Cannabis Testing Methods

This course covers all analytical and microbial testing methods of cannabis that are required by federal and state regulation laws. Chemistry testing methods include High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for potency testing, Gas Chromatography (GC) for terpene profiling, various instrumentations for pesticides and heavy metals analysis. Microbiology testing includes polymerase chain reactions (PCR_ for e,coli and salmonella and total yeast and mold determination. Instrumentation for structural characterization of cannabinoids will also be covered and include nuclear magnetic resonance Spectroscopy (NMR), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), and Mass Spectrometry (MS), Federal and State regulations for testing will also be covered. After completion of this course, students will have an understanding of current state and federal testing regulations for cannabis and a comprehensive knowledge of the testing methods for all required contaminants including a deep understanding of the instrumentation involved and interpretation of results for both passing and failing conditions.

For successful completion of this course, it is recommended that students are familiar with Organic Chemistry I or its equivalent.