https://www.limswiki.org/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=AvaughanLIMSWiki - User contributions [en]2026-04-05T19:52:03ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.36.1https://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Template:Latest_news&diff=58101Template:Latest news2024-02-19T16:37:34Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
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<div><h2 style="font-size:105%; font-weight:bold; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em; width:50%;">November 20, 2023:</h2><br />
[[File:Fig3 Liscouski SciStudGuideLabInfo23.png|left|180px]] '''Are you studying some sort of [[laboratory]]-based science in university?''' How well do your classes address [[laboratory informatics]] topics, particularly in the scope of industrial labs and how they operate outside of academia? If you find the discussion lacking, then his guide by industry veteran Joe Liscouski will be worth a look. In his guide ''[[LII:A Science Student's Guide to Laboratory Informatics|A Science Student's Guide to Laboratory Informatics]]'', Liscouski presents "an annotated map of the laboratory portion of a technological world, identifying critical points of interest and how they relate to one another, while making recommendations for the reader to learn more." Hope you find it useful! [[User:Shawndouglas|Shawn Douglas]] ([[User talk:Shawndouglas|talk]]) 18:48, 20 November 2023 (UTC)<br />
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<h2 style="font-size:105%; font-weight:bold; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em; width:50%;">July 26, 2023:</h2><br />
[[File:Man and Woman Shaking Hands.jpg|left|180px]] '''Do you feel your lab needs [[laboratory informatics]] software but you're not sure how to justify it to management?''' Then [[LII:Justifying_LIMS_Acquisition_and_Deployment_within_Your_Organization|this new guide]] from Joe Liscouski and Shawn Douglas may be just what you need. Justification for a [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) or some other lab management solution isn't always straightforward with upper management and critical stakeholders; the process will need to be succinct and relevant, based on organizational goals, economic concerns, and practical realities. This guide will help you—whether you are a lab manager, lab technician, or someone else in the organization with a stake in seeing [[laboratory]] operations improve—understand what a LIMS is, what the alternatives are, what and why acquiring one looks like, and what needs to be considered in putting together a competent and persuasive LIMS project proposal. This guide also includes a handy Microsoft Excel workbook that will help act as a "cheat sheet" for persuading stakeholders to better buy into your vision of LIMS acquisition and deployment within your organization. Enjoy! [[User:Shawndouglas|Shawn Douglas]] ([[User talk:Shawndouglas|talk]]) 16:32, 26 July 2023 (UTC)<br />
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<br /></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Template:Latest_news&diff=58100Template:Latest news2024-02-19T16:34:07Z<p>Avaughan: Add guide URL link to "this new guide"</p>
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<div><h2 style="font-size:105%; font-weight:bold; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em; width:50%;">November 20, 2023:</h2><br />
[[File:Fig3 Liscouski SciStudGuideLabInfo23.png|left|180px]] '''Are you studying some sort of [[laboratory]]-based science in university?''' How well do your classes address [[laboratory informatics]] topics, particularly in the scope of industrial labs and how they operate outside of academia? If you find the discussion lacking, then his guide by industry veteran Joe Liscouski will be worth a look. In his guide ''[[LII:A Science Student's Guide to Laboratory Informatics|A Science Student's Guide to Laboratory Informatics]]'', Liscouski presents "an annotated map of the laboratory portion of a technological world, identifying critical points of interest and how they relate to one another, while making recommendations for the reader to learn more." Hope you find it useful! [[User:Shawndouglas|Shawn Douglas]] ([[User talk:Shawndouglas|talk]]) 18:48, 20 November 2023 (UTC)<br />
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<h2 style="font-size:105%; font-weight:bold; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em; width:50%;">July 26, 2023:</h2><br />
[[File:Man and Woman Shaking Hands.jpg|left|180px]] '''Do you feel your lab needs [[laboratory informatics]] software but you're not sure how to justify it to management?''' Then [[https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LII:Justifying_LIMS_Acquisition_and_Deployment_within_Your_Organization|this new guide]] from Joe Liscouski and Shawn Douglas may be just what you need. Justification for a [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) or some other lab management solution isn't always straightforward with upper management and critical stakeholders; the process will need to be succinct and relevant, based on organizational goals, economic concerns, and practical realities. This guide will help you—whether you are a lab manager, lab technician, or someone else in the organization with a stake in seeing [[laboratory]] operations improve—understand what a LIMS is, what the alternatives are, what and why acquiring one looks like, and what needs to be considered in putting together a competent and persuasive LIMS project proposal. This guide also includes a handy Microsoft Excel workbook that will help act as a "cheat sheet" for persuading stakeholders to better buy into your vision of LIMS acquisition and deployment within your organization. Enjoy! [[User:Shawndouglas|Shawn Douglas]] ([[User talk:Shawndouglas|talk]]) 16:32, 26 July 2023 (UTC)<br />
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<br /></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel3&diff=45138User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel32021-12-03T18:53:11Z<p>Avaughan: Changed "phenomena" (plural) to "phenomenon" (singular)</p>
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<div>[[File:IBM 1130 (16758008839).jpg|right|thumb|IBM 1130 desk-sized computer from the mid-1960s and '70s]]Computers in the laboratory are not a recent phenomenon. The mid-1960s saw clinical laboratory computerization become increasingly popular<ref name="KriegClinical74">{{cite book |chapter=Chapter 30: Clinical Laboratory Computerization |title=Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods |author=Krieg, A.F. |editor=Davidsohn, I.; Henry, J.B. |publisher=W.B. Saunders Company |pages=1340–58 |year=1974 |isbn=0721629229}}</ref><ref name="FlynnComputer65">{{cite book |chapter=Computer-assisted processing of bio-chemical test data |title=Progress in Medical Computing |author=Flynn, F.V. |editor=Atkins, H.J.B. |publisher=Blackwell Science Ltd |page=46 |year=1965 |isbn=0632001801}}</ref><ref name="WilliamsTheUse64">{{cite journal |title=The Use of Data Processing and Automation in Clinical Pathology |journal=Military Medicine |author=Williams, G.Z. |volume=129 |issue=6 |pages=502–9 |year=1964 |doi=10.1093/milmed/129.6.502}}</ref><ref name="HicksRoutine66">{{cite journal |title=Routine Use of a Small Digital Computer in the Clinical Laboratory |journal=JAMA |author=Hicks, G.P.; Gieschen, M.M.; Slack, W.V. et al. |volume=196 |issue=11 |pages=973–78 |year=1966 |doi=10.1001/jama.1966.03100240107021}}</ref><ref name="StraumfjordElectronic67">{{cite journal |title=Electronic Data Processing System for Clinical Laboratories: A System Used for All Laboratory Sections |journal=American Journal of Clinical Pathology |author=Straumfjord, J.V.; Spraberry, M.N.; Biggs, H.G.; Noto, T.A. |volume=47 |issue=5_ts |pages=661–76 |year=1967 |doi=10.1093/ajcp/47.5_ts.661}}</ref>, though that enthusiasm was often based on the potential of the computers rather than their actual capabilities.<ref name="KriegClinical74" /> Researchers imagined potentials such as automatic specimen label generation, daily log and report management, instrument interfacing and data processing, results comparisons, and time management tools. It would take time for some of those potentials to be realized.<ref name="KriegClinical74" /><br />
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In 1970, Temple University Medical School's Marion Ball, M.A., an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Physics, conducted a survey of pathology directors in clinical laboratories that use computers. Asking their opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of computerized systems in the lab, she received responses from directors in 15 U.S. states, as well as from three other countries. Responses included<ref name="BallASurvey70">{{cite journal |title=A Survey of Field Experience in Clinical Laboratory Computerization |journal=Laboratory Medicine |author=Ball, M.J. |volume=1 |issue=11 |pages=25–27, 49–51 |year=1970 |doi=10.1093/labmed/1.11.25}}</ref>:<br />
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<blockquote>''The ability to rapidly prepare cumulative records and then to inspect them for possible errors through analysis trends has been proven to be of tremendous advantage in a number of laboratories. We can prevent errors in our analytical systems, but we are not prepared to prevent errors in the collecting of the sample, the mislabeling of the sample, or the accidental use of an incorrect sample. Thus, the ability to inspect data trends presents the only real tool that we currently have to pick out these kinds of errors.'' - Max E. Chilcote, Ph.D, Meyer Memorial Hospital Division</blockquote><br />
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<blockquote>''There is little argument about whether an operating computer system can be an advantage in a laboratory, but the most critical time is the installation and transition from a "manual" to a "computer" oriented laboratory.'' - Robert L. Habig, Duke University Medical Center</blockquote><br />
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<blockquote>''The most pressing future need for computerization of the laboratory lies in the area of medical diagnosis and guidance of the therapeutic management. This is where the physician's role for the future in the laboratory lies ... We will be gathering vast amounts of information on the health status of many individuals. We can then take advantage of large data processing computers to analyze this information and come up with patterns of disease states.'' - Leonard Jarett, M.D., Barnes Hospital</blockquote><br />
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Reading about these potentials and opinions today, some 50 years later, we see both clear similarities and definite advances. For example, Habig's statement about transitioning from manual to more automated processes still rings true today: it can be nerve wracking and critical to get the transition right. Conversely, while the systems of decades past weren't able to "prevent errors in the collecting of the sample, the mislabeling of the sample, or the accidental use of an incorrect sample," modern [[laboratory informatics]] systems provide many assurances to sample management in the lab. In many cases, activities such as label generation, reporting, results analysis, [[workflow]] control, test ordering, and broad interoperability are commonplace in modern systems.<ref name="JonesInformatics14">{{cite journal |title=Informatics and the Clinical Laboratory |journal=The Clinical Biochemist Reviews |author=Jones, R.G.; Johnson, O.A.; Batstone, G. |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=177–92 |year=2014 |pmc=25336763 |pmid=PMC4204239}}</ref> And those systems continue to advance, with [[machine learning]] now finding its way into a few laboratory data management and [[Data analysis|analysis]] workflows.<ref name="BurtonNHS18">{{cite web |url=https://towardsdatascience.com/nhs-laboratories-need-data-science-c93f7983302c |title=NHS Laboratories Need Data Science |author=Burton, R. |work=Towards Data Science |date=19 July 2018 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="CuffAugment18">{{cite web |url=https://www.nextplatform.com/2018/06/19/augmenting-pathology-labs-with-big-data-and-machine-learning/ |title=Augmenting Pathology Labs with Big Data and Machine Learning |author=Cuff, J. |work=The Next Platform |date=18 June 2018 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><br />
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We've come a long way since the 1960s, to a point where the question is no longer "can a computerized system help my lab?" but rather "how do I choose and implement an informatics system to help my lab?" What follows is information to help you with that question, while considering the technology, features, security, cost, implementation, and vendor guarantees that come with such a system.<br />
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==2.1 Evaluation and selection==<br />
What exactly is a [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) or [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) anyway? Do I need one? What options are available and how do I compare them? What about a request for information (RFI), request for proposal (RFP), or request for quotation (RFQ)? These are questions [[laboratory]] professionals typically ponder upon finding themselves charged with the mission of finding software for their lab. For many the task can be a daunting proposition.<br />
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You may know the workflow-related needs of your laboratory, but perhaps you don't know much about [[Information management|data management]] solutions like LIS and LIMS, leaving you intimidated by all the options. You'll first need to gauge your lab's informatics needs in order to determine which products are worth investigating further. Of course your lab's analysi requirements, reporting and data sharing constraints, instrument interfacing needs, [[Barcode|barcoding]] and tracking requirements, quality assurance processes, etc. are very important factors. But these systems vary in numerous ways, and other important factors exist. Price should certainly be considered, although value is ultimately more important than a low price. Other important question that get asked include: <br />
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*Should we purchase software licenses or "rent" the software via a subscription-based model?<br />
*Does the software need to be on-site, or is a [[Software as a service|SaaS]] hosted option more practical?<br />
*Is a modular or complete system better for us?<br />
*What is the best licensing/rental scheme for us? Should we consider site, named user, concurrent user, or workstation licenses?<br />
*Is the company qualified and trustworthy?<br />
*What functionality is available to help our lab not only accomplish workflow tasks but also remain regulatory compliant?<br />
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These and other questions are addressed in this chapter.<br />
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===2.1.1 Technology considerations===<br />
Your laboratory's [[workflow]], instruments, data management requirements, budget, technological expertise, business goals, and risk tolerances will all play a role in deciding what technology to invest in. The [[Physician office laboratory|physician office lab]] (POL), with its easy-to-use point-of-care testing and relatively simplified laboratory procedures, will invest significantly less into analyzers, instruments, and laboratory software than the molecular diagnostics laboratory, for example. As such, look at your laboratory's short- and long-term goals, budget, workflow, and regulatory requirements to gain a better understanding of what technology will be involved.<br />
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First, what are the laboratory's goals? Does the laboratory owner envision a small investment, taking in a slow but steady flow of simple clinical tests of human fluids, or expansive growth, expanding into multiple testing domains? If the lab is starting small but is confidently expecting to grow, technological investments early on may want to take into account future technologies that may shape data management and security processes. Second, what kind of work will the lab be doing, and what regulatory responsibilities will guide hardware and software investment at the lab? If your lab will be testing medical cannabis for the state or province's associated program, you'll be considering [[chromatography]] and [[spectroscopy]] instruments, as well as regulatory requirements for complete track-and-trace activities, including reporting. The [[public health laboratory]] will likely have many more instruments to cover all its testing needs, and its data management system will likely need to be able to use the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]]'s PHIN Messaging System. Third, your laboratory's budget is ever important. Does the budget allow for on-site hardware and software systems, with the personnel to maintain them? Is it easier to pay up-front or find a vendor willing to work with you on leasing or rental terms? (We talk about other cost considerations a bit later.) <br />
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Finally, will the lab have someone on-site or on-call to resolve technology issues, including set-up and maintenance of software systems? If your lab will have little in the way of available tech help locally, you'll want to consider the distribution model you want to use for any installed software, i.e., you may want to consider [[software as a service]]. An increasing number of software services are hosted using [[cloud computing]], which when done well is an increasingly reliable option.<ref name="IzrailevskyCloud18">{{cite journal |title=Cloud Reliability |journal=IEEE Cloud Computing |author=Izrailevsky, Y.; Bell, C. |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=39–44 |year=2018 |doi=10.1109/MCC.2018.032591615}}</ref> Having someone else host the software for you typically means the hosting provider will carry a non-trivial portion of responsibility for technology maintenance and security. Speaking of security, you'll also want to consider the [[cybersecurity]] (addressed later) of not only your software solution but also your overall laboratory operations. Does your laboratory have a cybersecurity plan already in place, or has the decision to make one been postponed? What extra investment is required to ensure your sensitive data is secure? Remember that how you rank your cybersecurity preparedness and implement a cybersecurity plan will also guide your technology investment decisions.<ref name="DouglasComp20">{{cite web |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LII:Comprehensive_Guide_to_Developing_and_Implementing_a_Cybersecurity_Plan |title=[[Comprehensive Guide to Developing and Implementing a Cybersecurity Plan]] |author=Douglas, S.E. |work=LIMSwiki |date=July 2020 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><br />
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====2.1.1.1 Laboratory informatics options====<br />
[[File:Icos Laboratories.JPG|right|350px]]Keeping the above in mind, what are the common software solutions used within a medical diagnostic or research laboratory? One of the more commonly discussed options is the LIS or LIMS. In the past, the term "laboratory information system" or "LIS" was used for solutions designed for medical labs, whereas "laboratory information management system" or "LIMS" was commonly used for non-medical functionality. Over the years, some software vendors have blurred these distinctions, with "LIMS" being used interchangeably with "LIS" in vendor marketing. Today, you'll see both terms being used to reference a laboratory informatics solution designed to assist medical laboratories manage testing workflows, data, and other aspects of their operations. <br />
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A December 2019 survey by ''Medical Laboratory Observer'', consisting of 273 respondents, is somewhat revealing in what a LIS or LIMS is being used for by a medical laboratory. Ninety-five percent of respondents indicated they use it to streamline their electronic order entry and result management, with medical data connectivity being the second most popular use. Automation tools, customer relationship management, scheduling, inventory management, revenue management, quality management, and reporting were all also mentioned as important to users.<ref name="SilvaITSol19">{{cite web |url=https://www.mlo-online.com/information-technology/article/21117759/it-solutions-in-the-clinical-lab |title=IT solutions in the clinical lab |author=Silva, B. |work=Medical Laboratory Observer |date=19 December 2019 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> When asked to select from five choices (or provide some other reason) in regard to what their top priority was in selecting a LIS or LIMS, respondents indicated that their most important priority was providing data analysis mechanisms for all types of pathology. See Table 1 below for all responses.<br />
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{| <br />
| style="vertical-align:top;" |<br />
{| class="wikitable" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
| colspan="2" style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |'''Table 1.''' ''MLO'' survey responses to what the top priority was when acquiring a LIS or LIMS<ref name="SilvaITSol19" /><br />
|-<br />
! style="padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |Top acquisition priority for LIS or LIMS based on a survey; ''n'' = 273<br />
! style="padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |Percentage of<br />respondents<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |Analytic solutions for clinical/anatomical/molecular pathology<br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |36%<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |Multi-lab networking/connectivity<br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |25%<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |Integration with [[electronic medical record]]s (EMRs)<br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |21%<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |Flexible management capabilities<br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |8%<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |Real-time and/or automated inventory management<br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |6%<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |Other (e.g., cost, patient safety needs, and training management)<br />
| style="background-color:white; padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px;" |4%<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
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These responses help paint a picture of what a LIS or LIMS can do, but there's definitely more to it. (See the next subsection on features and functions.) And other systems are also being used in medical laboratories. The previously mentioned ''MLO'' survey indicated that 68 percent of respondents came from a [[hospital]] laboratory, highlighting their importance in the medical diagnostic laboratory demographic. As such, we'd be remiss to not mention the [[hospital information system]] (HIS), a hospital-level information management system that often incorporates modular functionality similar to that of a LIS or LIMS. However, some such labs will often have their own laboratory data management solution independent of the HIS.<br />
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The survey also made reference the the EMR. This software, along with the [[electronic health record]] (EHR), is most prevalent among health care systems and other ambulatory providers, including physicians. (As of 2019, approximately 89.9 percent of U.S. physicians have adopted EMRs or EHRs.<ref name="ONC_EHRAdopt19">{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/electronic-medical-records.htm |title=Electronic Medical Records/Electronic Health Records (EMRs/EHRs) |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |date=14 October 2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>) These systems act as portable, longitudinal collections of patient and population data and a convenient tool for documenting, monitoring, and managing health care delivery. Medical diagnostic laboratory workflow typically sees test data from a LIS get transferred to the respective patient's record in the EHR.<ref name="PerrottaValid16">{{cite journal |title=Validating Laboratory Results in Electronic Health Records: A College of American Pathologists Q-Probes Study |journal=Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine |author=Perrotta, P.L.; Karcher, D.S. |volume=140 |issue=9 |pages=926–31 |year=2016 |doi=10.5858/arpa.2015-0320-CP |pmid=27575266 |pmc=PMC5513146}}</ref><br />
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Finally, you may also see [[electronic laboratory notebook]]s (ELN) in medical research labs.<ref name="ManzelRequire13">{{cite journal |title=Requirement analysis for an electronic laboratory notebook for sustainable data management in biomedical research |journal=Studies in Health Technologies and Informatics |author=Menzel, J.; Weil, P.; Bittihn, P. et al. |volume=192 |page=1108 |year=2013 |doi=10.3233/978-1-61499-289-9-1108 |pmid=23920882}}</ref><ref name="GuerreroAnal16">{{cite journal |title=Analysis and Implementation of an Electronic Laboratory Notebook in a Biomedical Research Institute |journal=PLoS One |author=Guerrero, S.; Dujardin, G.; Cabrera-Andrade, A. et al. |volume=11 |issue=8 |at=e0160428 |year=2016 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0160428 |pmid=27479083 |pmc=PMC4968837}}</ref> This software acts as an electronic substitute for the traditional [[laboratory notebook]], assisting researchers with direct recording of experiment data, linking records, and protecting proprietary information. They can typically be integrated with other software systems as well. <br />
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Choosing the right software will largely depend on your laboratory type and what you wish to accomplish. We next review the base features of offerings like an LIS and LIMS, as well as the features required by sub-specialties of medical science.<br />
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===2.1.2 Features and functions===<br />
====Base features====<br />
