Medical marijuana test results released for Palm Springs
The results from medical marijuana testing in Palm Springs have been released. While many strains may not have had troubling contaminants, some tests revealed E. coli, salmonella, yeast, and mold.
KESQ and CBS Local 2’s Joe Galli first reported the testing phase in July.
View the Cannabis Collective Testing Results
Palm Springs is the first city in the state to require laboratory testing for medical marijuana. The five licensed medical marijuana dispensaries now have to send their product for testing before selling the products to patients.
Experts from SC Labs, a company based out of Santa Cruz, were brought in to educate budtenders on the latest science in medical marijuana safety.
“Certain pathogens like E. coli and salmonella, you don’t want to see that in your cannabis supply or anything you’re consuming really. Those pathogens are relatively rare in cannabis but they do occur just as they occur in all fruits and vegetables from time to time. There are certain pathogens that are on unwashed fresh vegetables you’re going to see and there are certain ones that you’re going to really want to avoid, things like E. coli and salmonella are perfect examples of that,” said SC Labs President Josh Wurzer.
They are also looking for anything that might be dangerous. Microbes can get into the medical marijuana through open jars and during the cultivation process.
“There’s some really scary stuff that can happen when you are curing, which is when you cut down the plant, your processing it all kinds of contaminants can get in there,” said Robert Van Roo, president of Palm Springs Safe Access. “There is moisture in there and it makes this perfect breeding ground for all kinds of little things that will make you sick,” said Van Roo.
Palm Springs is the first city in California to require testing on medical cannabis, but not for long. Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 266 which requires all medical marijuana sold in the sate to be tested before it gets to patients.
