what is allowed in concentrates. (https://lnkd.in/dcb5Y9z) Butane is a solvent that causes many residual solvent testing failures in Massachusetts due to its low action limit and common use. Some studies have reported that high butane exposure can result in cardiac issues or organ failures, but evidence is limited. Butane also tends to hide in pockets within the product and may not be homogenous throughout the sample, which can lead to unrepresentative testing results. (https://lnkd.in/eCEY5rgU) Other solvents such as acetone and isopropanol can cause throat, nose, and lung irritation if inhaled in high concentrations. However, some solvents such as hexane and isobutane have the ability to cause more serious health risks. Hexane, if inhaled consistently and in high amounts can cause permanent nerve damage. Isobutane can also cause loss of consciousness and irregular heartbeat if inhaled in large amounts. However, these solvents most commonly cause nose and throat irritation, dizziness, and headaches if inhaled. To remain safe, make sure your cannabis products are tested at an accredited laboratory before consumption. If you have any questions about residual solvents please reach out to our team at [email protected].

What is degradation of cannabinoids, and why is it important? Degradation refers to the transformation of one cannabinoid into another due to environmental, storage, or other ambient conditions. In cannabis flower, THCA decarboxylates into d9-THC, where a carbon dioxide molecule is removed from THCA to turn it into d9-THC. In turn, d9-THC can degrade into other cannabinoids, such as CBN and THCV, through exposure to a variety of conditions. This degradation process highlights the necessity of proper cannabis storage, as exposure to light, fluctuating temperatures, or increased humidity for extended periods of time can change cannabinoid ratios in cannabis flower. For a real-life example, we can look at a hypothetical cannabis flower sample that is tested in a lab in January, with a reported THCA content of 25% and a d9-THC content of 1%. The sample may then be stored in a vault and eventually put on the shelves in a dispensary in August of the same year. If the sample is submitted for follow-up lab testing from a separate lab or even the same lab, the newer lab test may result in significantly lower THCA content and/or higher THC content. This could arise due to various factors, including: (1)  THCA degrades into d9-THC over time and may degrade more significantly based on storage conditions. (2)  The sample submitted to the original lab test in January is not the exact same bud from the same plant that ended up on dispensary shelves in August, so natural potency variability across the plant could result in two different lab values. (3)  If two different labs test the two samples, they may have different extraction and/or analysis methods when collecting potency data, which could cause different results. (4)  One of the samples may have a higher moisture content, which would offset the ratio of cannabinoids to water in the product, causing different results.   There are many reasons that a sample from the same batch as the lab tested sample may be different for off the shelf testing. To eliminate some of this variability, we strongly support standardized sampling protocols and test methods. If you are curious about any results or have any questions about your product, feel free to message us, leave a comment, or email us and we would be happy to help! 

Water activity testing is a crucial aspect of cannabis quality control by assessing the level of free moisture within a product. This measure indicates the potential for microbial growth, making it instrumental in ensuring product safety and stability. A higher water activity value signifies an increased risk of microbial contamination, which could lead to spoilage over time.  Water activity testing also aids in optimizing drying processes, striking a balance between sufficient moisture content for product quality and low enough water activity to prevent microbial proliferation. This testing is particularly important in the cannabis industry, as it helps maintain the integrity of the product over its shelf life, ensuring that it remains free from harmful microorganisms and meets quality standards even after extended storage periods.  Monitoring water activity during the cannabis drying and curing process is important in controlling conditions which promote the growth of mold, yeast, and bacteria, but it is also helpful in maintaining terpene content. Over-drying leads to terpene loss, while under-drying can lead to spoilage by mold, yeast, and/or bacteria. Get ahead of the impending changes in Massachusetts’s cannabis testing requirements and ask us about water activity testing today! 

Just in case you’re a little confused with the CCC’s newest bulletin regarding potency and moisture correction, ATOZ’s lab manager Meredith breaks it down for us! If you have any questions or comments please let us know and our chemists would be happy to help you.

NEW: a bulletin released today by the CCC provides new guidance for laboratory Total THC and Total CBD calculations, as well as the use of moisture correction in plant material potency results. We’re thankful that the CCC has provided this guidance and know that it is an excellent step towards testing standardization in Massachusetts. Check it out below ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ekNSkKUs

As a follow-up to our last poll, we wanted to provide insight into the two most commonly selected answers. Microbiological Contaminants: Microbiological contaminants can enter a product at many stages of growing, manufacturing, production, or transport. Some causes may include improper handling, storage, and environmental conditions. BTGN (bile tolerant gram negative) bacteria and coliform contamination are most commonly caused by improper handling. To combat BTGN and coliform failures, proper handling with gloves and personal protective equipment are recommended. YM (yeast and mold) failures are likely due to environmental conditions and can be improved with further controls. Residual Solvents: Solvents tend to linger in the cannabis product longer than many manufacturers and consumers expect. In Massachusetts, certain solvent limits are more strict than some other states, particularly with butane, which is a common extraction solvent. In California, the limit for butane is 5000 ppm, while in Massachusetts the butane limit is 12 ppm. This limit can be difficult to reach, especially since butane isn't always evenly distributed throughout the batch. To combat this, our lab thoroughly homogenizes the sample and will confirm results close to the limit in triplicate. Allowing a sample to purge longer will allow the extraction solvent to evaporate and leave the product, leading to more passing results!

Which analysis do you think has the average highest failure rate? Leave a comment if you have any questions or concerns about these contaminants and let our chemists help you! https://atoz-labs.com/

Here is a quick breakdown of some very common terpenes! At ATOZ, we test these terpenes (and many more) to ensure you know what is in your cannabis product. If you have any questions, please reach out or comment below with terpenes that you want to know about.