ASTM International’s D37 cannabis committee, a group that develops standards and solutions related to quality and safety for the cannabis and hemp industries, has announced five new standards.
The committee announced four standards Oct. 3:
- Standard (D8375) will “provide a method to establish cannabinoid content in cannabis and hemp samples.” The standard will benefit laboratories, producers, researchers, regulatory bodies, and consumers, according to Garnet McRae, ASTM member. The standard can be used by forensic labs to support cannabinoid research and to confirm cannabinoid content in illicit samples, according to the release.
- Standard (D8399) “will aid laboratories in analyzing cannabis and hemp samples to establish pesticide concentration levels–or lack thereof–to ensure products meet regulatory requirements within appropriate jurisdictions,” according to the release. This standard, which will benefit laboratories, producers, regulatory bodies and consumers according to McRae, will help “address health and safety concerns as well as labeling and regulatory requirements for consumable cannabis products,” according to the release.
- Standard (D8442) “will provide a method to test for terpenes and cannabinoids in cannabis using gas chromatography,” and will assist in quality control, according to Randall Shearer, ASTM International member.
- Standard (D8469) will “aid manufacturers, regulatory bodies, and other cannabis industry stakeholders by providing a new test method for metals in cannabis,” according to the release. The testing method will be used to detect dangerous metals and lead in cannabis.
The committee also recently announced a new standard Oct. 10 on medicinal-use cannabis inflorescence.
The soon-to-be-published standard, D8439, will help provide “specifications for cannabis flower that can be used to support sound and reproducible research,” according to the release.
ASTM International member David Vaillencourt said the standard would help provide consistent testing for quality and safety.