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Grass Chromatography


            Marijuana usage has skyrocketed in many parts of the United States following the legalization of the drug in several states. However, as the marijuana market increases, scientists must continue to monitor several components of the drug, finding the gas chromatograph to be especially helpful.
Ellutia Chromatography is one of the world’s leading gas chromatograph suppliers. This year, Ellutia became one of the first companies to test using a gas chromatograph to monitor the quality of marijuana, seeking to make the use of the GC universal in the industry. Members of the cannabis industry specifically have tested the Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol hydrocarbons to analyze fragrance and flavor. However, the GC has been able to examine even more factors to ensure that marijuana is safe for consumers, including conducting potency tests and determining if certain strands were harvested prematurely. The first study by Ellutia also highlighted the presence of many pesticides and the possibility of using a mass spectrometer to detect such harmful substances. Use of the gas chromatograph will allow for stronger regulations and safer production within the marijuana industry.
Though Ellutia’s experiment offered promising results for the future of the marijuana market, some additional factors needed to be included in their study. For example, studies such as this must provide graphs or data to back their claims, comparing the effectiveness of the gas chromatograph to conventional methods. Also, since this study is one of the first in its field, it requires further testing and sources to substantiate their claims of the effectiveness of the GC. Nevertheless, the gas chromatograph presents promising tests for the marijuana industry.

Comments

  1. 1. How harmful is marijuana now?
    2. Is it likely that these new analysis methods will help to legalize marijuana?

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1. What other components did they analyze?
    2. Why did it take so long to use the GC in this field?

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1. What exactly is cannabidol (formula, elements?)


    2. Is cannabidol the main ingredient for determining potency?

    ReplyDelete
  4. 1. What methods are currently used to determine potency and to ensure safe usage?
    2. Are they any other components of marijuana that need to be considered as well? Or is cannabidiol "the main" component that contributes to the drug's effects?

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1. Could these analyses be used to re-schedule marijuana?
    2. What is it that makes these cannabidiols hazardous? What are its symptoms?

    ReplyDelete
  6. 1. Why will these companies follow in the first company's footsteps? Are they trying to achieve the same goal?
    2. Is there a guarantee that these dangerous components can be averted?

    ReplyDelete
  7. What is cannabidiol (formula, elements)?
    C21H30O2
    Cannabidiol is a chemical derived from the cannabis plant. It doesn’t have any psychoactive properties (so it won’t get you high). Companies are interested in it because it has analgesic (pain-relieving), anti-inflammatory, and many other properties that could potentially make it useful in medicine.
    https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/cannabidiol#section=Top

    Are there any other components of marijuana that need to be considered as well? Or is cannabidiol the main component that contributes to the drug’s effects?
    CBD is actually not associated with any of marijuana’s psychoactive properties. The compound that is responsible for getting you high is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which works by binding with the cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Though only THC is useful for recreational purposes, both compounds have similar medicinal uses.
    https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-vs-thc#further-clarification

    What is it that makes CBD hazardous? What are its symptoms?
    There many small studies have shown that CBD is tolerated in adults well, the most common side effects were tiredness and changes in appetite or weight.
    https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317221.php

    Why did it take so long to use the GC in this field?
    The marijuana industry, be it recreational or medicinal, is relatively new. Because marijuana is a Schedule I drug (according to the FDA it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical uses), regardless of its legality in individual states. That can make it more difficult to run tests on marijuana.
    https://www.perkinelmer.com/lab-solutions/resources/docs/APP_Cannabis-Analysis-Potency-Testing-Identifification-and-Quantification-011841B_01.pdf

    ReplyDelete

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