FAQ's on cannabis decontamination

What is cannabis decontamination?

Cannabis decontamination is the process of removing or reducing harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, mold, yeast, and fungi from cannabis plants and products. These contaminants can develop during cultivation, harvesting, or storage, potentially posing health risks to consumers.

Decontamination methods are used to ensure the safety and quality of cannabis products, particularly in the medical and recreational markets where strict regulations are in place. Techniques for cannabis decontamination include:

  • X-ray irradiation: A method that uses X-rays to deeply penetrate cannabis buds, effectively killing microorganisms without altering the product’s quality.
  • Radiofrequency (RF) treatment: A method that uses electromagnetic waves to reduce microbial contamination.
  • Ozone treatment: A surface-level treatment that uses ozone gas to kill mold and bacteria.


Decontamination helps extend the shelf life of cannabis products and ensures they meet safety standards for consumption, particularly for medical cannabis patients or immunocompromised individuals.

What are the various decontamination techniques for cannabis?

Cannabis mold decontamination techniques include X-ray irradiation, gamma irradiation, radiofrequency treatment, ozone treatment, e-beam irradiation, and UV Light sterilization

What is the difference between decontamination and remediation?

Decontamination is a process that removes or neutralizes dangerous substances from the marijuana without changing the actual product type or category of the marijuana. For example, after a Harvest Batch of marijuana flower has been decontaminated (after the Decontamination process is complete), the marijuana remains in the form of flower rather than having been changed into a different marijuana category (such as a Regulated Marijuana Concentrate or Marijuana Product).

Remediation is a process that removes or neutralizes dangerous substances from the marijuana and results in changing the product type or category of the marijuana. For example, after a Harvest Batch of marijuana flower has been remediated (after the Remediation process is complete), the marijuana has been transformed into a different marijuana category. Remediation is allowed in only two scenarios: (1)
Marijuana flower that failed for microbial contamination may be processed into solvent-based Regulated Marijuana Concentrate and (2)
marijuana flower that has failed for elemental impurities may be processed into Regulated Marijuana Co

What is a Secret Shopper?

A Secret Shopper is a regulator, posing as a shopper that serves to conduct random and spontaneous testing at grower sites or dispensaries. They purchase product, as a consumer, which is then tested for microbial values.

What is a PCR test and what do the results show?

A PCR test designates if microbes are present within a cannabis sample. X-ray breaks up the microbe’s DNA, to prevent it from regrowth, but it does not remove the DNA from the sample. The problem with PCR is that it cannot determine whether the microbes are alive or dead.

What is a colony forming unit (CFU)?

A measurement of the number of viable organisms on sample, proportional to the number of colonies on a plate. Consider time to dispensary and shelf time to sale. It is critical to understand the risks associated with re-growth of supposedly “cleaned product”

What is Botrytis cineria (bud rot)

It is necrotrophic – a pathogens that derive nutrients from dead or dying cells. Botrytis travels through water, air, clothing, fertilizer, container and tools. Botrytis thrives in humidity, soil and plants.

What is Powdery Mildew

Is one of the most common blights to cannabis. Powdery Mildew travels through water, air, clothing, fertilizer, container and tools. Powdery Mildew thrives in humidity, soil and plants.

What is Fusarium? (aka the stealth bomber)

Out of sight, Out of mind – hard to detect, hidden in soil, acts as “stealth bomber”. Form – comes in the form of plant & root rot. Relentless – continuously infects the plant in form of wilt or root rot. Visual Signature – its incredibly visual with white or grey foam on bud and leaves.
Fusarium travels through water, air, clothing, fertilizer, container and tools. Fusarium thrives in humidity, soil and plants.

What if I want to treat pre-rolls?

Pre-rolls can also be treated in the same method as a “full” batch. We will work with you to input preset settings for all your applications.

Why are regulations different across various regions?

In the US there is no federal mandate for cannabis. Each state is allowed to set their own regulations

How much of the cannabis market is smoked compared to other methods?

60-70% of the cannabis market is typically smoked

Of the tests, which has the highest failure rate in cannabis?

Microbials

Which method of decontamination is the biggest competitor to X-Ray?

Gamma, followed closely by ozone

What is the diameter of the drum?

The drum is 40cm

What is the maximum power of the system

17.7mA @ 225kV

Are there other container sizes?

Other sizes of containers are in development

Can I use the drum if it is not full?

If the drum is not full, we recommend packing the drum with a filler (like bubble wrap) to keep the cannabis in the middle of the drum and to keep it from moving.

Does the Product have to go inside the drum or can I put it directly on the shelf?

If you wish to put product directly on the shelf, we will need to work with you to input dose settings.

What happens if I grind my cannabis?

The denser the material (grinding) the longer it may take for a cycle to complete, since the dose gets absorbed more quickly by more dense material.

