About Medical Marijuana
Marijuana has existed and been consumed, both medicinally and
recreationally, for millennia. While there are many species and varieties of the marijuana plant, the most popular
are cannabis sativa and cannabis indica (cannabis is the botanical name of
marijuana). The Sativa plant is taller with thinner leaves and tends to contain more THC, having
a stronger psychoactive effect. Indica is a shorter plant with thicker leaves and generates more CBN,
historically known and used for it's pain relieving effects.
In ancient China, marijuana was grown and used as a treatment for
numerous ailments ranging from gout to malaria. Evidence from East India shows successful uses of medicinal
cannabis dating all the way back to the first millennium BC. Descriptions of medicinal cannabis can be
found in the classical Roman medical texts of Galen and Dioscorides. They suggested the use of the "juice
of the seed" to treat such concerns as earaches and lagging libido. It was also prescribed for its
analgesic benefits.
Writings of the ancient Assyryans also mention cannabis as "qunnabu", and some biblical historians
believe that "qunnabu" also means "kaneh bosn", or "aromatic cane" as in Exodus 30:23.
In 1994, evidence of an archeological nature was found that points to medical marijuana use in third century AD
Egypt. The tomb of a young woman that had died while giving birth was found to contain hashish, a concentrated
cannabis resin, likely used to help ease the pain of childbirth. Cannabis was also popular during the
Victorian Era to relieve a myriad of conditiond, such as asthma, migraines, neuralgia, insomnia and the
discomforts of menstruation.
Why Test Your Marijuana?
SAFETY
There are three basic points to consider when it comes to determining the safety of medical marijuana:
- Microbes
- Chemical growth additives
- Residual solvents
MICROBES
Bacteria, fungi, and mold are stubborn, tough to control, and sometimes are found in even the
most well maintained gardens. Through the lens of a high-powered dissecting microscope, we scrutinize all
samples and report the discovery of any disease, microbes, foreign fibers, pests, or evidence of
mishandling.
CHEMICAL GROWTH ADDITIVES
Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other chemical additives are widely used at each stage of growth
to stimulate plant growth or stunt parasitic growth. While the marijuana plant will respond to these chemicals
and get bigger or more potent, these elements are most often poisonous to people. We test cannabis samples
for these chemicals with the use of microscopic analysis, HPLC, gas chromatography and
headspace analysis.
RESIDUAL SOLVENTS
Making oils from cannabis leaves and flowers is one way of concentrating the desired elements that
naturally occur in marijuana. Many different solvents can be used to extract these cannabinoids and terpenes,
however, the process of eliminating potentially harmful elements of the solvents is a challenge that can
affect your health. Iron Labs performs Headspace Gas Chromotography tests, among others, to identify residual
solvents and their potentially hazardous components.
QUALITY
If a medicine works, it contains the right ingredients. Iron Labs performs an array of tests
to find the existence and quantities of various cannabinoids in marijuana leaves, flowers, edible
products and concentrates. These findings and readings are important for your knowledge, to understand the
potential benefit that the product can offer.
THE ENTOURAGE EFFECT
Cannabinoids are elements that occur naturally in marijuana plants to produce the health and familiar
psychoactive effects. Not only are the cannabinoids effective on their own, but they seem to have other
specific, healthy impacts in different combinations and ratios. In other words, they are good alone and they may be
even better for you in various combinations. This is what is now known as “The Entourage Effect.” Of the nearly
five hundred known elements in cannabis, over sixty-five of them are cannabinoids, and they all seem to work more
effectively with each other than independently.
CONSISTENCY
Quality control is a vital component of any laboratory environment. To assure that we meet our exacting
standards every day, IRON Laboratories employs key processes and steps that are mandatory. Our machines are
recalibrated at least daily, sometimes more often, depending on the number of tests performed. Should the machines
perform outside of specific established parameters, they are immediately rechecked and recalibrated. Samples are
tested multiple times to deliver accurate results. All testing methods are validated using the “Recommended
Methods for the Identification and Analysis of Cannabis and Cannabis Products” issued by the United Nations DOC,
2009.
|