A LIS or LIMS can have an extravagant list of features, or it may have minimal functionality. Software developers with competent and experienced personnel usually do well with a collection of the required base features, plus any industry-specific features a laboratory may need. But not all developers get it right.<br />
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What follows is a list of system functionality that is considered by a variety of experts to be vital to almost any medical diagnostic or research laboratory.<ref name="APHLLab19">{{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/GH-2019May-LIS-Guidebook-web.pdf |format=PDF |title=Laboratory Information Systems Project Management: A Guidebook for International Implementations |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |publisher=APHL |date=May 2019 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="KyobeSelecting17">{{cite journal |title=Selecting a Laboratory Information Management System for Biorepositories in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: The H3Africa Experience and Lessons Learned |journal=Biopreservation and Biobanking |author=Kyobe, S.; Musinguzi, H.; Lwanga, N. et al. |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=111–15 |year=2017 |doi=10.1089/bio.2017.0006 |pmc=PMC5397240}}</ref><ref name="ListEffic14">{{cite journal |title=Efficient sample tracking with OpenLabFramework |journal=Scientific Reports |author=List, M.; Schmidt, S.; Trojnar, J. et al. |volume=4 |pages=4278 |year=2014 |doi=10.1038/srep04278 |pmid=24589879 |pmc=PMC3940979}}</ref><ref name="APILISTool13">{{cite web |url=https://www.pathologyinformatics.org/toolkit.php |title=LIS Functionality Assessment Toolkit |author=Splitz, A.R.; Balis, U.J.; Friedman, B.A. et al. |publisher=Association for Pathology Informatics |date=20 September 2013 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> Without this functionality, end users may at best grumble about additional workloads or more complicated procedures, and at worse be setting themselves up for major liability issues by not complying with regulations. Arguably, a few items such as mobile device support, voice recognition, and multilingual support may be negotiable, but if the system you are evaluating doesn't contain most of the below bullet-pointed functionality, you may want to look elsewhere.<br />
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'''Test, experiment, and patient management'''<br />
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*specimen log-in and management, with support for unique IDs<br />
*batching support<br />
*barcode and RFID support<br />
*specimen tracking<br />
*clinical decision support, including test ordering tools and duplicate test checks<br />
*custom test management<br />
*event and instrument scheduling<br />
*templates, forms, and data fields that are configurable<br />
*analytical tools, including data visualization, trend analysis, and data mining features<br />
*data import and export<br />
*robust query tools<br />
*document and image management<br />
*project and experiment management<br />
*workflow management<br />
*patient management<br />
*case management<br />
*physician and supplier management<br />
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'''Quality, security, and compliance'''<br />
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*quality assurance / quality control mechanisms, including tracking of nonconformance<br />
*data normalization and validation<br />
*results review and approval<br />
*version control<br />
*user qualification, performance, and training management<br />
*audit trails and chain of custody support<br />
*configurable and granular role-based security<br />
*configurable system access and use (log-in requirements, account usage rules, account locking, etc.)<br />
*electronic signature support<br />
*configurable alarms and alerts<br />
*data encryption and secure communication protocols<br />
*data archiving and retention support<br />
*configurable data backups<br />
*environmental monitoring and control<br />
<br />
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'''Operations management and reporting'''<br />
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*customizable rich-text reporting, with multiple supported output formats<br />
*synoptic reporting<br />
*industry-compliant labeling<br />
*email integration<br />
*internal messaging system<br />
*revenue management<br />
*instrument interfacing and data management<br />
*instrument calibration and maintenance tracking<br />
*inventory and reagent management<br />
*third-party software and database interfacing<br />
*mobile device support<br />
*voice recognition capability<br />
*results portal for external parties<br />
*integrated (or online) system help<br />
*configurable language<br />
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In the following subsections, the subcategories of labs we looked at in the prior chapter are reviewed, specifically for functionality critical to their specialty. This functionality is supported by four to five citations from vendors and other academic sources.<br />
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====Specialty-specific functionality====<br />
'''Anatomical and clinical pathology lab'''<ref name="LabWareAnatomic20">{{cite web |url=https://www.labware.com/industries/healthcare#anatomic |title=Anatomic Pathology |publisher=LabWare, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="SunquestCoPath20">{{cite web |url=https://www.sunquestinfo.com/software-and-services/copathplus/ |title=Sunquest CoPathPlus |publisher=Sunquest Information Systems, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="NovoPathHome20">{{cite web |url=https://www.novopath.com/ |title=NovoPath: Redefining Laboratory Information Systems |publisher=NovoPath, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="TDMS_TDHistoCyto20">{{cite web |url=https://www.technidata-web.com/en-gb/solutions-services/solutions/histopathology |title=TD HistoCyto |publisher=Technidata SAS |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>: <br />
<br />
*configure the system using templates for histology and cytology case types<br />
*add, view, and link pre-generated organ maps and other diagrams<br />
*add, view, and link custom annotated pathology imaging<br />
*track abnormal results and provide trending reports for monitoring disease populations<br />
*support blocks and slides as specimens, with predefined descriptions<br />
*document grossing examinations<br />
*print slides and cassettes<br />
*provide case management, reporting, and test requisition<br />
*provide specialty workflow for autopsy<br />
*provide specialty workflow for gynecological cytology, including HPV + Pap co-testing for cervical cancer<br />
*provide stain panels and histology worksheets<br />
*support shared management of tissue samples among departments<br />
*support EHR integration<br />
*support polymerase chain reaction (PCR) workflow and reporting<br />
*support pathology-specific reflex testing<br />
*provide option to combine same-day anatomical and clinical pathology results and reporting<br />
*flag unusual cases for conference or committee reporting<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Harsh Vardhan at the inaugural ceremony of the new campus of Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), in Hyderabad.JPG|right|350px]]'''Forensic pathology lab'''<ref name="AbbotStarlimsForensic20">{{cite web |url=https://www.starlims.com/us/en/industries/forensics |title=Starlims Forensic LIMS |publisher=Abbot |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="LabLynxForensics20">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/forensics/ |title=Forensics & Medical Examiner |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="ThermoFisherLIMSForens20">{{cite web |url=https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/INF-12000-FORENSIC#/INF-12000-FORENSIC |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212065803/https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/INF-12000-FORENSIC |title=LIMS Solution for Forensics |publisher=Thermo Fisher Scientific |date=2017 |archivedate=12 December 2017 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="PorterLeeLab20">{{cite web |url=http://www.porterlee.com/lims.html |title=Laboratory Information Management System |publisher=Porter Lee Corporation |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>: <br />
<br />
*support pre-logging of evidence<br />
*allow full documentation of a crime scene<br />
*track storage, movement, and disposal of evidence and property using an ASTM-compliant log<br />
*manage chain-of-custody transfers of evidence and samples<br />
*provide quarantine protocol for samples and evidence<br />
*provide forensic case management, including case status and court testimony<br />
*manage agency interactions and information<br />
*add, view, and link forensic imaging into case files<br />
*manage field scheduling for fingerprinting, homicide casing, and lab work<br />
*provide custom reporting for toxicology and controlled substance analyses<br />
*provide support for DNA profile management<br />
*provide support for convicted offender and other database integration<br />
*support the use of personal identity verification and other forms of hardware-based (i.e., public key infrastructure or PKI) token authentication<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Physician office lab''':<br />
<br />
The [[physician office laboratory]] (POL) is arguably a more simple version of the medical diagnostics lab, often depending on CLIA-waived and CLIA-certified point-of-care instruments for making diagnoses. As such, the data management requirements for a POL are typically not as significant as those of a large-scale diagnostic laboratory. That said, a POL employing laboratory informatics will still need much of the same base functionality mentioned prior, and the system will still need to comply with data management and sharing regulations such as those found with HIPAA and CLIA. <br />
<br />
Any POL performing sufficient volumes of testing to benefit from using a laboratory informatics solution may also want to consider the costs and drawbacks, if any, of interfacing to their EHR system, if they have one. In a case where the POL is in a position to consider both an LIS and an EHR at the same time, they should examine the features and potential integration of those products, and they should be sure to consider any future potential of integrating their systems with other external data management systems, including another reference laboratory. <br />
<br />
In some cases, an EHR with some laboratory management functionality may make a solid alternative. If considering an EHR that includes some LIS functionality, be sure to clearly identify the functional requirements and demo the system thoroughly to ensure test and reporting workflows make sense. Finally, in cases where POL test volumes are low—coming from only one or a few instruments—and an LIS is not required, POL operators may want to simply consider a [[middleware]] option that smoothly facilitates the flow of instrument data to the EHR.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Integrative medicine lab''':<br />
<br />
If an integrative medicine laboratory is using a laboratory informatics solution, their requirements will be nearly identical to a standard medical diagnostic laboratory, meaning the base functionality mentioned prior will likely be suitable. If there is a major difference or required piece of additional functionality, it will have to do with a more extensive list of available tests and billing codes for them. This usually consists of expansions into nutritional, metabolic, and toxicity test types, as well as support for diagnostic imaging.<ref name="BralleyBasic">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CpXVAwgOv7sC&pg=PT11 |chapter=Chapter 1: Basic Concepts |title=Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine |author=Bralley, J.A.; Lord, R.S. |publisher=MetaMetrix Institute |edition=2nd |pages=1–16 |year=2008 |isbn=0967394945}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Public health lab'''<ref name="APHLLab19" /><ref name="LabWarePublic20">{{cite web |url=https://www.labware.com/industries/healthcare#publichealth |title=Public Health |publisher=LabWare, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="OrchardPublic20">{{cite web |url=https://www.orchardsoft.com/solutions/public-health-labs/ |title=Public Health Laboratories |publisher=Orchard Software Corporation |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="CommonCentsApollo20">{{cite web |url=https://www.apollolims.com/lab-expertise/public-health/ |title=ApolloLIMS for Public Health Labs |publisher=Common Cents Systems, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
*provide specialty workflow for newborn screening<br />
*provide surge capacity for high-priority analyses<br />
*provide workflow and tools for managing microorganisms and toxins of elevated risk<br />
*support most medical test protocols and specimen types<br />
*support ELISA, DNA extraction, sequencing, and other molecular workflows<br />
*support for a robust set of decision support rules for reflex testing<br />
*support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's PHIN Messaging System<br />
*support other electronic data exchange standards for critical community partners<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Toxicology lab'''<ref name="APEasyFeatures20">{{cite web |url=https://easytoxicology.com/features/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028074209/https://easytoxicology.com/features/ |title=Easytox: Features |publisher=AP Easy Software Solutions |date=2020 |archivedate=28 October 2020 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="DataUnlimitedLIMSSol20">{{cite web |url=http://www.duii.com/products/starfruit-toxicology/ |title=Starfruit Toxicology |publisher=Data Unlimited International, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="LabLynxToxicology20">{{cite web |url=https://lablynx.com/toxicology/ |title=Toxicology LIMS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="DTPMOnlineData20">{{cite web |url=https://www.dtpm.com/online-data-management/ |title=Online Data Management |publisher=DTPM, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="OrchardPain20">{{cite web |url=https://www.orchardsoft.com/solutions/pain-management-toxicology-labs/ |title=Pain Management & Toxicology Labs |publisher=Orchard Software Corporation |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
*support customizable drug panels and tests<br />
*support reference lab activities<br />
*track prescribed medicines and associated history<br />
*provide management for compounds and compound grouping<br />
*provide medication-based compliance monitoring and interpretive reporting on it<br />
*provide decision-support rules for pain management and toxicology<br />
*provide toxicology-specific reporting formats<br />
*manage drug court cases associated with testing<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Blood bank and transfusion lab'''<ref name="SunquestBloodBank20">{{cite web |url=https://www.sunquestinfo.com/software-and-services/blood-bank-management/ |title=Sunquest Blood Bank |publisher=Sunquest Information Systems, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="SCCBlood20">{{cite web |url=https://www.softcomputer.com/products-services/blood-services/ |title=SCC's Blood Services Information Systems Suite |publisher=SCC Soft Computer |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="HemasoftHome20">{{cite web |url=http://www.hemasoft.com/ |title=Hemasoft |publisher=Hemasoft Software SL |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="TDMS_TDBloodBank20">{{cite web |url=https://www.technidata-web.com/en-gb/solutions-services/solutions/blood-banking |title=TD BloodBank |publisher=Technidata SAS |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
*manage inventory across multiple facilities<br />
*manage donor and harvested tissues<br />
*support positive patient identification (PPID)<br />
*support the ISBT 128 standard for medical products of human origin<br />
*support for both autologous and directed medical product management<br />
*allow for emergency release of inventory<br />
*allow for electronic crossmatch of human-based medical products<br />
*manage medical product recall and documentation<br />
*manage donor demographics, notification, scheduling, and history<br />
*manage donation drives and other campaigns<br />
*track bag and supply lot numbers<br />
*track quality control testing<br />
*monitor access to and environmental conditions of supply fridges<br />
*provide workflow management for non-standard patients<br />
*support antibody screening processes<br />
<br />
<br />
[[File:Medical Examination of a Clinical Trial Volunteer (45116548811).jpg|right|350px]]'''Central and contract research lab'''<ref name="EurofinsSupport20">{{cite web |url=https://www.eurofins.com/biopharma-services/central-lab-old/support-services/data-management/ |title=Supporting Services - Data management |publisher=Eurofins Scientific |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="AbbotStarlimsClin20">{{cite web |url=https://www.starlims.com/us/en/industries/clinical-research |title=Starlims Clinical Research LIMS |publisher=Abbot |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="LabWareClinical20">{{cite web |url=https://www.labware.com/industries/biobanking-clinical#clinical |title=Clinical Research |publisher=LabWare, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="MedpaceClinTrak20">{{cite web |url=https://www.medpace.com/capabilities/technology/laboratory-information-management/ |title=ClinTrak Lab |publisher=Medpace, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
*manage and track clinical trial kits<br />
*manage multi-site logistics of specimens<br />
*provide a reservation function for specimens<br />
*manage clinical trials and their various functions, including recruitment, study protocols, treatment groups, metadata, multi-site master scheduling, consent checks, and other required reporting<br />
*provide special access privileges to sponsors, monitors, and investigators<br />
*support a wide variety of data transfer formats, including CDISC, ASCII, SAS, and XML<br />
*provide patient management, including demographics, consent forms, clinical notation, and test results<br />
*provide highly configurable "blinding" features for reports and the user interface<br />
*track contracts, budgets, and other financials<br />
*develop exclusion rules and monitor exclusions<br />
*support testing for a wide variety of disciplines<br />
*provide study-specific monitoring and alerts<br />
*provide granular cumulative reporting<br />
*provide study-specific project portals that allow review of documents, data visualizations, training material, and other study information<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Genetic diagnostics and cytogenetics labs'''<ref name="SunquestMitogen20">{{cite web |url=https://www.sunquestinfo.com/software-and-services/lims/ |title=Sunquest Mitogen LIMS |publisher=Sunquest Information Systems, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="XifinMolec20">{{cite web |url=https://www.xifin.com/industry-solutions/laboratory/molecular-diagnostics |title=Molecular Diagnostics |publisher=XIFIN, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="PsycheNucleoLIS20">{{cite web |url=https://psychesystems.com/enterprise-laboratory-information-software/nucleolis-molecular-lab-testing-software/ |title=NucleoLIS - Flexible & Modern LIS |publisher=Psyche Systems |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="MyersLab18">{{cite journal |title=Laboratory Information Systems and Instrument Software Lack Basic Functionality for Molecular Laboratories |journal=Journal of Molecular Diagnostics |author=Myers, C.; Swadley, M.; Carter, A.B. |volume=20 |issue=5 |pages=591–99 |year=2018 |doi=10.1016/j.jmoldx.2018.05.011}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
*manage sample collection kits<br />
*manage informed consent documentation<br />
*provide customized workflows for molecular and [[DNA sequencing#High-throughput methods|next-generation sequencing]] (NGS) testing<br />
*track specimen and aliquot lineage for cell lines, tissues, slides, etc.<br />
*track nucleic acid quantity and quality of specimens<br />
*support a wide array of molecular testing and associated data fields, including biochemical and molecular genetics, carrier screening, immunology, molecular profiling, prenatal and newborn testing, and pharmacogenetics<br />
*provide custom workflows for FISH, PCR, gel eletrophoresis, cytogenetics, DNA sequencing, and more<br />
*support specialty testing reimbursement and other revenue management unique to this lab type<br />
*support single sign-on with imaging platforms<br />
*provide color coding for turn-around time and other testing statuses<br />
*provide cleanly formatted rich-text reports customized for molecular diagnostics<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Medical cannabis testing lab'''<ref name="LabLynxCanna20">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/cannabis/ |title=Cannabis LIMS for QA and Medical Research |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="KhemiaCanna20">{{cite web |url=https://khemia.com/industries/cannabis-testing/ |title=Cannabis Testing |publisher=Khemia Software, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="LabWareCanna20">{{cite web |url=https://www.labware.com/lims/saas/grow |title=LabWare GROW |publisher=LabWare, Inc |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="QBenchLIMS20">{{cite web |url=https://qbench.net/qbench-lims-cannabis-testing-labs/ |title=LIMS for Cannabis & Hemp Analysis Labs |publisher=Junction Concepts |date=2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="PaszkoSelecting20">{{cite web |url=https://www.labcompare.com/10-Featured-Articles/354722-Selecting-a-LIMS-for-the-Cannabis-Industry/ |title=Selecting a LIMS for the Cannabis Industry |work=LabCompare |publisher=CompareNetworks, Inc |date=27 November 2018 |accessdate=21 November 2021}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
*add, view, and link custom annotated images<br />
*interface with a wide array of chromatography and spectroscopy instruments<br />
*optimize sample login and management for the industry, including clear differentiation between medical and recreational cannabis<br />
*provide compliant test protocols, workflows, labels, and reporting for medical cannabis testing<br />
*provide ability to interface with state-required compliance reporting systems<br />
*support inventory reconciliation<br />
*support disease testing, sexing, and genetic tracking of cannabis<br />
*support stability testing<br />
<br />
===2.1.3 Cybersecurity considerations===<br />
From law firms<ref name="SobowaleLaw17">{{cite web |url=http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/managing_cybersecurity_risk/ |title=Law firms must manage cybersecurity risks |author=Sobowale, J. |work=ABA Journal |publisher=American Bar Association |date=01 March 2017 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> to automotive manufacturers<ref name="WatneyAddress17">{{cite web |url=https://www.rstreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/118-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Addressing new challenges in automotive cybersecurity |author=Watney, C.; Draffin, C. |work=R Street Policy Study No. 118 |publisher=R Street Institute |date=November 2017 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>, the need to address cybersecurity is increasingly apparent. In 2018, the Center for Strategic & International Studies estimated that cybercrime causes close to $600 billion in damages to the global economy every year<ref name="LewisEcon18">{{cite web |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/economic-impact-cybercrime |title=Economic Impact of Cybercrime |author=Lewis, J.A. |publisher=Center for Strategic & International Studies |date=21 February 2018 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>, though due to underreporting of crimes, that number may be much higher. That number also likely doesn't take into account lost business, fines, litigation, and intangible losses<ref name="SBDCC_BlogCost17">{{cite web |url=https://www.virginiasbdc.org/blog-cost-of-cyber-crime-to-small-businesses/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705061737/https://www.virginiasbdc.org/blog-cost-of-cyber-crime-to-small-businesses/ |title=BLOG: Cost of Cyber Crime to Small Businesses |work=Virginia SBDC Blog |publisher=Virginia SBDC |date=30 May 2017 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> In the end, businesses of all sizes average about $200,000 in losses due to a cybersecurity incident<ref name="HiscoxHiscox19&quot;">{{cite web |url=https://www.hiscox.com/documents/2019-Hiscox-Cyber-Readiness-Report.pdf |format=PDF |title=Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report 2019 |publisher=Hiscox Ltd |date=April 2019 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>, and nearly 60 percent of small and midsize businesses go bankrupt within six months because of it.<ref name="Galvin60_18">{{cite web |url=https://www.inc.com/joe-galvin/60-percent-of-small-businesses-fold-within-6-months-of-a-cyber-attack-heres-how-to-protect-yourself.html |title=60 Percent of Small Businesses Fold Within 6 Months of a Cyber Attack. Here's How to Protect Yourself |author=Galvin, J. |work=Inc.com |date=07 May 2018 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><br />
<br />
Medical diagnostic and research laboratories are no exception, regardless of business size. Even tiny labs whose primary digital footprint is a WordPress website advertising their lab are at risk, as hackers could still spread malware, steal user data, add the website to a bot network, hack the site for the learning experience, or even hack it just for fun.<ref name="GrimaTop19">{{cite web |url=https://www.wpwhitesecurity.com/why-malicious-hacker-target-wordpress/ |title=Top reasons why WordPress websites get hacked (and how you can stop it) |author=Grima, M. |publisher=WP White Security |date=14 November 2019 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="MoenWhatHack16">{{cite web |url=https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2016/04/hackers-compromised-wordpress-sites/ |title=What Hackers Do With Compromised WordPress Sites |author=Moen, D. |work=Wordfence Blog |publisher=Defiant, Inc |date=19 April 2016 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="TalalevWebsite19">{{cite web |url=https://patchstack.com/website-hacking-statistics/ |title=Website Hacking Statistics You Should Know in 2021 |author=Talaleve, A. |publisher=Patchstack |date=22 February 2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> Even more importantly are those labs performing digital data management tasks that handle sensitive patient and proprietary data, requiring additional cybersecurity considerations.<br />
