40th Annual NORML Conference Highlights Non-THC Cannabinoids and Cannabis Testing Industry

The 40th annual NORML conference held in Denver last week highlighted the importance and growing interest in non-THC cannabinoids with a panel devoted to the subject featuring Steve D’Angelo (Harborside Health Center), Martin Lee (Project CBD), Jahan Marcu (Cannabinoid researcher) and Samantha Miller (President of Pure Analytics).

With D’Angelo setting the timeline for the growing awareness and interest in CBD, Lee focused on the amazing medicinal benefits and shared moving testimonials received through the Project CBD website in the prolific CBDiary including one account of improvement in the quality of life of a patient with severe IBS.

Jahan Marcu of Temple University stepped the audience through the basic science of cannabinoids, introducing the lesser cannabinoids such as CBG, CBC and THCV and their known biological activity.  The NORML attendees were surprised to learn of all of the different pathways in the body that these powerful compounds affect.  Of special interest to many was the discussion of the association with seratonin receptors and the amazing pre-clinical findings on the ability of THC and CBD to eliminate breast and brain tumors.

Samantha Miller, President and Chief Scientist of Pure Analytics closed the panel with a discussion on the current landscape of the Cannabis testing industry including an “airing out” of the issues featuring the prevalance of unqualified service providers, instrument companies with predatory marketing practices hawking used equipment to dispensaries and the lack of regulation leading to confusion at the patient and dispenary level about the reliability of different analytical methods for the active ingredients in cannabis.  At the opening of her presentation Miller described an overhaul of the content to address the issues raised in a recent Denver Post news article just prior to the NORML conference.  “After I read the article I decided, this is what people are asking about both in Colorado and California, this is what I need to cover.”

Miller also presented a list of “10 questions to ask your cannabis scientist” compiled by an international team of cannabis scientists working to provide a framework for cannabis lab method validations and certifications.  “We hope these questions will develop into a simple and useful tool for patients and collectives looking for a reliable cannabis laboratory to partner with.”

Click here view a video of the panel “Marijuana, It’s Not Just THC” in its entirety from the 40th annual National NORML conference held in Denver 4/20-4/23.