Click on the above photo to go to view video. Consuming moldy cannabis is a health risk regardless of whether it is smoked or ingested. Assured Bio Labs, conducts routine analysis of microbial contaminated products. If a product is found to be contaminated with E.coli and Salmonella, the first question I would ask, is whether the product is meant for human consumption. Obviously, cannabis is in Colorado. However, cooking and processing cannabis into an edible product will likely kill any viable bacteria and molds, just like cooking chicken kills Salmonella. The problem with molds is that they produce a variety of toxins known as mycotoxins. Mycotoxin production depends on which mold species are present, and the growing conditions. Moreover, like mushroom poisons, many mycotoxins are not affected by heat. For example, aflatoxin, produced by the mold, Aspergillus flavus, is an extremely potent carcinogen. Harsh chemicals are required to destroy it. Consumers should be aware of these risks, and hopefully, Colorado legislators will takes steps to ensure mold-free cannabis products.
Mold contaminated marijuana is a concern in Colorado.
About the Author: Edward Sobek, PhD, MBA
Dr. Edward Sobek has 25 years of experience in microbiology and indoor air quality. He has a master’s degree in Plant Pathology from Iowa State University, where he studied Fusarium disease transmission in field crops. He received his doctorate degree from Texas Tech University where he studied the ecology of desert molds (mitosporic fungi). He obtained his Executive MBA in Healthcare leadership from the University of Tennessee's presidious Haslam School of Business in 2016. Dr. Sobek is an active researcher. He holds the appointment of Senior Research Scientist with the University of Tennessee’s Center for Environmental Biotechnology CEB and has developed and patented several mold detection technologies. He is a sought after speaker on the scientific circuit by educational and governmental organizations that are anxious to learn how to use DNA to detect mold in residential and commercial properties. He has also published a variety of scientific papers, book chapters, white papers, and trade articles for the IAQ industry.
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