<br />
A laboratory can integrate cybersecurity thinking into its laboratory informatics product selection in several ways. First, the lab should have a cybersecurity plan in place, or if not, it should be on the radar. This is a good resource to tap into in regards to deciding what cybersecurity considerations should be made for the software. Can the software help your lab meet your cybersecurity goals? What regulatory requirements for your lab are or are not covered by the software?<ref name="DouglasComp20" /> Another tool to consider—which may have been used in any prior cybersecurity planning efforts—is a cybersecurity framework. Many, but not all, cybersecurity frameworks include a catalog of security controls. Each control is "a safeguard or countermeasure prescribed for an information system or an organization designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its information and to meet a set of defined security requirements."<ref name="NISTSecurity19">{{cite web |url=https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/security_control |title=security control |work=Computer Security Resource Center |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology |date=2019 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> These controls give the implementing organization a concrete set of configurable goals to apply to their overall cybersecurity strategy. Other frameworks may be less oriented to security controls and more program-based or risk-based. Choosing the best frameworks will likely depend on multiple factors, including the organization's industry type, the amount of technical expertise within the organization, the budget, the organizational goals, the amount of buy-in from key organizational stakeholders, and those stakeholders' preferred approach.<ref name="DouglasComp20" /><br />
<br />
Finally, having a cybersecurity plan that incorporates one or more cybersecurity frameworks gives the laboratory ample opportunity to apply stated goals and chosen security controls to the evaluation and selection process. In particular, a user requirements specification (URS) that incorporates cybersecurity considerations will certainly help a laboratory with meeting regulatory requirements while also protecting its data systems. A USR that is pre-built with cybersecurity controls in mind—such as [[Book:LIMSpec 2019 R1|LIMSpec]], discussed later—makes the evaluation process even easier.<br />
<br />
===2.1.4 Regulatory compliance considerations===<br />
Without a doubt, it's vital that medical diagnostic and research laboratories operate within the bounds of a regulatory atmosphere, not only to better ensure the best patient outcomes but also to ensure the quality of test results, the privacy of patient information, and the safety of personnel. Maintaining regulatory compliance requires deliberate approaches to developing and enforcing processes and procedures, quality training, consistent communication, and knowledgeable personnel. It also requires a top-down appreciation and commitment to a culture of quality. From the [[Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments]] (CLIA) and [[Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act]] (HIPAA) to [[21 CFR Part 11]] and the [[General Data Protection Regulation]], laboratories have much to consider in regards to what regulations impact them.<br />
<br />
That said, consider approaching the question of regulatory compliance from the standpoint of adopting standards. Consider first that the risks and consequences of performing a task poorly drives regulation and, more preferably<ref name="CiocoiuTheRole10">{{cite book |chapter=Chapter 1. The Role of Standardization in Improving the Effectiveness of Integrated Risk Management |title=Advances in Risk Management |author=Ciocoui, C.N.; Dobrea, R.C. |editor=Nota, G. |publisher=IntechOpen |year=2010 |isbn=9789535159469 |doi=10.5772/9893}}</ref><ref name="JPMorganData18">{{cite web |url=https://www.jpmorganchase.com/content/dam/jpmc/jpmorgan-chase-and-co/documents/call-to-action.pdf |format=PDF |title=Data Standardization: A Call to Action |publisher=JPMorgan Chase & Co |date=May 2018 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>, standardization, which in turn moves the "goalposts" of quality and security among organizations. In the case of regulations, those organization that get caught not conforming to the necessary regulations tend to suffer negative consequences, providing some incentive for them to improve organizational processes and procedures. <br />
<br />
One of the downsides of regulations is that they can at times be "imprecise" or "disconnected"<ref name="JPMorganData18" /> from what actually occurs within the organization and its information systems. Rather than focusing heavily on regulatory conformance, well-designed standards may, when adopted, provide a clearer path of opportunity for organizations to improve their operational culture and outcomes, particularly since standards are usually developed with a broader consensus of interested individuals with expertise in a given field.<ref name="CiocoiuTheRole10" /> In turn, the organizations that adopt well-designed standards likely have a better chance of conforming to the regulations they must, and they'll likely have more interest in maintaining and improving the goalposts of quality and security in the lab.<br />
<br />
Additionally, reputable software developers of laboratory informatics software will not only adopt their own industry standards for software development but also understand the standards and regulations that affect laboratories and research centers. In turn, the developed software should meet regulations and standards, help the laboratory comply with its regulations and standards, and be of reliably good quality. <br />
<br />
If you're a potential buyer of a laboratory informatics solution, it may be that you know a bit about your laboratory's workflow and a few of the regulations and standards that influence how that workflow is conducted, but you're not entirely informed about all the regulations and standards that affect your lab. Turning to a URS such as LIMSpec—which was developed around laboratory regulations and standards—and reviewing the various statements contained within may be necessary to help further inform you. Additionally, as you investigate various informatics options, you can then use the requirements in the URS as a base for your laboratory's own requirements list. Using the categories and their subdivisions, you can then add those requirements that are unique to your laboratory and industry that are not sufficiently covered by the base URS. As you review the various options available to you and narrow down your search, your own list of requirements can be used as both as a personal checklist and as a requirements list you hand over to the vendor you query. And since your URS is based off the standards and regulations affecting your lab, you can feel more confident in your acquisition and its integration into your laboratory workflow.<br />
<br />
===2.1.5 Cost considerations===<br />
First, you'll want to be clear on what will be included in the sales agreement. Whether through an estimate or statement of work (SOW), it is important it includes exactly what is expected, being as specific as possible, since this will be the entire contractual obligation for both you the buyer and them the vendor. Note that line items may differ slightly from system to system, according to what features and functions are included by default with each vendor's solution and which, if any, are additional. Also keep in mind that any hourly amount in the the estimate or SOW is usually a best estimate; however, if sufficient attention to detailed requirements has been given, then it should be quite accurate, and in fact the final cost may even be below the quoted cost if you prioritize your own obligations so that the vendor's hours are used sparingly and efficiently. <br />
<br />
The estimate or SOW should optimally include:<br />
<br />
*licensing or subscription rates;<br />
*required core items to meet federal, state, and local regulations;<br />
*additional optional items and totals; and<br />
*required services (implementation, maintenance and support, optional add-ons).<br />
<br />
There are two primary ways to price a laboratory informatics solution: a one-time license fee or a subscription rate ([[Cloud computing|cloud-hosted]] [[software as a service]] [SaaS]). If you have your own dedicated IT department and staff, you may prefer the former (although many system administrators are just as happy to let it be hosted elsewhere rather than add to their workload). Otherwise, a SaaS subscription may well be the better and more cost-effective way to go (since the primary IT cost is simply internet access). This item will be part of your up-front cost and, in the case of subscription, it will also figure into your first year and ongoing costs; otherwise only associated maintenance, support, and warranty (MSW) will figure in. Typically, your first year's subscription costs will be due at signing. More often, the vendor may require three months or even the first year up front, so be prepared to factor that into up-front costs. However, it still is almost always less expensive at the outset (and over time, if you factor in IT costs and annual MSW) than paying for a license fee.<br />
<br />
In addition to the two types of software pricing, there are also sub-types. Generally these are based on the number of users (or, in some cases, "nodes," which are simply any entities that access the informatics system, including other systems, instruments, etc.). How these are counted can vary.<br />
<br />
*Named users: This method bases pricing on the actual individual users of the system, even if they only log in sporadically. Users may not use each other's logins (this is a no-no regardless of pricing structure, for good laboratory practice and other regulatory reasons).<br />
*Concurrent users: This bases pricing on the maximum number of users who will be logged in at any given time. You can define an unlimited number of named users in the system, each with their own login credentials. However, only the number of concurrent users specified in the license or subscription may be logged in at any one time. For example, you may have 10 staff, but due to work processes, shifts, etc., only up to six might ever be logged in simultaneously. Whereas this would require a named user license for 10, it would only require a concurrent user license for six.<br />
*Unlimited users: In the case of very large labs (typically 30 to 50 and up), the license or subscription may simply be a flat fee that allows any number of users.<br />
<br />
The line items in the estimate or SOW should reflect these nuances, as well as whether the listed costs are monthly or annual (for subscription services), hourly (typically for support and training), or a fixed one-time cost. Additionally, be cautious with fixed costs, as they typically represent one of two possible scenarios:<br />
<br />
#Final fixed cost: In this case, the cost has been figured by the vendor so as to cover their worst-case hourly labor total. If a line item (e.g., an interface) is not "worst case," then you are overpaying.<br />
#"Expandable" fixed cost: This is as bad as final fixed cost, and maybe even worse because it's almost a case of "bait-and-switch," popping up as a surprise. The initial "fixed cost" number is low, and additional hourly services are needed to actually deliver the item. This will have been provided for somewhere in the small print.<br />
<br />
The bottom line is that everything in a laboratory informatics solution is really either licensing or hourly services. Just be careful if they are portrayed as anything else.<br />
<br />
It is important to be clear which category each line item falls under when figuring costs: up-front (due upon signing), annual, or ongoing (e.g., SaaS subscription). It is useful to clearly lay out each and compute initial costs, as well as first-year and subsequent years' costings. For example, your initial obligation may be as little as your first year's subscription plus the first 40 hours of services. Different vendors have different policies, however, and you may be required to pay for your first full year's subscription and all services, or some other combination. Normally, though, any instrument interface or other service charges aren't due until the they are implemented, which may be a few weeks or even a month down the road. This may depend on your budget, complexity of the SOW, and urgency. Your first year's expenses will include everything, including initial license fees; all setup and training; any interfaces and additional configurations or customization; and first annual MSW. (If this isn't included in the SaaS subscription, then it usually commences on full system delivery). Afterwards, your subscription and MSW will be the only ongoing expenses (included as one in this example), unless you choose to have additional interfaces or other services performed at any time.<br />
<br />
==2.2 Implementation==<br />
If you've ever worked through a system implementation process with a vendor, it was hopefully a smooth process. However, there are plenty of horror stories out there, highlighting the need of the laboratory to discuss in detail how a potential vendor will handle installation, validation, and training for the informatics solution. Does the vendor truly understand the industry and your needs? Does the vendor assign a project manager who will work with you, from planning to go-live and beyond? Can they offer you references of other labs who have gone through implementation so you can compare notes with those labs? How much attention does the potential vendor give to related issues such as data integrity of migrated data? Do they have the means to properly handle your legacy data? And are they able to work with your schedule, even if it means implementing software at off-peak work hours?<ref name="Wagner7Soft19">{{cite web |url=https://blog.walkme.com/7-software-implementation-challenges/ |title=7 Software Implementation Challenges and How to Solve Them |author=Wagner, M. |work=WalkMe Blog |publisher=WalkMe Ltd |date=10 October 2019 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="MuraBullet18">{{cite web |url=https://blog.userlane.com/software-implementation-plan/ |title=Bullet-Proof Software Implementation Plan: Challenges and Tactics |author=Mura, A. |work=Userlane Digital Adoption Blog |publisher=Userlane GmbH |date=12 July 2018 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><br />
<br />
As you finally get down to the ultimate decision on which vendor to work with, you may wish to start setting up an implementation checklist as part of your early project planning. Do you receive a help desk account as part of the implementation process, and if so, what information is included? If not, you'll need to keep track of specific details such as business associate agreement (BAA), sales agreement, scope documents, welcome letters, documentation, and approved staff who can utilize the vendor's support. You'll likely need to share other configuration details with the vendor, including time zone requirements, DNS and URL requirements, up-time monitors, and administrative account requirements. Finally, you'll want to ensure you and the vendor are on the same page concerning any additional customization, integration, and system validation requirements, ensuring the roll-out period is pain-free and efficient.<br />
<br />
===2.2.1 Internal and external integrations===<br />
[[File:LabMachines.jpg|right|400px]]Laboratories acquire data management software for many reasons, including improving accuracy, saving time, increasing productivity, and adding capabilities. One way of doing all of those activities is to integrate or interface your systems, databases, and instruments so that human error is greatly reduced or eliminated, workflows are automated and sped up, and each component's capabilities are brought into play in the most efficient and effective ways possible. As such, you'll want to inquire with the vendor about its solution's hardware and software integration capabilities. Is it designed to interface with every laboratory instrument or software that can output any readable electronic file? Or are integrations limited to certain instruments and systems? How does it connect, i.e., what protocols does the software depend on to connect with other systems? Does the system allow a user to map their own file imports and exports? Can system processes be set to detect new instances of file outputs at regular intervals? Ask these and other questions to make sure the vendor clearly describes what internal and external integrations are supported with their application.<br />
<br />
In many cases, a vendor's solution will have integration capability built into the software, but occasionally such interfaces are separate from the main software. Today's interfaces are generally built on standardized communication tools, including messaging formats like [[Health Level 7]] (HL7).<ref name="Sinard06">{{cite book |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/0-387-28058-8 |title=Practical pathology informatics: Demystifying informatics for the practicing anatomic pathologist |author=Sinard, J. |publisher=Springer Science+Business Media |year=2006 |isbn=9780387280585}}</ref><ref name="MLOStaffInterfacing12">{{cite web |url=https://www.mlo-online.com/home/article/13004490/interfacing-the-lis |title=Interfacing the LIS |author=MLO Staff |work=Medical Laboratory Observer |publisher=Endeavor Business Media, LLC |date=01 August 2012 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> The HL7 messaging standards are particularly important to laboratory data management because they define how information is packaged and communicated from one party to another. Such standards set the language, structure, and data types required for seamless integration of various systems and instruments.<ref name="KimCreating05">{{cite web |url=http://www.kathykim.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/ClinicalDataStandardsInHealthCare.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114055221/http://www.kathykim.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/ClinicalDataStandardsInHealthCare.pdf |format=PDF |title=Creating Clinical Data Standards in Health Care: Five Case Studies |author=Kim, Katherine |publisher=California HealthCare Foundation |date=July 2005 |archivedate=14 January 2017 |accessdate=10 January 2020}}</ref> Health Level 7 describes the types of information communicated between such systems in the clinical environment as including "process control and status information for each device or analyzer, [as well as] each specimen, specimen container, and container carrier; information and detailed data related to patients, orders, and results; and information related to specimen flow algorithms and automated decision making."<ref name="HL711">{{cite web |url=http://www.hl7.org/implement/standards/product_brief.cfm?product_id=203 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711070938/http://www.hl7.org/implement/standards/product_brief.cfm?product_id=203 |title=HL7 version 2.7 standard: Chapter 13 - Clinical laboratory automation |author=Health Level Seven International |date=2011 |archivedate=11 July 2017 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><br />
<br />
You may also want your laboratory informatics solution to be able to communicate with other software and databases. This is often done using [[application programming interface]]s (APIs) that depend on web services implementation protocols such as REST and SOAP.<ref name="MonusSOAP19">{{cite web |url=https://raygun.com/blog/soap-vs-rest-vs-json/ |title=SOAP vs REST vs JSON comparison [2019] |author=Monus, A. |work=Raygun |date=05 March 2021 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="LVAQuick18">{{cite web |url=https://www.labvantage.com/a-quick-guide-to-lims-web-services/ |title=A Quick Guide to LIMS Web Services |author=LabVantage Solutions |publisher=LabVantage Solutions, Inc |date=07 January 2018 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="GrandOneTool19">{{cite journal |title=One tool to find them all: A case of data integration and querying in a distributed LIMS platform |journal=Database |author=Grand, A.; Geda, E.; Mignone, A. et al. |volume=2019 |page=baz004 |year=2019 |doi=10.1093/database/baz004}}</ref> These messaging protocols actually allow for the creation of an API that receives communication requests and sends responses between two software systems. A more practical example is wanting your laboratory informatics solution to communicate with an [[enterprise resource planning]] (ERP) application. Perhaps the ERP system needs to create sample batches within the informatics solution, and when testing is done, have the results returned to the ERP. APIs and communication protocols make this happen.<ref name="LVAQuick18" /><br />
<br />
==2.3 MSW, updates, and other contracted services==<br />
The maintenance, support, and warranty (MSW) offered with the vendor's solution is almost as important as the solution itself. The laboratory informatics solution you acquire is more than than the software you operate: it's mission-critical and deserves having a reliable and responsive team with the necessary resources to ensure it remains operational. Downtime can negatively affect both immediate customer satisfaction and your reputation. As such, it's imperative you ask the vendor about the details of its MSW, making sure you understand what is and isn't covered, as well as how much it will cost. Cost-wise, industry norms are anywhere from 15% to 25% of either the license fee or total contract, levied annually to provide this coverage.<ref name="ScavoHigh05">{{cite web |url=https://www.computereconomics.com/article.cfm?id=1033 |title=High Software Maintenance Fees and What to Do About Them |author=Scavo, F. |work=Computer Economics |date=08 February 2005 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> Alternatively, it may simply be included with your subscription. The MSW will include a specified number of support and maintenance hours or guarantees. The actual warranty should be unlimited for as long as the MSW or subscription is kept current.<br />
<br />
Maintenance includes any and all work necessary to keep your system working as designed. It should include updates, patches, or fixes, and most if not all upgrades. (Note, however, a major upgrade to a totally new edition may not be covered, but it may come at a negotiable, significantly lower cost.<ref name="Gordon-ByrneMaint14">{{cite web |url=http://www.ittoday.info/ITPerformanceImprovement/Articles/2014-08GordonByrne2.html |title=Maintenance in the Digital World |author=Gordon-Byrne, G. |work=IT Performance Improvement |publisher=Taylor & Francis, LLC |date=2014 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>) The support aspect of MSW generally consists of a specified number of hours dedicated more to helping you with the operation of the system rather than "fixing" anything. Support includes guidance on training, password or login support, and more. Finally, with any professional application you also expect to have a warranty. The warranty should cover anything that doesn't work that otherwise should for the designated period of time.<ref name="Gordon-ByrneMaint14" /> That includes any standard features and functions, as well as any additional ones that were delivered and signed off on, and any other work performed by the vendor or its representatives. However, a typical warranty does not cover anything that was working fine, but upon being manipulated in a way beyond normal operation the functionality ceased. In these cases, you'll probably have to pay to get it fixed.<br />
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Beyond the MSW, additional updates and services related to the system may also be required. No matter how well it is pre-configured, any professional laboratory informatics solution will require some amount of standard setup to reflect your particular lab. This includes adding lab branding and demographics for reports and certificates; entering users, their roles, and access permissions; adding and/or modifying tests and workflows; renaming fields; adding or hiding fields; setting up a web portal; and implementing interfaces. Equally indispensable is proper training for both users and administrators. And of course you may later find that you would like additional features or functions. These and other services may prove particularly useful to the laboratory with little in the way of IT and systems expertise. As such, the vendor may provide one or more of the following as a billable service for the laboratory:<br />
<br />
*initial implementation meeting (e.g., initial planning, identify delta, set schedule)<br />
*project management<br />
*requirements gathering and documentation<br />
*initial setup<br />
*user and administrator training<br />
*configuration and customization<br />
*interface development and implementation<br />
*custom screen and field development<br />
*custom functionality development<br />
*custom reports and labels<br />
*custom triggers and alerts<br />
*validation or acceptance testing (to a third-party standard or certification, or to agreed manufacturer specs)<br />
<br />
==2.4 How a user requirements specification fits into the entire process==<br />
