The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has introduced a pioneering hemp reference material aimed at aiding laboratories in the accurate assessment of crucial components in cannabis products. This groundbreaking development is set to provide support to law enforcement agencies, cannabis regulators, and businesses in the differentiation between hemp and cannabis, all while ensuring product safety and precise labelling.
In a formal statement, Colleen Bryan, a biologist at NIST, emphasized the crucial necessity of trust in product labelling, specifically in relation to CBD dosage claims. Bryan stressed, “If you purchase a product that claims to contain 25 milligrams of CBD per dose, you should have confidence in that figure.” With the new hemp reference material, laboratories will have the capability to validate their measurement methods, enabling researchers to more accurately measure dosages in studies and confirm that product labels accurately represent the true content.
The complexity added to the industry by the legalization of hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill, with its definition as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC, has heightened the need for exact THC measurements. Meanwhile, cannabis with a higher THC content remains a controlled substance. This differentiation underscores the necessity for precise THC measurements, a task that the NIST reference material simplifies by providing standardized samples with known THC, CBD, and toxic element levels.
Echoing the sentiments expressed by Bryan, Walter Brent Wilson, a NIST chemist, explained, “A farmer’s crop or a company’s product can be confiscated or potentially destroyed if it turns out to be a ‘hot’ material, so it’s crucial to make the correct determination.” Additionally, the new material incorporates measurements for toxic elements such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium, ultimately guaranteeing the safety of cannabis products for consumers, particularly those utilizing cannabis for medical purposes.
For those interested, the NIST hemp reference material is available for purchase on their website at a cost of £583 for three 1.5-gram samples, equivalent to £130 per gram.
This advancement is a watershed moment for the industry, as it serves to ensure consumer safety while enhancing precision in cannabis product labelling. With the new hemp reference material from NIST, laboratories and businesses alike will have access to a crucial tool that ensures the accurate measurement and verification of key components in cannabis products.