18^th World Analytical Chemistry & Mass Spectrometry

The imminent legal Cannabis Sector is projected to be worth 6 to 20 billion dollars in Canada alone. The highly regulated nature of this sector demands rigorous quality control measures that require advanced analytical mass spectrometry and other techniques to ensure product safety. The nature of the Cannabis plant and its current status as an illegal and controlled narcotic in many countries, add a level of complexity to the development of analytical protocols. This talk will highlight some of the challenges facing this sector and some of the approaches to overcome these. Specifically, issues with potency testing, quantifying medicinal dose delivery, pesticide testing, development of Certified Reference Materials and the importance of ISO 17025 accreditation and international standard development will all be discussed.