Well placed to
test your cannabis
Marco interviews
Scott Richardson
Client
Services Manager at Hill Laboratories
Pictured: Scott Richardson & Stephen Haylett-Petty (Project Manager)
standing next to 'Penfold' an LC-MS/MS, one of our instruments that can be used
for cannabinoid analysis.
“S
ince hearing about the Misuse of Drugs
Amendment bill in the media, we’ve followed it
carefully. We knew that if the medicinal [cannabis]
industry was established in New Zealand, it would have
significant benefits for our primary sector and that the
analytical testing industry would need to play a key role”
says Scott.
18
“In the medicinal area, there are broad and thorough testing
requirements to ensure quality, safety and efficacy. Requirements
include testing for cannabinoids, toxins, heavy metals and pesticides.
"At Hill Laboratories, we are well placed to accommodate this industry.
We have the people and assets already in place at our main Hamilton
laboratory and have a great deal of experience with over 30 years of
testing. We’ve talked to people in the industry to see what type of
analyses would be needed and on what scale.
"It’s been eight months since we started validating our cannabinoid
methods. Validating our cannabinoid testing methods has been
challenging because swapping samples with other credible
laboratories is a key part of ensuring methods are validated. As
you can imagine, there are tight controls around moving hemp and
cannabis making this process difficult however, by the time this article
is published, we should be close to having testing services available
commercially.
Going forward, we are offering our services to the medicinal cannabis
industry and the hemp industry,” Scott says. He also points out that
the draft regulations for that will be released by the time this is
published.
“Initially we will be set up to test plant material however, our method
will stretch out to include oils and hemp seed products. For example,
in the hemp market you have hulled seed, oils, flours and protein
powders that need to be validated for CBD and THC. On the medicinal
side of things we will be testing for a whole array of cannabinoids, like
THC, THCa, CBD, CBC and a range of minor cannabinoids of interest.
We also expect to be testing for terpenes, pesticides, heavy metals and
residual solvents”.
Terpenes are volatile, aromatic oils that produce strong effects on
the body. They affect receptors and neurotransmitters in the brain,
mimicking antidepressants like Prozac and Elavil. Researchers want to
determine exactly how each terpene works, and how they play off each
other.
“We are really excited to be working in this evolving industry, and
will continue to support its growth as much as we can. This is a great
opportunity not only for New Zealand patients, but for New Zealand to
create its next; world leading market” q
19