AOAC CASP Meeting Minutes, March 2020

VII. Report from the Cannabinoids in Consumables Working Group – Holly Johnson, AHPA

Johnson joined remotely to provide a presentation on the work of the Cannabinoids in Consumables Working Group. She began by thanking the members of the working group, which is also one of AOAC’s largest, and reviewed the work competed by the group since the last CASP meeting. The group has held five (5) teleconferences and drafted one (1) SMPR, Determination of Moisture in Hemp and Cannabis Plant Materials. The applicability is determination of less than 15% moisture in dried, ground hemp and cannabis plant materials. She then reviewed parts of the 2018 Farm Bill, specifically the AMA definition of hemp: The term ‘hemp’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. She noted that the high-THC industry has no requirement for results on a dry weight basis and may report on an as-is basis, and that it is hypothesized that precision in total THC reporting may be influenced by moisture determination methods. She then reviewed the SMPR – the definitions, the performance requirements, validation guidance (which emphasized that precision data are critical to this SMPR), and the comments that have been submitted. The floor was then opened for discussion. Stakeholders suggested that this SMPR may only cover part of the problem, and a fully developed STOP starting with materials fresh from the field harvest all the way to reporting total THC on a dry weight basis is what is needed. In particular, instructions for dealing with the material before it gets to the 4-12% is what the community needs. The group discussed this and a vote on the SMPR was called, with only five (5) stakeholders in favor of moving this SMPR forward as it stands. The group agreed to send this SMPR back to the Cannabinoids in Consumables Working Group for further work before approval. Audino then gave a presentation on the new CASP Training & Education Working Group. She stated the objective of the working group: The Cannabis Analytical Science Program endeavors to provide opportunity and forum to share information within the scientific community, regulatory bodies, AOAC Stakeholders, and other general interested parties. Members of the working group will identify subject material, target audience(s), and delivery modality. General concepts would include consensus method development, basic analytical methodology, and operating a testing lab in a regulated environment. She reviewed target audiences, which will include AOAC stakeholders, regulators, and the broader cannabis scientific community; as well as training modalities, which may include webinars, short courses, classroom seminars, and hands on training. The next steps will be to continue to populate the working group with volunteers 8 , to solicit stakeholder feedback, and to have the working group prioritize subject matter that can VIII. Introduction to the Training & Education Working Group – Susan Audino, Audino & Associates

8 Working Group Sign Up Form - https://form.jotform.com/91005746932154

Predecisional Draft, Do Not Distribute

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