Merriam-Webster defines a "specification" as "a detailed precise presentation of something or of a plan or proposal for something."<ref name="MWSpec">{{cite web |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/specification |title=specification |work=Merriam-Webster |publisher=Merriam-Webster, Inc |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> In other words, an existing or theoretical product, concept, or idea is presented in detail for a particular audience. In a broad sense, detailing the specifics about a project, concept, or idea to others is just common sense. This applies just as well to the world of software development, where a software requirements specification is essential for preventing the second most commonly cited reason for project failure: poor requirements management.<ref name="BiegRequire14">{{cite web |url=https://www.pmi.org/-/media/pmi/documents/public/pdf/learning/thought-leadership/pulse/requirements-management.pdf |format=PDF |title=Introduction |work=Requirements Management: A Core Competency for Project and Program Success |author=Bieg, D.P. |publisher=Project Management Institute |page=3 |date=August 2014 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In fact, the ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148:2018 standard (a conglomeration of what was formerly IEEE 830 and other standards) is in place to help specify "the required processes implemented in the engineering activities that result in requirements for systems and software products" and provide guidelines for how to apply those requirements.<ref name="ISO29148">{{cite web |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/72089.html |title=ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148:2018 |publisher=International Organization for Standardization |date=November 2018 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> The standard describes the characteristics that make up quality software requirement development, including aspects such as<ref name="SeibertHowDoYou11">{{cite web |url=https://hubtechinsider.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/how-do-you-write-software-requirements-what-are-software-requirements-what-is-a-software-requirement/ |title=How do you write software requirements? What are software requirements? What is a software requirement? |work=HubTechInsider |author=Seibert, P. |date=28 July 2011 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
*correctly describing system behavior;<br />
*effectively removing ambiguity from the language used;<br />
*completely covering the system behavior and features;<br />
*accurately prioritizing and ranking the requirements; and<br />
*unequivocally ensuring the requirements are testable, modifiable, and traceable.<br />
<br />
A requirement typically comes in the form of a statement that begins with "the system/user/vendor shall/should ..." and focuses on a provided service, reaction to input, or expected behavior in a given situation. The statement may be abstract (high-level) or specific and detailed to a precise function. The statement may also be of a functional nature, describing functionality or services in detail, or of a non-functional nature, describing the constraints of a given functionality or service and how it's rendered. An example of a functional software requirement could be "the user shall be able to query either all of the initial set of databases or select a subset from it." This statement describes specific functionality the system should have. On the other hand, a non-functional requirement, for example, may state "the system's query tool shall conform to the ABC 123-2014 standard." The statement describes a constraint placed upon the system's query functionality. <br />
<br />
This is where a requirements specification shines, not only for the software developer but also for those acquiring the software. A set of development requirements, compiled in the form of a software requirements specification, can serve to strengthen the software development process. For those acquiring the software, a set of user requirements, compiled in the form of a user requirements specification (URS), can be used for the selection and acquisition of software or a service.<ref name="MemonSoftware10">{{cite web |url=https://www.cs.umd.edu/~atif/Teaching/Spring2010/Slides/3.pdf |format=PDF |title=Software Requirements: Descriptions and specifications of a system |author=Memon, A. |publisher=University of Maryland |date=Spring 2010 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="SchmittUser18">{{cite journal |title=User Requirements Specifications–How Difficult Can It Be? |journal=Pharmaceutical Technology |author=Schmitt, S. |volume=42 |issue=11 |page=58 |year=2018 |url=http://www.pharmtech.com/user-requirements-specifications-how-difficult-can-it-be-0 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> In the case of the URS, the acquiring business can approach this several ways. The simple way would be to essentially take the vendor at the word in regards to what they say their system can and can't do, agreeing formally to their description and taking responsibility that it will cover all the applicable regulations required by your business. However, this method isn't comprehensive and leaves the business open to not being able to fully meet its goals.<ref name="SchmittUser18" /><br />
<br />
The other method has the URS be specific to your business' needs. The process is more work but leaves less to chance.<ref name="SchmittUser18" /> Developing your own URS isn't always straightforward. Often times, the developed document turns into a mix of "wishlist" requirements from potential and active clients, as well as regulation-mandated requirements. The wishlist items aren't necessarily ignored by developers, but the URS should in fact clearly prioritize requirements as "nice to have" or "essential to system operation," or something in between.<ref name="AasemAnalysis10">{{cite journal |title=Analysis and optimization of software requirements prioritization techniques |author=Aasem, M.; Ramzan, M.; Jaffar, A. |journal=Proceedings from the 2010 International Conference on Information and Emerging Technologies |pages=1–6 |year=2010 |doi=10.1109/ICIET.2010.5625687}}</ref><ref name="Hirsch10Steps13">{{cite web |url=https://www.phase2technology.com/blog/successful-requirements-gathering |title=10 Steps To Successful Requirements Gathering |author=Hirsch, J. |publisher=Phase2 Technology, LLC |date=22 November 2013 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="BurrissSoftware07">{{cite web |url=http://sce2.umkc.edu/BIT/burrise/pl/requirements/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925003040/http://sce2.umkc.edu/BIT/burrise/pl/requirements/ |title=Requirements Specification |work=CS451R, University of Missouri–Kansas City |author=Burris, E. |publisher=University of Missouri–Kansas City |date=2007 |archivedate=25 September 2019 |accessdate=18 November 2021}}</ref> Whatever the URS looks like in the end, it's ultimately up to the vendor to be able to demonstrate how the software does and does not meet its requirements.<br />
<br />
In the latter half of this guide, you'll be given an opportunity to see an example of a URS for the medical diagnostic and research industries in the form of LIMSpec, an evolving set of software requirements specifications for laboratory informatics systems. Built from requirements found in [[ASTM E1578|ASTM E1578-18]] ''Standard Guide for Laboratory Informatics'', as well as dozens of other standards and regulations, we will use LIMSpec to demonstrate how a URS can be put to use, while also showing you how an informatics system can help you laboratory better meet regulatory requirements.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Forensic_science&diff=42248Forensic science2021-04-14T15:14:19Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:Day 253 - West Midlands Police - Forensic Science Lab (7969822920).jpg|thumb|400px|The work of forensic science can occur both in and outside a specialized laboratory.]]<br />
'''Forensic science''' (often shortened to '''forensics''') is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences — from anthropology to toxicology<ref name="AAFSSections">{{cite web |url=http://www.aafs.org/about-aafs/sections |title=About AAFS - Sections |publisher=American Academy of Forensic Sciences |date=2016 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref> — to answer questions of interest to a legal system. During the course of an investigation, forensic scientists collect, preserve, and analyze scientific evidence using a variety of special [[laboratory]] equipment and special techniques for such interests. In addition to their laboratory role, the forensic scientist may also testify as an expert witness in both criminal and civil cases and can work for either the prosecution or the defense.<ref name="TilstoneForensic06">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zIRQOssWbaoC&pg=PA1 |title=Forensic Science: An Encyclopedia of History, Methods, and Techniques |author=Tilstone, William J.; Savage, Kathleen A.; Clark, Leigh A. |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara, California |pages=307 |year=2006 |isbn=9781576071946 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="BrownForensic12">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LG_tuYwkbwYC&pg=PA16 |title=Forensic Science: Advanced Investigations |author=Brown, Rhonda; Davenport, Jackie |publisher=South-Western Cengage Learning |location=Mason, Ohio |pages=528 |year=2012 |isbn=9780538450898 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref><br />
<br />
==History==<br />
===Through the seventeenth century===<br />
The ancient world lacked standardized forensic practices, which aided criminals in escaping punishment. Criminal investigations and trials heavily relied on forced confessions and witness testimony. However, ancient sources do contain several accounts of techniques that foreshadow concepts in forensic science that were developed centuries later.<ref name="SchaferAncient08">{{cite book |chapter=Ancient Science and Forensics |title=Forensic Science |author=Schafer, Elizabeth D. |editor=Embar-Seddon, Ayn; Pass, Allan |publisher=Salem Press |year=2008 |page=40 |isbn=9781587654237}}</ref> One of the first genuine precursors to forensic science was what we'd today call "forensic medicine," the determination of cause of death by examining a corpse. Historians have documented that around 400 BC, Greek physician Hippocrates of Kos provided some of the first discussion of the lethality of wounds, and in 44 BC the physician Antistius opined that of the 23 stab wounds suffered on Julius Ceasar, only one of them was fatal.<ref name="TilstoneForensic06" /><ref name="LucasHigh03Arch">{{cite web |url=http://www.ascld.org/pdf/lucas.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041020014207/http://www.ascld.org/pdf/lucas.pdf |format=PDF |title=Highlights in the Forensic Science Odyssey: The First Ten Thousand Years |author=Lucas, Douglas M. |publisher=American Society of Crime Lab Directors |date=28 October 2003 |archivedate=20 October 2004 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="ArnottTrep03">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Hp5AgAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PA326 |chapter=Chapter 23: Why Trepan? Contributions from Medical History and the South Pacific |title=Trepanation: History, Discovery, Theory |author=Martin, Graham |editor=Arnott, Robert; Finger, Stanley; Smith, C.U.M. |publisher=Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers |location=Lisse, The Netherlands |year=2003 |pages=323–347 |isbn=0203970942 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="Payne-JamesEncy15">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gticBAAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PT2789 |chapter=History of Forensic Medicine |title=Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine |author=Payne-James, Jason |editor=Payne-James, Jason; Byard, Roger W. |publisher=Academic Press |year=2015 |pages=2788–2806 |isbn=9780128000557 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref> This physician-made determination of a lethal or non-lethal wound would later in the sixth century AD be recognized in a legal context as something to be professionally determined and opined by a physician, begetting the expert witness.<ref name="TilstoneForensic06" /><ref name="LucasHigh03Arch" /><br />
<br />
[[File:Ambroise Paré.jpg|thumb|220px|Amrbose Paré's surgical work and use of forensic evidence in legal context laid the groundwork for the development of forensic techniques in the following centuries.]]<br />
The first written account of using forensic medicine (as well as forensic entomology) to solve criminal cases is attributed to the book ''Xi Yuan Lu'' (translated as ''Washing Away of Wrongs''), written in China by Ci Song (??, 1186–1249) in 1248, during the Song Dynasty. In one of the accounts, the case of a person murdered with a sickle was solved by an investigator who instructed everyone to bring his sickle to one location. (He realized it was a sickle by testing various blades on an animal carcass and comparing the wound.) Flies, attracted by the smell of blood, eventually gathered on a single sickle. In light of this, the murderer confessed. The book also offered advice on how to distinguish between a drowning (water in the lungs) and strangulation (broken neck cartilage), along with other evidence from examining corpses on determining if a death was caused by murder, suicide or an accident.<ref name="WechtForensic05">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oIjLBQAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PA432 |chapter=Chapter 23: The Science of Forensic Entomology |title=Forensic Science and Law: Investigative Applications in Criminal, Civil and Family Justice |author=Haskell, Neal H. |editor=Wecht, Cyril H.; Rago, John T. |publisher=CRC Press |location=Boca Raton, Florida |year=2005 |pages=431–442 |isbn=9781420058116 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="McKnightTheWash81">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ie_aAAAAMAAJ |title=The Washing Away of Wrongs: Forensic Medicine in Thirteenth-Century China |author=McKnight, Brian E. (Trans.); Song, Ci |publisher=Center for Chinese Studies, University of Michigan |year=1981 |pages=181 |isbn=9780892648009 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref><br />
<br />
Forensic medicine was further tied to the legal system in 1507, when at the direction of the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg Georg Schenk von Limpurg, episcopal court judge Baron Johann of Schwarzenberg drew up the ''Bambergische Halsgerichtsordnung'' (Procedure for the judgment of capital crimes) of Bamberg (also known as the ''Bambergensis''). It was based on the humanistic school of Roman law, and it was in turn the basis for the ''Constitutio Criminalis Carolina'', drafted in 1530 and ratified in 1532. The documents "defined the scope and nature of the offenses, provided standards for arrest and establishing evidence, and issued formulas for judicial proceedings themselves."<ref name="HarringtonTheFaith13">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jvheQbTxZicC&amp;pg=PT39&amp;lpg=PT39 |title=The Faithful Executioner: Life and Death, Honor and Shame in the Turbulent Sixteenth Century |author=Harrington, Joel F. |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |location=New York, New York |year=2013 |pages=320 |isbn=9780809049936 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="LangbeinPros05">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ae8-rRHi4KMC&amp;pg=PA164 |chapter=Chapter 7: The German Empire before the Carolina |title=Prosecuting Crime in the Renaissance: England, Germany, France |author=Langbein, John H. |publisher=The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd |location=Clark, New Jersey |year=2007 |pages=140–166 |isbn=9781584775775 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="BrittanicaMed11">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=whBTAAAAYAAJ&amp;pg=RA1-PA25 |chapter=Medical Jurisprudence |title=The Encyclopedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Information |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc |edition=11 |volume=18 |year=1911 |accessdate=01 February 2016}}</ref><br />
<br />
One of the first documented practitioners of forensic medicine and the use of forensic evidence in legal context — and cited by some historians as a forefather of forensic science<ref name="TilstoneForensic06" /><ref name="HamblyDr2015">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nFNlCwAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PA24 |title=Dr. Hambly's Historical Guide To Embalming Cookbook |author=Hambly, Troy R. |year=2015 |isbn=9781329637801 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref> — is Amrbose Paré, a French barber surgeon from the mid- to late sixteenth century. Paré was also knowledgeable in chemistry and wound ballistics, wrote a treatise in 1575 on medicolegal reporting, and was notable for being associated with the first documented case of scientific inquiry being used in a court of law.<ref name="TilstoneForensic06" /><ref name="Payne-JamesEncy15" /><ref name="HeronStudies13">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lRKAztCiAIIC&amp;pg=PA9 |chapter=Chapter 1: A Background to Forensic Archeology |title=Studies in Crime: An Introduction to Forensic Archaeology |author=Hunter, John; Roberts, Charlotte; Martin, Anthony |publisher=Routledge |year=2002 |pages=7–23 |isbn=0415166128 |accessdate=29 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="BrittanicaMed11" /> Following in Paré's footsteps, other medico-legal texts were being produced at the end of the sixteenth century and into the seventeenth century, including Andreas Libavius' ''De Unguento Armario; et de Cruentatione Cadaverum'', G. Battista Codronchi's ''Methodus testificandi'', and Paolo Zacchia's ''Quaestiones medico-legales''<ref name="Payne-JamesEncy15" /><ref name="BrittanicaMed11" /> (which has also led some experts to label Zacchia as a forefather of forensic medicine<ref name="HandelPaolo03">{{cite journal |title=Paolo Zacchia – der geistige Vater der Rechtsmedizin |trans_title=Paolo Zacchia--The spiritual father of forensic medicine |journal=Archiv fur Kriminologie |author=Händel, K. |volume=212 |issue=3–4 |pages=65–73 |year=2003 |pmid=14639809}}</ref>). With Zacchia and his predecessors' work becoming more influential, the floodgates were open, with universities like the University of Leipzig leading the charge, providing some of the first known lectures on forensic science and medicine in 1642.<ref name="TilstoneForensic06" /><ref name="BrittanicaMed11" /> <br />
<br />
===Eighteenth century to modern===<br />
Germany continued its trend of influencing the development of forensic science into the eighteenth century, with works by Valentini, Teichmeyer, and Albertus supplementing those of Zacchia. Additionally, the first known academic journal (1782) on medical jurisprudence appeared there.<ref name="TilstoneForensic06" /><ref name="ChailleOrigin50">{{cite journal |url=http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3699&amp;context=jclc |format=PDF |title=Origin and Progress of Medical Jurisprudence 1776–1876 |journal=Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology |author=Chaillé, Stanford Emerson |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=397–444 |year=1949–1950}}</ref> However, the French began to significantly develop forensic science at the turn of the nineteenth century, taking many cues from Germany and its rich body of literature. In a paper written for the International Medical Congress in Philadelphia in 1876, medical doctor Stanford Emerson Chaillé commented on this change, as well as the resulting infiltration of forensic science to Great Britain and United States<ref name="ChailleOrigin50" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Since 1790, no nation has surpassed France in the culture of medical science; in addition, the judges appoint medical experts, who, since 1803, must be graduates in medicine, and must have attended one course of lectures, and have passed an examination on Legal Medicine, professional chairs of which were established by the state in 1794. However, French authorities denounce their didactic instruction as insufficient for the education of experts, and declare the appointment of these by the judges, and the lack of skilled medico-legal officials to procure medical evidence, to be most unsatisfactory, and their whole system to be much inferior to the German. Still, France has at least a system, and meanly as this does apply the art, it has served to greatly stimulate the culture of the science, as has been notably illustrated since 1796 by French medico-legal literature. A critical appreciation of how much of this literature has been derived from Germany, and how much of medico-legal science without the art has been transported from Germany and France to Great Britain, and the United States, would, I fear, prove offensive to Gallic, and still more to Anglo-American, vanity.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The academic discussion of forensic medicine spread to Great Britain, with authors like William Hunter ("On the Uncertainty of the Signs of Murder in the Case of Bastard Children," 1783), George Male (''Epitome of Juridical or Forensic Medicine'', 1816), Gordon Smith (''The Principles of Forensic Medicine: Systematically Arranged'', 1821), and Alfred Swaine Taylor (''Manual of Medical Jurisprudence'', 1844) leading the charge.<ref name="BrittanicaMed11" /><ref name="StarkClin11">{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=bAAhI7jUZ1IC&pg=PA5 |chapter=Chapter 1: Clinical Forensic Medicine: History and Development |title=Clinical Forensic Medicine: A Physician's Guide |editor=Stark, Margaret M. |author=Payne-James, Jason J.; Stark, Margaret M. |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |location=New York, New York |year=2011 |pages=1–44 |isbn=9781617792588 |accessdate=03 February 2016}}</ref> By 1863, the University of London had "made forensic medicine a separate subject for examination and honours for medical graduates."<ref name="BrittanicaMed11" /><br />
<br />
In the United States, Benjamin Rush ("On the Study of Medical Jurisprudence," 1811), Theodric Romeyn Beck (''Elements of Medical Jurisprudence'', 1823), Isaac Ray (''A Treatise on Medical Jurisprudence of Insanity'', 1838), and Francis Wharton and Moreton Stille (''A Treatise on Medical Jurisprudence'', 1855) all made contributions to forensic medicine literature.<ref name="BrittanicaMed11" /><ref name="StarkClin11" /><ref name="WechtTheHist05">{{cite journal |title=The history of legal medicine |journal=Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online |author=Wecht, Cyril H. |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=245–251 |year=2005 |pmid=15985669 |url=http://www.jaapl.org/content/33/2/245.full |accessdate=03 February 2016}}</ref> The strong influence of medico-legal issues continued in the U.S., with the establishment of the Medico-Legal Society in New York in 1867 further cementing the link between legal law and medical knowledge.<ref name="WechtTheHist05" /> But such successes would be short-lived; after the American Civil War the science lulled. Some medical colleges dropped their medical jurisprudence courses, while others chose attorneys with little formal medical training to address the topic. Chaillé's 1876 account of the state of medical colleges in the U.S. seems to back this up, with him citing a report on 46 of the 64 medical colleges finding that only 14 had professorships in medical jurisprudence, with only five of those offering instruction from a legal professional.<ref name="ChailleOrigin50" /><br />
<br />
It took until the mid-twentieth century for legal medicine to regain its sheen in the U.S.<ref name="WechtTheHist05" /> One of the catalysts that led to this rebound was the National Research Council, which in 1924 created a Committee on Medicolegal Problems to in part address the public perception of the coroner's physician as inept or sociopathic. Subsequent reports in 1928 and 1932 addressed the flaws of the coroner's system and pushed for educational reform. This led universities such as New York University and Harvard to put into place their own medical jurisprudence programs. The creation of the American Board of Pathology in 1936 furthered that renaissance.<ref name="ClarkLegal94">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GN9EH2-BRvMC&pg=PA268 |chapter=Chapter 11: Coroners, corruption and the politics of death: Forensic pathology in the United States |title=Legal Medicine in History |editor=Clark, Michael; Crawford, Catherine |author=Johnson, Julie |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, U.K. |year=1994 |pages=268–287 |isbn=9780521395144 |accessdate=03 February 2016}}</ref><br />
<br />
[[File:Alec Jeffreys -2008.jpg|thumb|300px|Alec Jeffreys pioneered the DNA profiling technique in 1984–1985.]]Forensic medicine aside, other technologies and methodologies important to forensic science began blooming from the eighteenth century on. Innovations by Walter Noel Hartley in London (1877), Arthur Hardy at MIT (1920), and Arnold Beckman (1941) led to the UV spectrophotometer, which today heavily assists work in forensic chemistry laboratories.<ref name="TilstoneForensic06" /> Development in the fields of microscopy and optics by William Nicol in Edinburgh (1828) and Giovanni Battista Amici in Italy (1840) led to the creation of the polarizing microscope and oil-immersion lens respectively, both of which today improve how forensic scientists conduct their work.<ref name="TilstoneForensic06" /> The utility of fingerprints was also independently being realized in various parts of the world during this time, culminating in the late nineteenth century development of scientific classification systems for fingerprints by Sir Francis Galton and Juan Vucetich. Toxicology was also making headway, becoming a more notable specialization thanks to contributions from Sir William Wilcox, Dr. Rudolph August Witthaus, and Dr. Alexander O. Gettler in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.<ref name="TilstoneForensic06" /><br />
<br />
