By After two facilities’ medical cannabis products have been tested positive for heavy metals, the Missouri Health and Senior Services Department manufactures them until it can determine if the degree of contamination poses a health risk to the patient. The process has been put on hold.
What caused the suspension of production of this marijuana in Missouri?
The company’s identity has not yet been disclosed, but the reason for the administrative suspension was the discovery of a test lab that marijuana contained traces of cadmium.
Cadmium is not a rare heavy metal found in the cultivation of industrial cannabis, but it is highly carcinogenic. Like many other plants, cannabis plants draw in the heavy metals that are present in the soil in which they grow. However, this can cause dangerous levels of pollutants to be absorbed by the plant. This is of particular concern to cultivation facilities in the immediate vicinity of metal mining operations. In general, the roots and leaves of affected marijuana plants have a higher concentration of this toxic substance than flowers, but this still raises health concerns that regulators must address.
What does this mean for Missouri patients?
It is important for Missouri patients to receive high quality products with a high standard of testing and safety compared to illegal markets. Fortunately, we know that Missouri has rigorous testing standards for medical marijuana products, these safety protocols are in place, and they are implemented on all products on the shelves of licensed pharmacies. The patient can feel a little relieved.
Other metals and substances that Missouri has conducted test failure levels for marijuana products include:
- Inorganic arsenic
- cadmium
- Total chrome
- lead
- Mercury
- Abamectin
- Acephate
- Asekinosil
- Acetamiprid
- Aldicarb
- Azoxystrobin
- Biphenazate
- Bifenthrin
- Boscalid
- Carbaryl
- Carbofuran
- Chlorantrani lipol
See Missouri for a complete breakdown of Missouri’s marijuana test criteria. Health and Senior Services Department Website.
Additional resources:
Weed Blog strives to create the latest online news resources on marijuana. Also, check for various strains of cannabis or other edible counterparts. We promise to help you find valuable information about marijuana on our website. Marijuana law is constantly changing, so learn from us what you can do to promote activity in your area. Otherwise, consider these other top-class articles on cannabis:
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