WEEDING OUT TAINTED POT
‘Seed-to-Sale’ eyes thwarting bad bud
Tainted pot will be weeded out, the state’s top marijuana regulator says, once the “Seed-to-Sale” of legalized cannabis falls under inspectors who will monitor the quality of the drug sold in the Bay State.
“That’s the main benefit I see of turning this into a regulated legal industry,” said Steven Hoffman, head of the newly formed Cannabis Control Commission.
Hoffman said the state is required to use a technology called “Seed-to-Sale,” which tracks important information on weed, including THC levels. THC, or Tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical compound found in cannabis that is responsible for the high.
“So everything that ends up in a retail store we know exactly the genesis of it,” Hoffman said during a stop at the Herald yesterday. “By definition we’re going to make sure that the product is both safe and labeled so you know exactly what you’re getting in terms of quantity and potency.”
Regulating the industry will also allow the commission to develop four levels of licensing around marijuana products sold in stores, Hoffman said.
It will start with the cultivation process by using independent testing labs before the product hits the shelves.
Tainted marijuana, also known as “laced weed” or “dirty marijuana,” has been a concern across the country, with claims that more dangerous drugs such as fentanyl could be ending up in some of the pot being sold.
Synthetic marijuana, also know as “Spice,” uses a variety of plants sprayed with laboratory-produced chemicals that can be extremely dangerous, the national Centers for Disease Control has warned.
“Despite their playful names, such as Sexy Monkey, Black Mamba and Twilight, using any of these products can cause severe reactions,” the CDC reported. “These products are extremely harmful and anyone who has them should throw them out.”
Legalized weed is expected to be sold in Massachusetts by July.