Later in the twentieth century British pathologists/professors Francis Camps, Sydney Smith, and Keith Simpson pioneered new forensic science methods in pathology and ballistics.<ref name="TilstoneForensic06" /> By the 1980s, efforts towards automated sequencing were underway. In 1984, having previously done work on paternity testing, Sir Alec Jeffreys turned his attention to rigorous methods of DNA profiling and their application to forensic science. By 1985 he had realized the scope of DNA fingerprinting, which uses variations in the genetic code to identify individuals. The method has since become important in forensic science to assist forensic detective work, and it has also proved useful in resolving paternity and immigration disputes.<ref name="NewtonDisc04">{{cite web |url=http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_wtd020877.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721032732/http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_wtd020877.html |title=Discovering DNA fingerprinting |author=Newton, Giles |work=The Human Genome |publisher=Wellcome Trust |date=02 April 2004 |archivedate=21 July 2011 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="TilstoneForensic06" /><ref name="JeffreysIndi85">{{cite journal |title=Individual-specific 'fingerprints' of human DNA |journal=Nature |author=Jeffreys, A. J.; Wilson, V.; Thein, S.L. |volume=316 |issue=6023 |pages=76-9 |year=1985 |pmid=2989708 |url=http://www.nature.com/scitable/content/Individual-specific-fingerprints-of-human-DNA-11451 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref> In 2009, a group of Israeli scientists, however, showed proof of concept that DNA evidence could be fabricated with specific techniques.<ref name="PollackDNA09">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/science/18dna.html |title=DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated, Scientists Show |author=Pollack, Andrew |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=17 August 2009 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref><br />
<br />
==The forensic laboratory==<br />
Much of the work of forensic science is conducted in the forensic laboratory. Such a laboratory has many similarities to a traditional [[clinical laboratory|clinical]] or research lab in so much that it contains various lab instruments and several areas set aside for different tasks. However, it differs in other ways. Windows, for example, represent a point of entry into a forensic lab, which must be secure as it contains evidence to crimes. As such, a crime lab may have fewer windows.<ref name="SeigelForensic15">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSvSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA24 |chapter=Chapter 1: Introduction to Forensic Science|title=Forensic Science: The Basics |edition=3rd |author=Seigel, Jay A.; Mirakovits, Kathy |publisher=CRC Press |location=Boca Raton, Florida |year=2015 |isbn=9781482253375 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref> The receiving area also tends to be different due to the nature of materials being tested. Though test specimens/samples need to be traceable just like clinical and research labs, the tested materials and evidence requires more rigorous procedures to ensure chain of custody is maintained. In modern times, this process may be enhanced with the use of data management systems such as a [[laboratory information management system]]. Additionally, the evidence will go to a locked storage area to limit access to individuals who could tamper with it. Additional locked storage areas may be available to each forensic scientist for securing evidence in their custody for analysis.<ref name="SeigelForensic15" /><br />
<br />
Other activities typical to a forensic laboratory include<ref name="FBILabServ">{{cite web |url=https://www.fbi.gov/services/laboratory |title=Laboratory Services |publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="ArmstrongServ">{{cite web |url=http://www.aflab.com/services/ |title=Forensic Services |publisher=Armstrong Forensic Laboratory, Inc |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="LSUFACESServ">{{cite web |url=http://www.lsu.edu/faceslab/leo.html#srv" |title=Laboratory Services |publisher=Louisiana State University |accessdate=10 July 2017}}</ref>: <br />
<br />
* DNA analysis<br />
* fire debris analysis<br />
* metallurgical analysis<br />
* vehicle fluid analysis<br />
* trauma analysis<br />
* skeletal identification<br />
* body fluid identification<br />
* evidence screening<br />
* facial reconstruction<br />
* audio/image enhancement<br />
* carbon dating of remains<br />
<br />
A forensic science laboratory may also stand out from the typical laboratory in other ways. It may, for example, contain a dedicated garage for searching and analyzing vehicles and other large structures. A ballistics section (for test-firing weapons for comparative evidence), document analysis section (with access to natural light), several chemistry sections (for toxicology, blood analysis, DNA), a controlled substance section (for drugs of abuse testing and storage), latent prints section (fingerprint analysis), and even a computer evidence section (forensic computer examination) may also make up a full-function forensic lab.<ref name="SeigelForensic15" /><ref name="NIJFor98">{{cite web |url=https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/168106.pdf |format=PDF |title=Forensic Laboratories: Handbook for Facility Planning, Design, Construction, and Moving |author=National Institute of Justice |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |date=April 1998 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref> These diverse departments or sections of a lab fully represent the inherently cross-disciplined nature of forensic science. At times gaps may exist in knowledge and know-how in some areas of forensic analysis, requiring a laboratory to recruit outside help for more esoteric analyses.<ref name="NRCStrength09">{{cite book |title=Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward |author=National Research Council |publisher=National Academies Press |year=2009 |pages=348 |doi=10.17226/12589 |url=https://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589/strengthening-forensic-science-in-the-united-states-a-path-forward}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Accrediting===<br />
Laboratory accreditation in general provides benefits to everyone. It provides proof of technical competence and gives the public confidence in laboratory procedures and workflows. It also allows the accrediting organization the opportunity to help the lab identify its strengths as well as areas of improvement. Once accredited, the laboratory will periodically get re-evaluated to ensure the lab is still operating up to standard. Lab managers may also choose to have another independent organization periodically evaluate the lab's performance to prevent any future problems internally and with the public.<ref name="ILACWhy11">{{cite web |url=http://www.ascld-lab.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Why-become-an-acredited-lab.pdf |format=PDF |title=Why become an Accredited Laboratory? |publisher=International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation |date=May 2011 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref> <br />
<br />
More specifically, forensic laboratory accreditation is important as it provides the public confidence in the legal process as it relates to evidence analysis and expert testimonies. As of February 2016, many accrediting bodies exist for forensic laboratories, each with their own intricacies:<br />
<br />
[[American Association for Laboratory Accreditation]] (A2LA): ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17025,<ref name="A2LAForensic13">{{cite web |url=https://www.a2la.org/appsweb/forensic.cfm?fieldpk=18&title=Forensic&certno=0.11 |title=Forensic Examination Accreditation Program |publisher=American Association for Laboratory Accreditation |date=2013 |accessdate=11 February 2016}}</ref> ILAC G19:08/2014<ref name="A2LA_R239">{{cite web |url=https://www.a2la.org/Requirements/R239.pdf |format=PDF |title=R239 - Specific Requirements: Forensic Examination Accreditation Program – Forensic Science Agency |publisher=American Association for Laboratory Accreditation |pages=4 |date=17 December 2015 |accessdate=11 February 2016}}</ref><br />
<br />
[[American Board of Forensic Toxicology]] (ABFT): SOFT/AAFS Forensic Laboratory Guidelines<ref name="ABFTLabAccred">{{cite web |url=http://www.abft.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=62 |title=Laboratory Acceditation in Forensic Toxicology |publisher=American Board of Forensic Toxicology |accessdate=11 February 2016}}</ref><br />
<br />
[[The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board|American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board]] (ASCLD/LAB): ISO/IEC 17025 (''International'' program)<ref name="ASCLDLABArrange">{{cite web |url=http://www.ascld-lab.org/promotion-of-ilac-and-iaac-arrangements/ |title=International Arrangements |publisher=American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref><br />
<br />
[[ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board]] (ANAB): ISO/IEC 17020<ref name="ANAB17020Forensics">{{cite web |url=http://anab.org/programs/isoiec-17020/forensic-inspection-agencies/ |title=ISO/IEC 17020 Accreditation for Forensic Inspection Agencies |publisher=ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board |accessdate=11 February 2016}}</ref>, ISO/IEC 17025<ref name="ANAB17025Forensics">{{cite web |url=http://anab.org/programs/isoiec-17025/forensics/ |title=ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation for Forensic Testing Laboratories |publisher=ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board |accessdate=11 February 2016}}</ref>, ILAC G19:2002<ref name="ANABFQS17025">{{cite web |url=http://search.anab.org/accreditation/isoiec-17025.aspx |title=FQS ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation |publisher=ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board |accessdate=11 February 2016}}</ref><br />
:* [[ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board#Offerings|Lab Accreditation Bureau]] (L-A-B): ISO/IEC 17025, ILAC G19:2002<ref name="LABForensic">{{cite web |url=http://l-a-b.com/about-lab/l-b-program-requirements/forensic-science-lap-labpr-413/ |title=Forensic Science LAP (LABPR-413) |publisher=Lab Accreditation Bureau |accessdate=11 February 2016}}</ref><br />
<br />
One major difference among these accrediting bodies is if they back a set of internationally recognized standards and best practices. At the moment, the common standards used in this regard are [[ISO/IEC 17025]] and ISO/IEC 17020. In an October 2015 piece for Forensic Magazine, forensic analyst and accreditation manager Pat Bencivenga described the difference this way<ref name="BencivengaWhich15">{{cite web |url=http://www.forensicmag.com/articles/2015/10/which-standards-are-standard-differences-between-iso-iec-17025-and-17020-forensic-agencies |title=Which Standards Are Standard? Differences between ISO/IEC 17025 and 17020 for forensic agencies |author=Bencivenga, Pat |work=Forensic Magazine |publisher=Advantage Business Media |date=22 October 2015 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>ISO/IEC 17025 is the standard for testing and calibration laboratories and ISO/IEC 17020 is the standard for inspection agencies. Both standards have equal weight as international standards and neither one is better than the other … ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020 both include very similar management system requirements based on [[ISO 9000|ISO 9001:2008]] (section 4 in ISO/IEC 17025 and clause 8 in ISO/IEC 17020). Beyond these ISO 9001-based requirements, the standards diverge significantly. ISO/IEC 17025 requirements are heavy with regard to measurement uncertainty, traceability, and analytical validation. ISO/IEC 17020 requirements, in contrast, focus more strongly on impartiality, independence, and confidentiality.</blockquote><br />
<br />
====In the United States====<br />
In the United States in recent years, the lack of laws requiring the accreditation of forensic labs has been a serious topic of discussion. At the turn of the twenty-first century, "a majority of the forensic laboratories in the United States [were] not accredited, and [had] not made the commitment to comply with consensus quality standards."<ref name="ArvizuFor00">{{cite web |url=http://www.nlada.org/forensics/for_lib/Documents/1107453386.76/90ded0ef0fb5abe085256982004e0b8f%3FOpenDocument%26Highlight%3D0,eyewitness |title=Forensic Labs: Shattering the Myth |author=Arvizu, Janine |work=The Champion |publisher=National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers |date=May 2000 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref> Only one accrediting body — the American Society of Criminal Laboratory Directors, Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) — existed, membership was low (165 labs in May 2000), and 20 states didn't even have a single accredited lab. And some laboratory quality control experts such as Janine Arvizu found the technical rigor and independent nature of the ASCLD to be lacking.<ref name="ArvizuFor00" /><ref name="FischerTheFBI01">{{cite web |url=http://www.kkc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Whitehurst_GQ_The-FBIs-Dirty-Tricks-Jan-2001.pdf |format=PDF |title=The FBI's Junk Science |work=GQ |publisher=Advance Publications |date=January 2001 |pages=114–117, 148–149 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref> Questions were being asked of the legitimacy of the federal FBI crime labs as well as state-run labs such as the then new Jamaica, Queens crime lab in New York and the Houston crime lab.<ref name="FischerTheFBI01" /><ref name="MarzulliNYPD99">{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/nypd-new-crime-lab-fails-major-inspection-article-1.849802 |title=NYPD's New Crime Lab Fails Major Inspection |author=Marzulli, John |work=NY Daily News |publisher=Daily News, L.P |date=29 November 1999 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="LiptakNew04">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/05/us/new-doubt-cast-on-testing-in-houston-police-crime-lab.html |title=New Doubt Cast on Testing in Houston Police Crime Lab |author=Liptak, Adam; Blumenthal, Ralph |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=05 August 2004 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref> (Some revelations about the poor quality of FBI crime labs prior to 2000 wouldn't be revealed until 2015.<ref name="HsuFBI15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/fbi-overstated-forensic-hair-matches-in-nearly-all-criminal-trials-for-decades/2015/04/18/39c8d8c6-e515-11e4-b510-962fcfabc310_story.html |title=FBI admits flaws in hair analysis over decades |author=Hsu, Spencer S. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=Nash Holdings LLC |date=18 April 2015 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="LithwickPseudo15">{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2015/04/fbi_s_flawed_forensics_expert_testimony_hair_analysis_bite_marks_fingerprints.single.html |title=Pseudoscience in the Witness Box |author=Lithwick, Dahlia |work=Slate |publisher=The Slate Group, LLC |date=22 April 2015 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref>)<br />
<br />
The U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice had previously in February 1999 published a review of needs for forensic science, though it stopped short of recommending mandatory accreditation of forensic labs, only saying "[t]he profession should accredit/certify forensic academic training programs/institutions."<ref name="NIJForensicFeb99">{{cite web |url=https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/173412.pdf |format=PDF |title=Forensic Sciences: Review of Status and Needs |author=National Institute of Justice |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |date=February 1999 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref> With little reform in site, many of the major representatives of forensic science requested that Congress form a committee to again study the needs of the community and make formal recommendations. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) eventually released its report in 2009. Among its recommendations: "Laboratory accreditation and individual certification of forensic science professionals should be mandatory, and all forensic science professional should have access to a certification process." It went on to make minimum requirements for lab accreditation and professional certification, receiving support from some law enforcement officials and scientists in the community.<ref name="SeigelForensic15" /><ref name="FitzpatrickTheNeed09">{{cite journal |url=http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=1888&issue_id=92009 |title=The Need for Mandatory Accreditation and Certification |journal=The Police Chief |author=Fitzpatrick, Frank; Martin, Kenneth |volume=76 |issue=9 |year=September 2009 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="Dwyer-MossFlawed13">{{cite journal |title=Flawed Forensics and the Death Penalty: Junk Science and Potentially Wrongful Executions |journal=Seattle Journal for Social Justice |author=Dwyer-Moss, Jessica |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=757–812 |url=http://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/sjsj/vol11/iss2/10 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref><br />
<br />
Today in the United States despite NAS recommendations, as of yet no national accrediting or overseeing body exists for overseeing and enforcing standard procedures. Some states require accreditation while others do not. States like Missouri, North Carolina, and Minnesota have enacted laws making accreditation mandatory<ref name="MOLaw650">{{cite web |url=http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/65000000601.HTML |title=Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 650, Department of Public Safety, Section 650.060.1 |publisher=Missouri General Assembly |date=28 August 2015 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="A2LAMissouri">{{cite web |url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/04/prweb12642557.htm |title=A2LA Forensic Science Accreditation Program Approved in Missouri |work=PRWeb |publisher=Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC |date=09 April 2015 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="OlsonAcc13">{{cite web |url=https://ncforensics.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/accreditation-of-local-crime-labs/ |title=Accreditation of local crime labs |author=Olson, Sarah Rackley |work=Forensic Science in North Carolina |publisher=Indigent Defense Services of NC |date=14 March 2013 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="CollinsNew14">{{cite web |url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/04/25/new-minn-law-requires-crime-labs-to-meet-national-standards |title=New Minn. law requires crime labs to meet national standards |author=Collins, Jon |work=MPRNews |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=25 April 2014 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref>, but national mandatory accreditation still doesn't exist. However, the Department of Justice and the National Institute of Standards & Technology announced plans in 2013 to finally create oversight bodies to oversee forensic science labs: the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS) and the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC).<ref name="DrahlForcing14">{{cite journal |title=Forcing Change in Forensic Science |journal=Chemical & Engineering News |author=Drahl, Carmen; Widener, Andrea |volume=92 |issue=19 |pages=10–15 |year=2014 |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/i19/Forcing-Change-Forensic-Science.html |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref> The NCFS adopted recommendation in 2015 for universal accreditation of "forensic science service providers," though they recognize challenges to this. For example, some research labs that offer forensic services only on rare occasion feel they don't have incentive to get accredited for forensic testing. Additionally, some accrediting bodies do not use widely accepted ISO/IEC standards.<ref name="NCFSUni15">{{cite web |url=http://www.justice.gov/ncfs/file/477851/download |title=Universal Accreditation |author=National Commission on Forensic Science |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |date=30 April 2015 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref> OSAC has taken a slightly different approach, announcing in October 2015 that it "would like to engage with standards developing organizations (SDOs) that are currently or are willing to support the development of standards for the forensic science industry."<ref name="ReczekNIST15">{{cite web |url=http://www.nist.gov/forensics/osac/NIST-s-OSAC-is-Seeking-Standards-Developing-Organizations.cfm |title=NIST's OSAC is Seeking Standards Developing Organizations who support Forensic Science Standards |author=Reczek, Karen |work=OSAC Home |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology |date=27 October 2015 |accessdate=04 February 2016}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Further reading==<br />
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=whBTAAAAYAAJ&amp;pg=RA1-PA25 |chapter=Medical Jurisprudence |title=The Encyclopedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Information |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc |edition=11 |volume=18 |year=1911}}<br />
* {{cite journal |url=http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3699&amp;context=jclc |format=PDF |title=Origin and Progress of Medical Jurisprudence 1776–1876 |journal=Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology |author=Chaille, Stanford Emerson |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=397–444 |year=1949–1950}}<br />
* {{cite journal |title=Forcing Change in Forensic Science |journal=Chemical & Engineering News |author=Drahl, Carmen; Widener, Andrea |volume=92 |issue=19 |pages=10–15 |year=2014 |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/i19/Forcing-Change-Forensic-Science.html}}<br />
* {{cite book |title=Crime Investigation: Physical Evidence and the Police Laboratory |author=Kirk, Paul L. |publisher=Interscience Publishers |location=New York, New York |year=1953 |pages=784}}<br />
* {{cite journal |title=The evolution of forensic science: Progress amid the pitfalls |journal=Stetson Law Review |author=Peterson, Joseph L.; Leggett, Anna S. |volume=36 |pages=621–660 |year=2007 |url=http://www.stetson.edu/law/lawreview/media/the-evolution-of-forensic-science-progress-amid-the-pitfalls.pdf |format=PDF}}<br />
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zIRQOssWbaoC&pg=PA1 |title=Forensic Science: An Encyclopedia of History, Methods, and Techniques |author=Tilstone, William J.; Savage, Kathleen A.; Clark, Leigh A. |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara, California |pages=307 |year=2006 |isbn=9781576071946}}<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
A few elements of this article are reused from [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Forensic_science the Wikipedia article].<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Branches of science]]<br />
[[Category:Laboratory types]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Limspec&diff=41623Limspec2021-02-10T17:15:59Z<p>Avaughan: /* About */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:Limspec_new_logo.jpg|300px]]<br />
= About =<br />
<br />
The [http://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Limspec:Main_Page LiMSpec] was originated by the [https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/Laboratory_Informatics_Institute Laboratory Informatics Institute] in 2007, and is intended to ultimately serve as a complete tool for managing the evaluation process for LIMS/LIS selection. Initially, it is focused on cataloguing requirements and vendor questions, and allowing for the categorization and assignment to specific industries. Users can create their own private collection of requirements and questions, and export in a variety of formats - including Open Office Document format.<br />
<br />
You can review the [https://github.com/LIMSforge/LiMSpec/wiki/Product-Roadmap product roadmap] for the product to understand the long term goals for the application. The source code can be found [https://github.com/LIMSforge/LiMSpec here].<br />
<br />
Following are a brief set of directions for use.<br />
<br />
= Creating an Account =<br />
<br />
You have several choices to create an account in the LiMSpec tool. You can create a unique account by entering your e-mail address and a password, or you can use your LinkedIn, Google, or Twitter account. When your account has been created, you will have basic access. If you would like to contribute to the public collection of requirements and questions, you will need to [[#Contacting the System Administrators|request]] an account upgrade from the administrator.<br />
<br />
= Navigating Requirements =<br />
<br />
Because of the sheer number of requirements, several functions exist to help the user isolate specific requirements of interest. First, each requirement can be assigned an optional category, and the list of requirements [[File:Limspec_requirements.png|thumb|Requirements Page]] being displayed can be filtered based on these categories. Next, the user can identify specific requirements to be included in their personal collection. The user can choose to only display requirements that are associated with their industries. This can be set permanently by using the application settings screen.<br />
<br />
In order to add requirements to a personal collection, simply check the desired requirements and click on the &quot;Select for Personal Collection&quot; button.<br />
<br />
== Full Text Searching ==<br />
<br />
Requirements have a full text search field, which will look across both titles and requirement text for a match. This tool utilizes the [http://lucene.apache.org/solr/ Solr] search engine.<br />
<br />
= Navigating Questions =<br />
<br />
Navigating questions is generally the same as navigating requirements except for the absence of full text searching and categories. These were left out as the number of questions is relatively small, and so there is not much value to these options.<br />
<br />
= Personal Copies of Requirements and Questions =<br />
<br />
Requirements and questions which have been selected for inclusion in your personal collection can be accessed under the requirements or question menu.[[File:Limspec_MyRequirements.png|thumb|My Requirements Page]] Within your personal collection, you have the ability to edit requirements and questions at will. If you decide you want to undo your changes, a revert link will be available for any modified requirements or questions.<br />
<br />
If you no longer wish to have a copy of a given requirement in your collection, simply delete it.<br />
<br />
==Adjusting the Sort Order==<br />
<br />
Personal copies of requirements and questions can be manually re-ordered. Simply drag the and drop them into a new position. Personal requirements can only be reordered within a category. To permanently save the new order, click on the update sort order button at the bottom of the page.<br />
<br />
= Generating an RFP Document =<br />
<br />
