When you select a product at a grocery store, whether it is a can of soup, a bottle of juice, or a box of cereal, you likely check the label for ingredients, nutritional facts, and any certification marks. You trust the information provided on these labels is accurate and reliable. But what happens when the information on those labels is misleading or worse, completely wrong? This is a concern that is not just limited to food products; it extends to the cannabis industry as well, where consumers rely on the certificate of analysis (COA) to ensure the safety, potency, and compliance of the products they consume. Striking but not uncommon instances of COA manipulation have surfaced, where inaccurate or fabricated results are reported to customers, either unintentionally or as a result of fraudulent behavior. 

In this podcast, we explore the critical role of COAs in ensuring product quality and safety, and discuss the potential for fraud and manipulation within the industry with Dr. Susan Audino, Chemistry Laboratory Consultant at S. A. Audino & Associates, LLC, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) at CloudLIMS. 

Dr. Audino begins by defining what a COA is and explores the alarming issue of COA fraud, its impact on public health, and how manipulations of test reports can have long-lasting repercussions on industry reputation and consumer trust. Dr. Audino delineates the ways some laboratories are under pressure to meet customer expectations, which sometimes leads to bending or breaking the rules. The discussion also covers the limitations of laboratory accreditation and throws light on how labs, regulators, and manufacturers contribute to the current challenges in the cannabis testing landscape. We also discuss the role of informatics tools such as a modern cannabis LIMS in improving transparency in the cannabis industry and ensuring consumer trust. 

Tune in to the conversation for these and more such insights and perspectives on the state of cannabis testing and the need for aligning the market’s vocabulary, values, and assumptions with ethical practices.

1. What is a COA?
2. What are some common methods of COA fraud, and what far-reaching consequences can they have for public health, regulatory compliance, and the industry’s reputation?
3. Despite well-intentioned efforts, the industry has encountered significant challenges, including litigation, THC inflation, and disparaging mudslinging. What are the factors that contribute to these challenges?
4. What are some real-world examples of how laboratories exploit the principles of analytical chemistry to meet customer needs without regard for scientific integrity and the accuracy of test results?
5. What are the limitations of laboratory accreditation and the potential risks associated with assuming that all accredited labs are equally competent?
6. How do informatics tools help authenticate results and enable consumers to verify the composition stated on product labels?
7. How do current regulatory frameworks affect the integrity of testing and reporting in the cannabis industry? Do some regulations need reform?
8. Advice for stakeholders, for example, how should laboratories operate and provide test results consumers can trust? And on the other hand, how can consumers ensure they are getting what they are paying for and consuming a safe product?

Lab managers, directors, quality managers, and technicians of cannabis testing labs.