CV Sciences and Alkemist Labs Form Partnership to Support the NIST’s CannaQAP
CV Sciences, Inc. (San Diego, CA) has announced an ongoing partnership with Alkemist Labs (Garden Grove, CA) to collaborate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on efforts to help cannabis testing labs demonstrate and improve measurement capabilities and comparability. The tools developed by this NIST cannabis program will support measurements establishing legal, commerce, and safety claims through the development of fit-for-purpose analytical methodologies, production of Reference Materials, and implementation of NIST’s Cannabis Quality Assurance Program (CannaQAP).
As part of this collaboration, CV Sciences will prepare and provide hemp oil samples that NIST will distribute to laboratories that participate in CannaQAP. In addition, Alkemist Labs will provide initial measurements of cannabinoid levels in those samples.
Currently, marijuana and THC remain on the controlled substances list, although medical marijuana is legal in 33 states and recreational marijuana is legal in 11 states as well as the District of Columbia. The 2018 Farm Bill defined hemp as cannabis containing not more than 0.3 percent THC and removed hemp from the controlled substances list. These legal changes have required laboratories throughout the United States to implement quantitative analytical methods to distinguish cannabis raw material and finished products as marijuana or hemp.
“As one of the first accredited cannabis testing labs in California, Alkemist Labs has a long history as a strong advocate for rigorous laboratory standards for cannabis products,” said Alkemist Labs CEO Elan Sudberg. “We’re very pleased to be partnering with CV Sciences and NIST on this important effort to ensure that labs have the fit-for-purpose test methods they need to support high quality standards of cannabis products.”
CannaQAP will improve the accuracy and capability of cannabis product testing, which supports industry transparency and protects consumers. The CannaQAP will benefit forensic laboratories that are developing analytical methods to distinguish hemp from marijuana through quantitative measurements or screening thresholds; quality control laboratories testing cannabis products for strength and composition; regulatory laboratories testing for product compliance; and researchers conducting clinical trials on the safety and benefits of cannabis products.
“As the most trusted hemp-derived CBD company, CV Sciences was honored to be invited to partner with Alkemist Labs to assist NIST in its efforts to improve cannabis testing throughout the industry,” said Douglas Mackay, ND, senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for CV Sciences. “We are dedicated to moving the CBD industry forward through science and advancing NIST’s CannaQAP program will play a pivotal role in helping the industry improve the scientific rigor and reproducibility between cannabis testing labs.”
For more information, visit www.nist.gov/programs-projects/nist-tools-cannabis-laboratory-quality-assurance.