[[File: RFP_Requirements_Section.png|thumb|Requirements Section of the RFP/RFI]] Clicking on the Generate RFP tab will cause the download of an ODT document that contains requirements and questions formatted into some basic tables. The intent is to provide a document that can be customized by the individual user for submission as an RFI/RFP document.<br />
<br />
=Suggesting New Requirements and Questions=<br />
<br />
Users with the correct permissions will be able to create new requirements and questions for inclusion in the general collection. These submissions will be reviewed first by an administrator.<br />
= Administrative Activities =<br />
<br />
Users with the administrator role will have an Administration tab available at the top of each page. It is through this tab that the following administrative activities are available.<br />
<br />
== Reviewing Submitted Requirements/Questions ==<br />
<br />
If you have the administrator role, a link will be displayed at the top of both the requirements and questions list pages to review submitted requirements or questions. Clicking this link will present a list of requirements or questions that have a status of submitted. The administrator can open each item for review and then set the new status accordingly. A Public status adds the item to the public pool.<br />
<br />
== Modifying Users ==<br />
<br />
Administrators also have the ability to modify individual user accounts. This includes setting the roles and industries, as well as changing the name and e-mail. Caution should be exercised with e-mail changes, as this is the basis for authentication with the LiMSpec account. The manage users link is available from the Administration page.<br />
<br />
== Sending System Alerts ==<br />
<br />
The Administration page also presents the option of sending out a message to all users of the system. Typically, this will be used for system maintenance and similar announcements.<br />
<br />
= Contacting the System Administrators =<br />
<br />
If a user runs into technical difficulties, or needs their account upgraded, they can contact the administrator team by clicking on the contact link, and preparing a message.</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Template:COVID-19_Testing,_Reporting,_and_Information_Management_in_the_Laboratory/Workflow_and_information_management_for_COVID-19_(and_other_respiratory_diseases)/Laboratory_informatics_and_workflow_management&diff=39705Template:COVID-19 Testing, Reporting, and Information Management in the Laboratory/Workflow and information management for COVID-19 (and other respiratory diseases)/Laboratory informatics and workflow management2020-07-03T15:33:05Z<p>Avaughan: /* 3.1 Laboratory informatics and workflow management */</p>
<hr />
<div>==3. Workflow and information management for COVID-19 (and other pandemics)==<br />
===3.1 Laboratory informatics and workflow management===<br />
<br />
[[File:Molecular diagnostics qia symphony.jpg|right|360px]]Laboratory computing has positively affected clinical service delivery and laboratory management for decades.<ref name="JonesInform14">{{cite journal |title=Informatics and the Clinical Laboratory |journal=The Clinical Biochemist Reviews |author=Jones, R.G.; Johnson, O.A.; Baststone, G. |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=177–192 |year=2014 |pmid=25336763 |pmc=PMC4204239}}</ref> These benefits are achieved through automation elements that reduce data entry errors, reduce workloads, collect laboratory instrument data, and check for common errors like duplicate test orders.<ref name="PitkusLab18">{{cite journal |title=Laboratory Informatics: An Increasingly Valuable Commodity Emerging from Today's Laboratories |journal=ASCLS Today |author=Pitkus, A. |volume=32 |issue=2 |year=2018 |url=https://www.ascls.org/communication/ascls-today/313-ascls-today-volume-32-number-2?start=10 |accessdate=30 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="RaeenHowLab18">{{cite journal |title=How laboratory informatics has impacted healthcare overall |journal=Applied Research Projects |author=Raeen, M.R. |volume=54 |year=2018 |url=https://dc.uthsc.edu/hiimappliedresearch/54 |doi=10.21007/chp.hiim.0056}}</ref> In the world of epidemiological testing, those same [[laboratory informatics]] applications—such as [[laboratory information management system]]s (LIMS), [[laboratory information system]]s (LIS), and [[hospital information system]]s (HIS)—provide similar value. <br />
<br />
Pandemic response realizes benefits through crisis and risk management systems, syndromic surveillance systems, and medical diagnostic tools. As Wilson and Jumbert note about humanitarian technologies and pandemics, "collecting information is central to the implementation of an efficient response, including situational information, needs assessment, and operational information."<ref name="WilsonTheNew18">{{cite journal |title=The new informatics of pandemic response: humanitarian technology, efficiency, and the subtle retreat of national agency |journal=Journal of International Humanitarian Action |author=Wilson, C.; Jumbert, M.G. |volume=3 |at=8 |year=2018 |doi=10.1186/s41018-018-0036-5 |pmc=PMC7149122}}</ref> At the response's core is the valuable reporting of public health data (discussed in the next section). As such, those labs and healthcare systems performing disease testing see numerous benefits in adopting and applying informatics solutions to their workflow: improved operations and positive contributions to disease reporting.<br />
<br />
However, just purchasing a random laboratory informatics solution and putting it to use is no guarantee towards realizing the technology's actual benefits. Careful consideration, discussion, training, and policy adjustment are required to get the most of any new system. It would be beyond the scope of this guide to offer complete advice on acquiring and implementing laboratory informatics solutions. That information can be found in the Association of Public Health Laboratories' ''[[LII:Laboratory Information Systems Project Management: A Guidebook for International Implementations|Laboratory Information Systems Project Management: A Guidebook for International Implementations]]'' or Joe Liscouski's ''[[LII:A Guide for Management: Successfully Applying Laboratory Systems to Your Organization's Work|A Guide for Management: Successfully Applying Laboratory Systems to Your Organization's Work]]''. What follows instead are considerations to make when selecting a solution to assist your organization with COVID-19 (and other types of disease) testing workflows.<br />
<br />
====3.1.1 Does the system provide a flexible provider portal?====<br />
<br />
What types of providers are ordering COVID-19 tests? From surgeons ordering for pre-operation procedures and emergency room physicians for ER patients, to pathology groups and home health care or assisted living centers ordering for their patients, a wide variety of provider types exist. Those provider types and their special needs should be addressed. For example, physicians of record for home health care clients may not only require support for digital signatures in order entry, but additional verbal authorization of the test may also be required. The system should have a means for verifying that these order entry components are entered by the provider. <br />
<br />
Healthcare facilities may also require additional flexibility for portal account creation and use. For example, they may find it useful to have portal log-ins tied to a facility rather than a specific physician. An entity may even wish to provide in-house staff or other related workers access to their COVID-19 test report via the portal, requiring role-based permissions to be built into the portal. Be sure to consider who needs access to what information and whether or not the LIMS or LIS can securely meet those needs.<br />
<br />
Some healthcare systems will require the order entry portion of the provider portal make disease-specific checks or require disease-specific patient symptoms to be entered as part of the order. In the case of COVID-19, a wide majority of healthcare settings are still requiring the patient to be indicating clinical and/or epidemiological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection before testing may begin. Does the system provide checks for testing requirements or, at a minimum, allow documentation of patient aspects such as body temperature, symptoms, travel history, and existing health conditions as part of order entry? This may be implemented through something as simple as comment boxes or through a more refined form with checkboxes and other input areas.<br />
<br />
====3.1.2 Does the system allow for the flexible addition of users, providers, and patients?====<br />
<br />
Providers ordering COVID-19 tests may work at more than one facility, ordering tests at a hospital one day, and ordering tests as a physician of record for a patient in a home health care setting the next. Having one system account for the provider while maintaining the ability to select the location associated with a test order is incredibly useful. In addition, being able to view test orders and reports by location has utility. As such, the system should not only make it easy to add providers and other users, but also allow the assignment of locations to those providers. Of course, the system should also allow for more granular assignments of system roles to users. The system should also allow patients to be added to the system as entities.<br />
<br />
====3.1.3 Does the system allow for laboratory workflows sympathetic to COVID-19 and other types of respiratory illness testing?====<br />
<br />
'''Sample reception'''<br />
<br />
Sample reception should support single-sample orders as well as sample lots. The system should also allow for multiple sample types to be added. For COVID-19, this has typically involved nasopharyngeal swabs in a sterile viral transport container. However, other sample types such as sputum, blood, or saliva—and other container types such as a sterile container with saline, a sterile dry collection cup, or blood collection tubes—should also be supported. Sometimes samples won't be available at the same time the test order arrives because sampling needs to be scheduled. In the case of COVID-19 testing, priority is being given to healthcare workers and patients showing clinical evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection; however, as testing becomes more readily available, workplace and student testing may be phased in, for example. This requires scheduling of patients to provide samples in intervals of time. Does the informatics system provide a means for providers and laboratory personnel to schedule sample collection associated with test orders? Can it send appointment reminders to scheduled patients, and can it send alerts if the patient doesn't arrive, completes sampling procedures, or views their patient results?<br />
<br />
'''Order and sample management'''<br />
<br />
Viewing and managing test orders specific to COVID-19 and other illnesses should be painless. The system should make it clear in what workflow step a requested test sample is located, from received but not processed, to in-analysis or requiring results approval. If tests for multiple diseases are ordered, the system should allow users to filter tests and related samples by specific test type, such as "SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR," or by test result (e.g., "Negative" or "Positive") or testing location (e.g., molecular pathology, serology, "Lab 2-B"). The system should also have the flexibility to show which analyst or instrument is assigned.<br />
<br />
'''Workflow or "batch" management'''<br />
<br />
Laboratories have their own workflows, and the informatics system they use should be flexible enough to allow users to manage the various steps or "batches" in the workflow. The lab may require a few simple preparation and analysis steps, or it may require a more complex, specific set of steps. This requires system functionality that can readily support the workflow. For example, can specific instruments be assigned to a workflow step? Can the system automatically add quality control (QC) or duplicate samples to a step? Can they be added manually? Despite slightly relaxed quality control frequencies by professional groups such as the College of American Pathologists during the COVID-19 pandemic, they still require quality control tests as described on COVID-19 test kit package inserts.<ref name="CAPGuidance20">{{cite web |url=https://www.cap.org/laboratory-improvement/news-and-updates/guidance-for-covid-19-testing-for-cap-accredited-laboratories |title=Guidance for COVID-19 Testing for CAP-Accredited Laboratories |author=College of American Pathologists |publisher=College of American Pathologists |date=07 April 2020 |accessdate=30 April 2020}}</ref><br />
<br />
An example laboratory workflow for molecular detection using one-step real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) of SARS-CoV-2 in one or more samples might look something like this<ref name="LTCReal12">{{cite web |url=https://www.gene-quantification.de/real-time-pcr-handbook-life-technologies-update-flr.pdf |format=PDF |title=Real-time PCR handbook |author=Life Technologies Corporation |publisher=Life Technologies Corporation |date=August 2012 |accessdate=30 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="StaritaCOVID20">{{cite web |url=https://www.protocols.io/view/covid-19-scan-molecular-workflow-bebkjakw |title=COVID-19 SCAN molecular workflow |author=Starita, L. |work=protocols.io |date=01 April 2020 |accessdate=30 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="UdugamaDiag20">{{cite journal |title=Diagnosing COVID-19: The Disease and Tools for Detection |journal=ACS Nano |author=Udugama, B.; Kadhiresan, P.; Kozlowski, H.N. et al. |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=3822–3835 |year=2020 |doi=10.1021/acsnano.0c02624 |pmid=32223179 |pmc=PMC7144809}}</ref><ref name="PendergraphHIV20">{{cite web |url=https://www.labce.com/spg605456_reverse_transcriptase_pcr_rt_pcr.aspx |title=Reverse Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) |work=HIV: Structure, Replication, and Detection |author=Pendergraph, G.E. |date=2020 |accessdate=20 April 2020}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
#Prepare the batching for the ordered rRT-PCR tests, including who is involved, when it is scheduled, and any additional unique identifiers.<br />
#Extract, purify, and assess the quality of nucleic acids from a complex biological sample.<br />
#Prepare and assemble rRT-PCR components (including reverse transcriptase enzyme, primers, and nucleotides) and reactions to plates or tubes.<br />
#Run the analysis using the appropriate quantification method.<br />
#Review and take action on the analytical results.<br />
<br />
Ensure the laboratory informatics solution developer can explain how that workflow can be further optimized and tracked within the informatics solution.<br />
<br />
'''Results approval'''<br />
<br />
As orders move through the various steps of a lab's workflow, approval processes may be required. With COVID-19 diagnoses in particular, taking appropriate steps to limit the number of false-negative test results is vital<ref name="PrinziFalse20">{{cite web |url=https://asm.org/Articles/2020/April/False-Negatives-and-Reinfections-the-Challenges-of |title=False Negatives and Reinfections: the Challenges of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Testing |author=Prinzi, A. |publisher=American Society for Microbiology |date=27 April 2020 |accessdate=30 April 2020}}</ref>, requiring careful results review and approval processes. Laboratory analysts may approve the samples through the initial workflow steps, or those steps may be automated. Eventually, however, the analytical steps are completed, and results ready for review. <br />
<br />
Depending on the tests being run, the initial default value for a test that hasn't been run should be configurable in the system, either as a "negative" result or an empty or null value. Upon completion of the analysis, the system then should make it abundantly clear which samples in a batch are within and out of test limits, as well as sufficiently easy to manage approval of results. Ideally, tested samples that are within limits will still show the initial default value or, if the initial default was null, show an appropriate value such as "negative." Results that are out of limit should not only show a "positive" or other appropriate result state, but also color coding, flags, or other visual cues that make the outlier status of the sample clear to the analyst.<br />
<br />
Finally, can the system handle reflex testing automatically when results are produced? For example, the lab may want a presumptive positive for COVID-19 to trigger the system to automatically add confirmation tests to the test queue for the associated patient. The correct people will also need to be notified of such reflex test creation in the system.<br />
<br />
====3.1.4 Does the system allow for interfacing with most instruments currently used for testing for COVID-19?====<br />
<br />
Instrument interfaces (discussed later in this chapter) are typically a non-trivial monetary investment for laboratories<ref name="John3504HL7_11">{{cite web |url=https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/175107-hl7-interface-cost-and-maintenance |title=HL7 Interface cost and maintenance |author=John3504 |work=Spiceworks |date=07 December 2011 |accessdate=25 April 2020}}</ref> as the developer has to take into account compliance requirements, the required analytical outcomes, and the instrument itself, as well as its available connections.<ref name="StraussConnect18">{{cite web |url=https://www.labmanager.com/laboratory-technology/connecting-lab-instruments-interface-strategies-depend-upon-compliance-requirements-2034 |title=Connecting Lab Instruments: Interface Strategies Depend Upon Compliance Requirements |author=Strauss, D. |work=Lab Manager |date=08 July 2018 |accessdate=30 April 2020}}</ref> Yet a laboratory informatics vendor with experience has likely already set up interfaces to the instruments used in testing COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. RT-PCR systems like Hologic's Panther Fusion<ref name="HologicPantherFusion20">{{cite web |url=https://www.hologic.com/coronavirus-test |title=Hologic’s Molecular Test for the Novel Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization |author=Hologic |publisher=Hologic, Inc |date=17 March 2020 |accessdate=30 April 2020}}</ref> and Abbot's RealTime m2000<ref name="AbbottRealTime20">{{cite web |url=https://www.molecular.abbott/us/en/products/infectious-disease/RealTime-SARS-CoV-2-Assay |title=Abbott RealTime SARS-CoV-2 Assay |author=Abbott |publisher=Abbott Laboratories |accessdate=30 April 2020}}</ref> represent a few of the systems being used to test for COVID-19 right now. Is the laboratory informatics system able to interface with these and other lab-based and point-of-care (POC) instruments you may require, at a reasonable cost? If so, also ensure the ease of assigning those instruments to specific tests or samples in the system. You should also be able to document well numbers for the analysis, as well as later view which samples are associated with a particular instrument. (In some cases, an instrument may be solely allocated to one specific test type.)<br />
<br />
====3.1.5 Does the system allow for versatile viewing and reporting of COVID-19 results?====<br />
<br />
Already mentioned was the process of results approval and the importance of being able to clearly view those results both within and out of test limits. Of course, this information has to be reported for internal and external purposes. Internally, the laboratory or healthcare entity using the informatics system will want to understand their test volume and associated details. Additionally, a laboratory results report for SARS-CoV-2 infection will also have to be distributed to the local or state health department along with a case report. Externally, ordering physicians and other external customers—including patients—will require clear and timely results in the form of a report. How does the laboratory informatics solution help with these and other reporting requirements? Can it assist with any external electronic reporting requirements (such as those with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) you may have? <br />
<br />
The system's reporting tools should be configurable to the lab's needs. The reporting itself should provide fields for the addition of comments and consultation notes from the lab and the physician, as the stakeholders need to give clinical and diagnostic guidance based on not only the results but also critical comments. In some cases, a lab or healthcare system may require the addition of comments at different stages of reporting. Perhaps an initial results report is created by the lab and sent to the provider via the provider portal, but a pathologist needs to review the report and add additional commentary concerning future treatment or concerns about the test results. This requires the system be flexible enough to allow additional steps before a report is finalized.<br />
<br />
Finally, some solutions may include a disease- or test-specific dashboard that can show all samples related to a test, any positives, any negatives, pending results, tests per day, etc. Having this information available in one location can help facilitate reporting to government entities (e.g., reporting statistics to FEMA during emergencies<ref name="FEMACorona20">{{cite web |url=https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2020/04/10/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-hhs-letter-hospital-administrators |title=Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: HHS Letter to Hospital Administrators |author=Azar, A.M. |publisher=FEMA |date=10 April 2020 |accessdate=30 April 2020}}</ref> While not strictly necessary, ensure the solution can fulfill your needs with displaying real-time and near-time information to better support rapid decision making.</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel1&diff=37376User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel12020-01-09T20:49:35Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Saved book<br />
|title=Laboratory Informatics Buyer's Guide for Medical Diagnostics and Research<br />
|subtitle=2020 Edition<br />
|cover-image=Vial of blood to be tested.jpg<br />
|cover-color=#00FFFF<br />
| setting-papersize = A4<br />
| setting-showtoc = 1<br />
| setting-columns = 1<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==''Laboratory Informatics Buyer's Guide for Medical Diagnostics and Research'', 2020 Edition==<br />
'''Title''': ''Laboratory Informatics Buyer's Guide for Medical Diagnostics and Research'', 2020 Edition<br />
<br />
'''Author for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas and Alan Vaughan<br />
<br />
'''License for content''': [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International]<br />
<br />
'''Publication date''': TBD<br />
<br />
Insert description of book here.<br />
<br />
:[[User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel2|1. Introduction to medical diagnostics and research laboratories]]<br />
::1.1 Medical diagnostics lab<br />
:::1.1.1 Pathology<br />
::::1.1.1.1 Anatomical vs. clinical pathology<br />
::::1.1.1.2 Forensic pathology<br />
:::1.1.2 Physician office lab<br />
:::1.1.3 Integrative medicine lab<br />
::1.2 Public health lab<br />
::1.3 Toxicology lab<br />
::1.4 Blood bank and transfusion lab<br />
::1.5 Central and contract research lab<br />
:::1.5.1 Medical and other research in academia<br />
::1.6 Genetic diagnostics lab<br />
:::1.6.1 Cytogenetics lab<br />
::1.7 Medical cannabis testing lab<br />
<br />
:[[User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel3|2. Choosing laboratory informatics software for your lab]]<br />
::2.1 Evaluation and selection<br />
:::2.1.1 Technology considerations<br />
:::2.1.2 Cybersecurity considerations<br />
:::2.1.3 Regulatory compliance considerations<br />
:::2.1.4 Features and functions<br />
:::2.1.5 Contract considerations (maintenance, support, warranty, and enhancements) <br />
:::2.1.6 Cost considerations<br />
::2.2 Implementation<br />
:::2.2.1 Internal and external integrations<br />
::2.3 Maintenance and updates<br />
::2.4 How a user requirements specification fits into the entire process (LIMSpec)<br />
<br />
:[[User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel4|3. Additional resources for selecting and implementing informatics solutions]]<br />
::3.1 Laboratory informatics vendors<br />
:::3.1.1 LIMS vendors<br />
:::3.1.2 LIS vendors<br />
:::3.1.3 ELN vendors<br />
:::3.1.4 Middleware vendors<br />
::3.2 Medical diagnostics instrumentation vendors<br />
::3.3 EHR vendors<br />
::3.4 Patient outreach and engagement solution vendors<br />
::3.5 Laboratory billing service providers<br />
::3.6 Trade organizations and events<br />
::3.7 User communities<br />
::3.8 Books and journals<br />
::3.9 Standards<br />
::3.10 LIMSpec<br />
:::3.10.1 [https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/User:Avaughan/Sandbox/ Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs]<br />
:::3.10.2 Completed example<br />
<br />
:[[User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel5|4. Taking the next step]]<br />
::[https://www.lablynxpress.com/index.php?title=4.1_Develop_a_specification_document_(LIMSpec)_tailored_to_your_lab%27s_needs 4.1 Develop a specification document (LIMSpec) tailored to your lab's needs]<br />
::[https://www.lablynxpress.com/index.php?title=4.2_Issue_the_specification_as_a_request_for_information_(RFI) 4.2 Issue the specification as a request for information (RFI)]<br />
::[https://www.lablynxpress.com/index.php?title=4.3_Acquire_information_and_proposals_from_vendors 4.3 Acquire information and proposals from vendors]<br />
:::[https://www.lablynxpress.com/index.php?title=4.3.1_The_value_of_demonstrations 4.3.1 The value of demonstrations]<br />
<br />
:[[User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel6|5. Closing remarks]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Avaughan/Sandbox&diff=37374User:Avaughan/Sandbox2020-01-09T20:09:38Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>==''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''==<br />
'''Title''': ''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''<br />
<br />
'''Authors for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas and Alan Vaughan<br />
<br />
'''License for content''': [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International]<br />
<br />
