AOAC BOD June 2018 Pre-Meeting Materials

2018 Business Plan - Supplemental Presentation CASA: Opportunities for AOAC in Cannabis Analysis

AOAC has been involved with the cannabis analytical community for over a year now. AOAC adopted 3 Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPRs) for cannabis analysis (see attachment 1) last year, and is working on a fourth SMPR for pesticides in cannabis. This project has provided AOAC an opportunity to become involved with and known by the fast-growing cannabis industry. Legalization of cannabis is a significant trend in the US and Canada. Cannabis is either legal in some form, or on the ballot for legalization, in 23 US states (see map), and in Canada this summer. There are many foods such as edible chocolate and brownies that incorporate cannabis. Many US states have started programs to test the safety of cannabis food products. The US federal government would normally provide technical expertise for food safety analysis. However, possession of cannabis is still a federal crime in the US, and therefore the US federal government has declined to become involved with testing of cannabis products. This has led to a chaotic situation for the states and contract testing laboratories. There is no federal oversight, nor a forum for discussion of common problems for the analysis of cannabis products. The lack of federal oversight and lack of a forum is leading to many questions (see article in attachment 3). There is an opportunity for AOAC to become more involved in the cannabis analytical community by providing a forum for discussion of common analytical problems. AOAC’s staff will present some new and exciting solutions for the cannabis community during the next Board of Director’s meeting.

AOAC Board of Directors June 12-13, 2018

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