Product Safety and Quality Control

MacCallum, Caroline A.; Lo, Lindsay A.; Betts, Fonda; Koehn, Michael F.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-69186-8_31

Cited by 4 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Cannabis has the potential of being contaminated with microorganisms. Patients who are immunocompromised (due to a health condition or immunomodulating medications) have a higher infection risk when exposed to contaminated cannabis [42]. Cannabis products from a regulated source are always preferred for these patients.…”

Section: Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Is medical cannabis safe for my patients?” A practical review of cannabis safety considerations

MacCallum

Boivin

2021

European Journal of Internal Medicine

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Medical cannabis use is increasing worldwide. Clinicians are commonly asked by patients to provide guidance on its safety and efficacy. Although there has been an increase in research on the role of medical cannabis for a number of different conditions, we found that there was a paucity of clear safety guidance on its use. We aim to address this issue by answering two pertinent clinician safety questions:1 Can medical cannabis be safely used in this patient? 2. What strategies can be used to ensure that any harms from medical cannabis are mitigated?To address these questions, we reviewed available evidence and provided expert clinical opinion to summarize the fundamental components for evaluating medical cannabis safety and strategies to reduce risk from its use. Our review resulted in a safety-focused framework for medical cannabis initiation and utilization. We provide clear recommendations for patients being considered for cannabis (e.g. precautions, contraindications and drug interactions). Risk mitigation strategies such as appropriate chemovar (strain) selection, routes of administration, and dosing are reviewed. As with any other pharmacotherapy, we review the key components of monitoring and address potential issues that may arise while using medical cannabis. We propose a structured assessment and monitoring strategy that can be used by clinicians recommending cannabis (CRC) to guide patients through each step of their cannabis journey. This framework can be used to ensure that medical cannabis utilization is associated with the lowest possible risk to the patient.

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Section: Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Is medical cannabis safe for my patients?” A practical review of cannabis safety considerations

MacCallum

Boivin

2021

European Journal of Internal Medicine

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“…With thousands of products on the market, the lack of product standardization has contributed to confusion surrounding what cannabis meets the highest quality standards for safety. 7 Jargon and terminology used to describe cannabis products vary greatly depending on the region and regulations in place, adding to the confusion. Differences in packaging requirements between regulatory bodies have further complicated efforts to distill down clear markers of regulated and quality controlled products.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Societal narratives such as cannabis being “natural” or cannabidiol (CBD) being “safe,” compared with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), may give both patients and HCPs a false sense of security. 7 Many factors dictate overall patient safety. Quality control variables such as risk of contaminants or pesticides and product details such as dose or product type play an equally important role in determining risk for the individual patient.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9 , 10 These products must accurately display cannabinoid content and be free of or within the acceptable range for contaminants, pesticides, microorganisms, and diluents or fillers. 7 , 10 , 11 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Companies have started to use terminology such as “sustainably grown” or “pesticide-free” on their products, but in many cases these terms do not reflect efficacy or purity due to lack of regulated testing. 7 Without regulations and standardized testing, it is often up to the company's internal quality assurance and processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Clinical Framework for Evaluating Cannabis Product Quality and Safety

MacCallum

Pistawka

et al. 2023

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

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Increase in medical cannabis use, along with available products, warrants the need for clinicians to be knowledgeable in evaluating the quality of any cannabis product presented in clinical practice. Determining whether a product is regulated within the region is key in assessing overall quality and safety. Regulated products are held to a higher standard including independent testing, contamination mitigation, and concentration limits. Here, we present a clinical framework in evaluating cannabis products to ascertain the quality and regulation level of the product. Evaluation includes assessing the source company, reviewing product details (e.g., type, cannabinoid content, and labeling), and assessing quality control variables such as manufacturing and decontamination processes. The quality of products patients use is an important part of mitigating cannabis-related harms, especially in medically vulnerable patients. Currently, there is a great need to implement widespread standardization and regulations to ensure product quality and safety.

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