'''Publication date''': February 2020<br />
<br />
===About the LIMSpec (adapted from LIMSpec 2019 R1, Sept. 2019)===<br />
Many specification documents for [[laboratory informatics]] systems have been compiled over the years. Most of them tend to focus on a potential client's "wishlist" of features for a given system. This medical diagnostics and research lab LIMSpec is based on the 2019 version of the general LIMSpec, which attempts to take a regulatory-, standards-, and guidance-based approach to building a specification document for laboratory informatics systems. After the introduction and methodology, various requirements are organized and listed, supported by one or more regulations, standards, or guidance documents.<br />
<br />
The table of contents is as follows: <br />
;1. Introduction<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Introduction and methodology|Introduction and methodology]]<br />
;2. Primary Laboratory Workflow<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#1. Sample and experiment registration|1. Sample and experiment registration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#2. Sample management|2. Sample management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#3. Core laboratory testing and experiments|3. Core laboratory testing and experiments]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#4. Results review and verification|4. Results review and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification|5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#6. Reporting|6. Reporting]]<br />
;3. Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#7. Document management|7. Document management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#8. Resource management|8. Resource management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#9. Compliance management|9. Compliance management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#10. Instrument and equipment management|10. Instrument and equipment management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#11. Batch and lot management|11. Batch and lot management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#12. Scheduled event management|12. Scheduled event management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#13. Instrument data capture and control|13. Instrument data capture and control]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#14. Standard and reagent management|14. Standard and reagent management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#15. Inventory management|15. Inventory management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#16. Investigation management|16. Investigation management]]<br />
;4. Specialty Laboratory Functions<br />
__NOTOC__<br />
<br />
'''Note: These categories cover the specialty requirements that come with working in specific industries such as agriculture, pharmaceutical production, and [[forensic science]]. You'll likely notice that most of the content here isn't covered by [[ASTM E1578|ASTM E1578-18]].'''<br />
<br />
==18. Statistical trending and control charts==<br />
{{LIMSpec/Statistical trending and control charts}}<br />
<br />
==20. Environmental data management==<br />
{{LIMSpec/Environmental data management}}<br />
<br />
==21. Forensic case and data management==<br />
{{LIMSpec/Forensic case and data management}}<br />
<br />
==22. Public health data management==<br />
{{LIMSpec/Public health data management}}<br />
<br />
==23. Veterinary data management==<br />
{{LIMSpec/Veterinary data management}}<br />
<br />
==24. Scientific data management==<br />
{{LIMSpec/Scientific data management}}<br />
<br />
==25. Health information technology==<br />
{{LIMSpec/Health information technology}}<br />
<br />
;5. Technology and Performance Improvement<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#26. Instrument data systems functions|26. Instrument data systems functions]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#27. Systems integration|27. Systems integration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning|28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement|29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems|30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems]]<br />
;6. Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#31. Data integrity|31. Data integrity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#32. Configuration management|32. Configuration management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#33. System validation and commission|33. System validation and commission]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#34. System administration|34. System administration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#35. Cybersecurity|35. Cybersecurity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#36. Information privacy|36. Information privacy]]<br />
;7. Closing remarks<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Putting LIMSpec to use|Putting LIMSpec to use]]<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:LIMSwiki books on software]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel1&diff=37372User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel12020-01-09T19:47:54Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Saved book<br />
|title=Laboratory Informatics Buyer's Guide for Medical Diagnostics and Research<br />
|subtitle=2020 Edition<br />
|cover-image=Vial of blood to be tested.jpg<br />
|cover-color=#00FFFF<br />
| setting-papersize = A4<br />
| setting-showtoc = 1<br />
| setting-columns = 1<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==''Laboratory Informatics Buyer's Guide for Medical Diagnostics and Research'', 2020 Edition==<br />
'''Title''': ''Laboratory Informatics Buyer's Guide for Medical Diagnostics and Research'', 2020 Edition<br />
<br />
'''Author for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas and Alan Vaughan<br />
<br />
'''License for content''': [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International]<br />
<br />
'''Publication date''': TBD<br />
<br />
Insert description of book here.<br />
<br />
:[[User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel2|1. Introduction to medical diagnostics and research laboratories]]<br />
::1.1 Medical diagnostics lab<br />
:::1.1.1 Pathology<br />
::::1.1.1.1 Anatomical vs. clinical pathology<br />
::::1.1.1.2 Forensic pathology<br />
:::1.1.2 Physician office lab<br />
:::1.1.3 Integrative medicine lab<br />
::1.2 Public health lab<br />
::1.3 Toxicology lab<br />
::1.4 Blood bank and transfusion lab<br />
::1.5 Central and contract research lab<br />
:::1.5.1 Medical and other research in academia<br />
::1.6 Genetic diagnostics lab<br />
:::1.6.1 Cytogenetics lab<br />
::1.7 Medical cannabis testing lab<br />
<br />
:[[User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel3|2. Choosing laboratory informatics software for your lab]]<br />
::2.1 Evaluation and selection<br />
:::2.1.1 Technology considerations<br />
:::2.1.2 Cybersecurity considerations<br />
:::2.1.3 Regulatory compliance considerations<br />
:::2.1.4 Features and functions<br />
:::2.1.5 Contract considerations (maintenance, support, warranty, and enhancements) <br />
:::2.1.6 Cost considerations<br />
::2.2 Implementation<br />
:::2.2.1 Internal and external integrations<br />
::2.3 Maintenance and updates<br />
::2.4 How a user requirements specification fits into the entire process (LIMSpec)<br />
<br />
:[[User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel4|3. Additional resources for selecting and implementing informatics solutions]]<br />
::3.1 Laboratory informatics vendors<br />
:::3.1.1 LIMS vendors<br />
:::3.1.2 LIS vendors<br />
:::3.1.3 ELN vendors<br />
:::3.1.4 Middleware vendors<br />
::3.2 Medical diagnostics instrumentation vendors<br />
::3.3 EHR vendors<br />
::3.4 Patient outreach and engagement solution vendors<br />
::3.5 Laboratory billing service providers<br />
::3.6 Trade organizations and events<br />
::3.7 User communities<br />
::3.8 Books and journals<br />
::3.9 Standards<br />
::3.10 LIMSpec<br />
:::3.10.1 [https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/User:Avaughan/Sandbox/ Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs]<br />
:::3.10.2 Completed example<br />
<br />
:[[User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel5|4. Taking the next step]]<br />
::4.1 Develop a specification document (LIMSpec) tailored to your lab's needs<br />
::4.2 Issue the specification as a request for information (RFI)<br />
::4.3 Acquire information and proposals from vendors<br />
:::4.3.1 The value of demonstrations<br />
<br />
:[[User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel6|5. Closing remarks]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Avaughan/Sandbox&diff=37371User:Avaughan/Sandbox2020-01-09T19:41:02Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>==''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''==<br />
'''Title''': ''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''<br />
<br />
'''Authors for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas and Alan Vaughan<br />
<br />
'''License for content''': [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International]<br />
<br />
'''Publication date''': February 2020<br />
<br />
===About the LIMSpec (adapted from LIMSpec 2019 R1, Sept. 2019)===<br />
Many specification documents for [[laboratory informatics]] systems have been compiled over the years. Most of them tend to focus on a potential client's "wishlist" of features for a given system. This medical diagnostics and research lab LIMSpec is based on the 2019 version of the general LIMSpec, which attempts to take a regulatory-, standards-, and guidance-based approach to building a specification document for laboratory informatics systems. After the introduction and methodology, various requirements are organized and listed, supported by one or more regulations, standards, or guidance documents.<br />
<br />
The table of contents is as follows: <br />
;1. Introduction<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Introduction and methodology|Introduction and methodology]]<br />
;2. Primary Laboratory Workflow<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#1. Sample and experiment registration|1. Sample and experiment registration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#2. Sample management|2. Sample management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#3. Core laboratory testing and experiments|3. Core laboratory testing and experiments]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#4. Results review and verification|4. Results review and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification|5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#6. Reporting|6. Reporting]]<br />
;3. Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#7. Document management|7. Document management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#8. Resource management|8. Resource management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#9. Compliance management|9. Compliance management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#10. Instrument and equipment management|10. Instrument and equipment management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#11. Batch and lot management|11. Batch and lot management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#12. Scheduled event management|12. Scheduled event management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#13. Instrument data capture and control|13. Instrument data capture and control]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#14. Standard and reagent management|14. Standard and reagent management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#15. Inventory management|15. Inventory management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#16. Investigation management|16. Investigation management]]<br />
;4. Specialty Laboratory Functions<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#18. Statistical trending and control charts|18. Statistical trending and control charts]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#19. Environmental data management|20. Environmental data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#21. Forensic case and data management|21. Forensic case and data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#22. Public health data management|22. Public health data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#23. Veterinary data management|23. Veterinary data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#24. Scientific data management|24. Scientific data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#25. Health information technology|25. Health information technology]]<br />
;5. Technology and Performance Improvement<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#26. Instrument data systems functions|26. Instrument data systems functions]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#27. Systems integration|27. Systems integration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning|28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement|29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems|30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems]]<br />
;6. Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#31. Data integrity|31. Data integrity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#32. Configuration management|32. Configuration management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#33. System validation and commission|33. System validation and commission]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#34. System administration|34. System administration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#35. Cybersecurity|35. Cybersecurity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#36. Information privacy|36. Information privacy]]<br />
;7. Closing remarks<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Putting LIMSpec to use|Putting LIMSpec to use]]<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:LIMSwiki books on software]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Avaughan/Sandbox&diff=37370User:Avaughan/Sandbox2020-01-09T19:39:11Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>==''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''==<br />
'''Title''': ''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''<br />
<br />
'''Authors for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas and Alan Vaughan<br />
<br />
'''License for content''': [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International]<br />
<br />
'''Publication date''': February 2020<br />
<br />
===About the LIMSpec (adapted from LIMSpec 2019 R1, Sept. 2019)===<br />
Many specification documents for [[laboratory informatics]] systems have been compiled over the years. Most of them tend to focus on a potential client's "wishlist" of features for a given system. This medical diagnostics and research lab LIMSpec is based on the 2019 version of the general LIMSpec, which attempts to take a regulatory-, standards-, and guidance-based approach to building a specification document for laboratory informatics systems. After the introduction and methodology, various requirements are organized and listed, supported by one or more regulations, standards, or guidance documents.<br />
<br />
The table of contents is as follows: <br />
;1. Introduction<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Introduction and methodology|Introduction and methodology]]<br />
;2. Primary Laboratory Workflow<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#1. Sample and experiment registration|1. Sample and experiment registration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#2. Sample management|2. Sample management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#3. Core laboratory testing and experiments|3. Core laboratory testing and experiments]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#4. Results review and verification|4. Results review and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification|5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#6. Reporting|6. Reporting]]<br />
;3. Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#7. Document management|7. Document management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#8. Resource management|8. Resource management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#9. Compliance management|9. Compliance management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#10. Instrument and equipment management|10. Instrument and equipment management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#11. Batch and lot management|11. Batch and lot management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#12. Scheduled event management|12. Scheduled event management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#13. Instrument data capture and control|13. Instrument data capture and control]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#14. Standard and reagent management|14. Standard and reagent management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#15. Inventory management|15. Inventory management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#16. Investigation management|16. Investigation management]]<br />
;4. Specialty Laboratory Functions<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#17. Production management|17. Production management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#18. Statistical trending and control charts|18. Statistical trending and control charts]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#19. Environmental data management|20. Environmental data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#21. Forensic case and data management|21. Forensic case and data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#22. Public health data management|22. Public health data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#23. Veterinary data management|23. Veterinary data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#24. Scientific data management|24. Scientific data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#25. Health information technology|25. Health information technology]]<br />
;5. Technology and Performance Improvement<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#26. Instrument data systems functions|26. Instrument data systems functions]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#27. Systems integration|27. Systems integration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning|28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement|29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems|30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems]]<br />
;6. Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#31. Data integrity|31. Data integrity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#32. Configuration management|32. Configuration management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#33. System validation and commission|33. System validation and commission]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#34. System administration|34. System administration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#35. Cybersecurity|35. Cybersecurity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#36. Information privacy|36. Information privacy]]<br />
;7. Closing remarks<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Putting LIMSpec to use|Putting LIMSpec to use]]<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:LIMSwiki books on software]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Avaughan/Sandbox&diff=37369User:Avaughan/Sandbox2020-01-09T19:30:54Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>==''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''==<br />
'''Title''': ''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''<br />
<br />
'''Authors for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas and Alan Vaughan<br />
<br />
'''License for content''': [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International]<br />
<br />
'''Publication date''': February 2020<br />
<br />
===About the LIMSpec (adapted from LIMSpec 2019 R1, Sept. 2019)===<br />
Many specification documents for [[laboratory informatics]] systems have been compiled over the years. Most of them tend to focus on a potential client's "wishlist" of features for a given system. This medical diagnostics and research lab LIMSpec is based on the 2019 version of the general LIMSpec, which attempts to take a regulatory-, standards-, and guidance-based approach to building a specification document for laboratory informatics systems. After the introduction and methodology, various requirements are organized and listed, supported by one or more regulations, standards, or guidance documents.<br />
<br />
The table of contents is as follows: <br />
;1. Introduction<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Introduction and methodology|Introduction and methodology]]<br />
;2. Primary Laboratory Workflow<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#1. Sample and experiment registration|1. Sample and experiment registration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#2. Sample management|2. Sample management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#3. Core laboratory testing and experiments|3. Core laboratory testing and experiments]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#4. Results review and verification|4. Results review and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification|5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#6. Reporting|6. Reporting]]<br />
;3. Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#7. Document management|7. Document management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#8. Resource management|8. Resource management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#9. Compliance management|9. Compliance management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#10. Instrument and equipment management|10. Instrument and equipment management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#11. Batch and lot management|11. Batch and lot management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#12. Scheduled event management|12. Scheduled event management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#13. Instrument data capture and control|13. Instrument data capture and control]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#14. Standard and reagent management|14. Standard and reagent management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#15. Inventory management|15. Inventory management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#16. Investigation management|16. Investigation management]]<br />
;4. Specialty Laboratory Functions<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#17. Production management|17. Production management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#18. Statistical trending and control charts|18. Statistical trending and control charts]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#19. Agriculture and food data management|19. Agriculture and food data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#20. Environmental data management|20. Environmental data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#21. Forensic case and data management|21. Forensic case and data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#22. Public health data management|22. Public health data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#23. Veterinary data management|23. Veterinary data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#24. Scientific data management|24. Scientific data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#25. Health information technology|25. Health information technology]]<br />
;5. Technology and Performance Improvement<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#26. Instrument data systems functions|26. Instrument data systems functions]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#27. Systems integration|27. Systems integration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning|28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement|29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems|30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems]]<br />
;6. Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#31. Data integrity|31. Data integrity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#32. Configuration management|32. Configuration management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#33. System validation and commission|33. System validation and commission]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#34. System administration|34. System administration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#35. Cybersecurity|35. Cybersecurity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#36. Information privacy|36. Information privacy]]<br />
;7. Closing remarks<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Putting LIMSpec to use|Putting LIMSpec to use]]<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:LIMSwiki books on software]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Avaughan/Sandbox&diff=37368User:Avaughan/Sandbox2020-01-09T19:25:34Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>==''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''==<br />
'''Title''': ''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''<br />
<br />
'''Authors for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas and Alan Vaughan<br />
<br />
'''License for content''': [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International]<br />
<br />
'''Publication date''': February 2020<br />
<br />
Many specification documents for [[laboratory informatics]] systems have been compiled over the years. Most of them tend to focus on a potential client's "wishlist" of features for a given system. This medical diagnostics and research lab LIMSpec is based on the 2019 version of the general LIMSpec, which attempts to take a regulatory-, standards-, and guidance-based approach to building a specification document for laboratory informatics systems. After the introduction and methodology, various requirements are organized and listed, supported by one or more regulations, standards, or guidance documents.<br />
<br />
The table of contents is as follows: <br />
;1. Introduction<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Introduction and methodology|Introduction and methodology]]<br />