What is cannabis decontamination?

Cannabis decontamination is the process of removing or reducing harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, mold, yeast, and fungi from cannabis plants and products. These contaminants can develop during cultivation, harvesting, or storage, potentially posing health risks to consumers.

Decontamination methods are used to ensure the safety and quality of cannabis products, particularly in the medical and recreational markets where strict regulations are in place. Techniques for cannabis decontamination include:

  • X-ray irradiation: A method that uses X-rays to deeply penetrate cannabis buds, effectively killing microorganisms without altering the product’s quality.
  • Radiofrequency (RF) treatment: A method that uses electromagnetic waves to reduce microbial contamination.
  • Ozone treatment: A surface-level treatment that uses ozone gas to kill mold and bacteria.

 

Decontamination helps extend the shelf life of cannabis products and ensures they meet safety standards for consumption, particularly for medical cannabis patients or immunocompromised individuals.

What are the various decontamination techniques for cannabis?

Cannabis mold decontamination techniques include X-ray irradiation, gamma irradiation, radiofrequency treatment, ozone treatment, e-beam irradiation, and UV Light sterilization

What is the difference between decontamination and remediation?

Decontamination is a process that removes or neutralizes dangerous substances from the marijuana without changing the actual product type or category of the marijuana. For example, after a Harvest Batch of marijuana flower has been decontaminated (after the Decontamination process is complete), the marijuana remains in the form of flower rather than having been changed into a different marijuana category (such as a Regulated Marijuana Concentrate or Marijuana Product).

Remediation is a process that removes or neutralizes dangerous substances from the marijuana and results in changing the product type or category of the marijuana. For example, after a Harvest Batch of marijuana flower has been remediated (after the Remediation process is complete), the marijuana has been transformed into a different marijuana category. Remediation is allowed in only two scenarios: (1)
Marijuana flower that failed for microbial contamination may be processed into solvent-based Regulated Marijuana Concentrate and (2)
marijuana flower that has failed for elemental impurities may be processed into Regulated Marijuana Co

What is a Secret Shopper?

A Secret Shopper is a regulator, posing as a shopper that serves to conduct random and spontaneous testing at grower sites or dispensaries. They purchase product, as a consumer, which is then tested for microbial values.

What is a PCR test and what do the results show?

A PCR test designates if microbes are present within a cannabis sample. X-ray breaks up the microbe’s DNA, to prevent it from regrowth, but it does not remove the DNA from the sample. The problem with PCR is that it cannot determine whether the microbes are alive or dead.

What is a colony forming unit (CFU)?

A measurement of the number of viable organisms on sample, proportional to the number of colonies on a plate. Consider time to dispensary and shelf time to sale. It is critical to understand the risks associated with re-growth of supposedly “cleaned product”

What is Botrytis cineria (bud rot)

It is necrotrophic – a pathogens that derive nutrients from dead or dying cells. Botrytis travels through water, air, clothing, fertilizer, container and tools. Botrytis thrives in humidity, soil and plants.

What is Powdery Mildew

Is one of the most common blights to cannabis. Powdery Mildew travels through water, air, clothing, fertilizer, container and tools. Powdery Mildew thrives in humidity, soil and plants.

What is Fusarium? (aka the stealth bomber)

Out of sight, Out of mind – hard to detect, hidden in soil, acts as “stealth bomber”. Form – comes in the form of plant & root rot. Relentless – continuously infects the plant in form of wilt or root rot. Visual Signature – its incredibly visual with white or grey foam on bud and leaves.
Fusarium travels through water, air, clothing, fertilizer, container and tools. Fusarium thrives in humidity, soil and plants.

What if I want to treat pre-rolls?

Pre-rolls can also be treated in the same method as a “full” batch. We will work with you to input preset settings for all your applications.

Why are regulations different across various regions?

In the US there is no federal mandate for cannabis. Each state is allowed to set their own regulations

How much of the cannabis market is smoked compared to other methods?

60-70% of the cannabis market is typically smoked

Of the tests, which has the highest failure rate in cannabis?

Microbials

Which method of decontamination is the biggest competitor to X-Ray?

Gamma, followed closely by ozone

What is the diameter of the drum?

The drum is 40cm

What is the maximum power of the system

17.7mA @ 225kV

Are there other container sizes?

Other sizes of containers are in development

Can I use the drum if it is not full?

If the drum is not full, we recommend packing the drum with a filler (like bubble wrap) to keep the cannabis in the middle of the drum and to keep it from moving.

Does the Product have to go inside the drum or can I put it directly on the shelf?

If you wish to put product directly on the shelf, we will need to work with you to input dose settings.

What happens if I grind my cannabis?

The denser the material (grinding) the longer it may take for a cycle to complete, since the dose gets absorbed more quickly by more dense material.

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