;2. Primary Laboratory Workflow<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#1. Sample and experiment registration|1. Sample and experiment registration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#2. Sample management|2. Sample management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#3. Core laboratory testing and experiments|3. Core laboratory testing and experiments]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#4. Results review and verification|4. Results review and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification|5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#6. Reporting|6. Reporting]]<br />
;3. Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#7. Document management|7. Document management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#8. Resource management|8. Resource management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#9. Compliance management|9. Compliance management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#10. Instrument and equipment management|10. Instrument and equipment management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#11. Batch and lot management|11. Batch and lot management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#12. Scheduled event management|12. Scheduled event management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#13. Instrument data capture and control|13. Instrument data capture and control]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#14. Standard and reagent management|14. Standard and reagent management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#15. Inventory management|15. Inventory management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#16. Investigation management|16. Investigation management]]<br />
;4. Specialty Laboratory Functions<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#17. Production management|17. Production management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#18. Statistical trending and control charts|18. Statistical trending and control charts]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#19. Agriculture and food data management|19. Agriculture and food data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#20. Environmental data management|20. Environmental data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#21. Forensic case and data management|21. Forensic case and data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#22. Public health data management|22. Public health data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#23. Veterinary data management|23. Veterinary data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#24. Scientific data management|24. Scientific data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#25. Health information technology|25. Health information technology]]<br />
;5. Technology and Performance Improvement<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#26. Instrument data systems functions|26. Instrument data systems functions]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#27. Systems integration|27. Systems integration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning|28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement|29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems|30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems]]<br />
;6. Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#31. Data integrity|31. Data integrity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#32. Configuration management|32. Configuration management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#33. System validation and commission|33. System validation and commission]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#34. System administration|34. System administration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#35. Cybersecurity|35. Cybersecurity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#36. Information privacy|36. Information privacy]]<br />
;7. Closing remarks<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Putting LIMSpec to use|Putting LIMSpec to use]]<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:LIMSwiki books on software]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Avaughan/Sandbox&diff=37367User:Avaughan/Sandbox2020-01-09T19:24:18Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>==''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''==<br />
'''Title''': ''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''<br />
<br />
'''Authors for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas and Alan Vaughan<br />
<br />
'''License for content''': [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International]<br />
<br />
'''Publication date''': February 2020<br />
<br />
Many specification documents for [[laboratory informatics]] systems have been compiled over the years. Most of them tend to focus on a potential client's "wishlist" of features for a given system. This is based on the 2019 version of the LIMSpec, which attempts to take a regulatory-, standards-, and guidance-based approach to building a specification document for laboratory informatics systems. After the introduction and methodology, various requirements are organized and listed, supported by one or more regulations, standards, or guidance documents.<br />
<br />
The table of contents is as follows: <br />
;1. Introduction<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Introduction and methodology|Introduction and methodology]]<br />
;2. Primary Laboratory Workflow<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#1. Sample and experiment registration|1. Sample and experiment registration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#2. Sample management|2. Sample management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#3. Core laboratory testing and experiments|3. Core laboratory testing and experiments]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#4. Results review and verification|4. Results review and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification|5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#6. Reporting|6. Reporting]]<br />
;3. Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#7. Document management|7. Document management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#8. Resource management|8. Resource management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#9. Compliance management|9. Compliance management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#10. Instrument and equipment management|10. Instrument and equipment management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#11. Batch and lot management|11. Batch and lot management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#12. Scheduled event management|12. Scheduled event management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#13. Instrument data capture and control|13. Instrument data capture and control]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#14. Standard and reagent management|14. Standard and reagent management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#15. Inventory management|15. Inventory management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#16. Investigation management|16. Investigation management]]<br />
;4. Specialty Laboratory Functions<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#17. Production management|17. Production management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#18. Statistical trending and control charts|18. Statistical trending and control charts]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#19. Agriculture and food data management|19. Agriculture and food data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#20. Environmental data management|20. Environmental data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#21. Forensic case and data management|21. Forensic case and data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#22. Public health data management|22. Public health data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#23. Veterinary data management|23. Veterinary data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#24. Scientific data management|24. Scientific data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#25. Health information technology|25. Health information technology]]<br />
;5. Technology and Performance Improvement<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#26. Instrument data systems functions|26. Instrument data systems functions]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#27. Systems integration|27. Systems integration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning|28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement|29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems|30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems]]<br />
;6. Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#31. Data integrity|31. Data integrity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#32. Configuration management|32. Configuration management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#33. System validation and commission|33. System validation and commission]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#34. System administration|34. System administration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#35. Cybersecurity|35. Cybersecurity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#36. Information privacy|36. Information privacy]]<br />
;7. Closing remarks<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Putting LIMSpec to use|Putting LIMSpec to use]]<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:LIMSwiki books on software]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Avaughan/Sandbox&diff=37365User:Avaughan/Sandbox2020-01-09T19:05:03Z<p>Avaughan: Created page with "{{Saved book |title='''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''' |subtitle=By Shawn E. Douglas |cover-image=Specification Types.jpg..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Saved book<br />
|title='''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs'''<br />
|subtitle=By Shawn E. Douglas<br />
|cover-image=Specification Types.jpg<br />
|cover-color=#f1e2d3<br />
| setting-papersize = A4<br />
| setting-showtoc = 1<br />
| setting-columns = 1<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''==<br />
'''Title''': ''LIMSpec 2020: 3.10.1 Blank template for medical diagnostics and research labs''<br />
<br />
'''Authors for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas and Alan Vaughan<br />
<br />
'''License for content''': [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International]<br />
<br />
'''Publication date''': September 2019<br />
<br />
Many specification documents for [[laboratory informatics]] systems have been compiled over the years. Most of them tend to focus on a potential client's "wishlist" of features for a given system. This first version of a revised LIMSpec is different; it attempts to take a regulatory-, standards-, and guidance-based approach to building a specification document for laboratory informatics systems. After the introduction and methodology, various requirements are organized and listed, supported by one or more regulations, standards, or guidance documents.<br />
<br />
The table of contents is as follows: <br />
;1. Introduction<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Introduction and methodology|Introduction and methodology]]<br />
;2. Primary Laboratory Workflow<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#1. Sample and experiment registration|1. Sample and experiment registration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#2. Sample management|2. Sample management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#3. Core laboratory testing and experiments|3. Core laboratory testing and experiments]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#4. Results review and verification|4. Results review and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification|5. Sample, experiment, and study approval and verification]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Primary Laboratory Workflow#6. Reporting|6. Reporting]]<br />
;3. Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#7. Document management|7. Document management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#8. Resource management|8. Resource management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#9. Compliance management|9. Compliance management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#10. Instrument and equipment management|10. Instrument and equipment management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#11. Batch and lot management|11. Batch and lot management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#12. Scheduled event management|12. Scheduled event management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#13. Instrument data capture and control|13. Instrument data capture and control]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#14. Standard and reagent management|14. Standard and reagent management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#15. Inventory management|15. Inventory management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Maintaining Laboratory Workflow and Operations#16. Investigation management|16. Investigation management]]<br />
;4. Specialty Laboratory Functions<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#17. Production management|17. Production management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#18. Statistical trending and control charts|18. Statistical trending and control charts]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#19. Agriculture and food data management|19. Agriculture and food data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#20. Environmental data management|20. Environmental data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#21. Forensic case and data management|21. Forensic case and data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#22. Public health data management|22. Public health data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#23. Veterinary data management|23. Veterinary data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#24. Scientific data management|24. Scientific data management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Specialty Laboratory Functions#25. Health information technology|25. Health information technology]]<br />
;5. Technology and Performance Improvement<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#26. Instrument data systems functions|26. Instrument data systems functions]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#27. Systems integration|27. Systems integration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning|28. Laboratory scheduling and capacity planning]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement|29. Lean laboratory and continuous improvement]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Technology and Performance Improvements#30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems|30. Artificial intelligence and smart systems]]<br />
;6. Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#31. Data integrity|31. Data integrity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#32. Configuration management|32. Configuration management]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#33. System validation and commission|33. System validation and commission]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#34. System administration|34. System administration]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#35. Cybersecurity|35. Cybersecurity]]<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Security and Integrity of Systems and Operations#36. Information privacy|36. Information privacy]]<br />
;7. Closing remarks<br />
:[[LII:LIMSpec/Putting LIMSpec to use|Putting LIMSpec to use]]<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:LIMSwiki books on software]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Limspec&diff=37362Limspec2020-01-09T13:21:17Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:Limspec_new_logo.jpg|300px]]<br />
= About =<br />
<br />
The [http://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Limspec:Main_Page LiMSpec] is intended to ultimately serve as a complete tool for managing the evaluation process for LIMS/LIS selection. Initially, it is focused on cataloguing requirements and vendor questions, and allowing for the categorization and assignment to specific industries. Users can create their own private collection of requirements and questions, and export in a variety of formats - including Open Office Document format.<br />
<br />
You can review the [https://github.com/LIMSforge/LiMSpec/wiki/Product-Roadmap product roadmap] for the product to understand the long term goals for the application. The source code can be found [https://github.com/LIMSforge/LiMSpec here].<br />
<br />
Following are a brief set of directions for use.<br />
<br />
= Creating an Account =<br />
<br />
You have several choices to create an account in the LiMSpec tool. You can create a unique account by entering your e-mail address and a password, or you can use your LinkedIn, Google, or Twitter account. When your account has been created, you will have basic access. If you would like to contribute to the public collection of requirements and questions, you will need to [[#Contacting the System Administrators|request]] an account upgrade from the administrator.<br />
<br />
= Navigating Requirements =<br />
<br />
Because of the sheer number of requirements, several functions exist to help the user isolate specific requirements of interest. First, each requirement can be assigned an optional category, and the list of requirements [[File:Limspec_requirements.png|thumb|Requirements Page]] being displayed can be filtered based on these categories. Next, the user can identify specific requirements to be included in their personal collection. The user can choose to only display requirements that are associated with their industries. This can be set permanently by using the application settings screen.<br />
<br />
In order to add requirements to a personal collection, simply check the desired requirements and click on the &quot;Select for Personal Collection&quot; button.<br />
<br />
== Full Text Searching ==<br />
<br />
Requirements have a full text search field, which will look across both titles and requirement text for a match. This tool utilizes the [http://lucene.apache.org/solr/ Solr] search engine.<br />
<br />
= Navigating Questions =<br />
<br />
Navigating questions is generally the same as navigating requirements except for the absence of full text searching and categories. These were left out as the number of questions is relatively small, and so there is not much value to these options.<br />
<br />
= Personal Copies of Requirements and Questions =<br />
<br />
Requirements and questions which have been selected for inclusion in your personal collection can be accessed under the requirements or question menu.[[File:Limspec_MyRequirements.png|thumb|My Requirements Page]] Within your personal collection, you have the ability to edit requirements and questions at will. If you decide you want to undo your changes, a revert link will be available for any modified requirements or questions.<br />
<br />
If you no longer wish to have a copy of a given requirement in your collection, simply delete it.<br />
<br />
==Adjusting the Sort Order==<br />
<br />
Personal copies of requirements and questions can be manually re-ordered. Simply drag the and drop them into a new position. Personal requirements can only be reordered within a category. To permanently save the new order, click on the update sort order button at the bottom of the page.<br />
<br />
= Generating an RFP Document =<br />
<br />
[[File: RFP_Requirements_Section.png|thumb|Requirements Section of the RFP/RFI]] Clicking on the Generate RFP tab will cause the download of an ODT document that contains requirements and questions formatted into some basic tables. The intent is to provide a document that can be customized by the individual user for submission as an RFI/RFP document.<br />
<br />
=Suggesting New Requirements and Questions=<br />
<br />
Users with the correct permissions will be able to create new requirements and questions for inclusion in the general collection. These submissions will be reviewed first by an administrator.<br />
= Administrative Activities =<br />
<br />
Users with the administrator role will have an Administration tab available at the top of each page. It is through this tab that the following administrative activities are available.<br />
<br />
== Reviewing Submitted Requirements/Questions ==<br />
<br />
If you have the administrator role, a link will be displayed at the top of both the requirements and questions list pages to review submitted requirements or questions. Clicking this link will present a list of requirements or questions that have a status of submitted. The administrator can open each item for review and then set the new status accordingly. A Public status adds the item to the public pool.<br />
<br />
== Modifying Users ==<br />
<br />
Administrators also have the ability to modify individual user accounts. This includes setting the roles and industries, as well as changing the name and e-mail. Caution should be exercised with e-mail changes, as this is the basis for authentication with the LiMSpec account. The manage users link is available from the Administration page.<br />
<br />
== Sending System Alerts ==<br />
<br />
The Administration page also presents the option of sending out a message to all users of the system. Typically, this will be used for system maintenance and similar announcements.<br />
<br />
= Contacting the System Administrators =<br />
<br />
If a user runs into technical difficulties, or needs their account upgraded, they can contact the administrator team by clicking on the contact link, and preparing a message.</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Limspec&diff=37361Limspec2020-01-09T13:19:51Z<p>Avaughan: /* About */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:Limspec_new_logo.jpg|300px]]<br />
= About =<br />
<br />
The [http://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Limspec:Main_Page LiMSpec] is intended to ultimately serve as a complete tool for managing the evaluation process for LIMS/LIS selection. Initially, it is focused on cataloguing requirements and vendor questions, and allowing for the categorization and assignment to specific industries. Users can create their own private collection of requirements and questions, and export in a variety of formats - including Open Office Document format.<br />
<br />
You can review the [https://github.com/LIMSforge/LiMSpec/wiki/Product-Roadmap product roadmap] for the product to understand the long term goals for the application. The source code can be found [https://github.com/LIMSforge/LiMSpec here].<br />
<br />
Following are a brief set of directions for use.<br />
<br />
= Creating an Account =<br />
<br />
You have several choices to create an account in the LiMSpec tool. You can create a unique account by entering your e-mail address and a password, or you can use your LinkedIn, Google, or Twitter account. When your account has been created, you will have basic access. If you would like to contribute to the public collection of requirements and questions, you will need to [[#Contacting the System Administrators|request]] an account upgrade from the administrator.<br />
<br />
= Navigating Requirements =<br />
<br />
Because of the sheer number of requirements, several functions exist to help the user isolate specific requirements of interest. First, each requirement can be assigned an optional category, and the list of requirements [[File:Limspec_requirements.png|thumb|Requirements Page]] being displayed can be filtered based on these categories. Next, the user can identify specific requirements to be included in their personal collection. The user can choose to only display requirements that are associated with their industries. This can be set permanently by using the application settings screen.<br />
<br />
In order to add requirements to a personal collection, simply check the desired requirements and click on the &quot;Select for Personal Collection&quot; button.<br />
<br />
== Full Text Searching ==<br />
<br />
Requirements have a full text search field, which will look across both titles and requirement text for a match. This tool utilizes the [http://lucene.apache.org/solr/ Solr] search engine.<br />
<br />
= Navigating Questions =<br />
<br />
Navigating questions is generally the same as navigating requirements except for the absence of full text searching and categories. These were left out as the number of questions is relatively small, and so there is not much value to these options.<br />
<br />
= Personal Copies of Requirements and Questions =<br />
<br />
Requirements and questions which have been selected for inclusion in your personal collection can be accessed under the requirements or question menu.[[File:Limspec_MyRequirements.png|thumb|My Requirements Page]] Within your personal collection, you have the ability to edit requirements and questions at will. If you decide you want to undo your changes, a revert link will be available for any modified requirements or questions.<br />
<br />
If you no longer wish to have a copy of a given requirement in your collection, simply delete it.<br />
<br />
==Adjusting the Sort Order==<br />
<br />
Personal copies of requirements and questions can be manually re-ordered. Simply drag the and drop them into a new position. Personal requirements can only be reordered within a category. To permanently save the new order, click on the update sort order button at the bottom of the page.<br />
<br />
= Generating an RFP Document =<br />
<br />
[[File: RFP_Requirements_Section.png|thumb|Requirements Section of the RFP]] Clicking on the Generate RFP tab will cause the download of an ODT document that contains requirements and questions formatted into some basic tables. The intent is to provide a document that can be customized by the individual user for submission as an RFI/RFP document.<br />
<br />
=Suggesting New Requirements and Questions=<br />
<br />
Users with the correct permissions will be able to create new requirements and questions for inclusion in the general collection. These submissions will be reviewed first by an administrator.<br />
= Administrative Activities =<br />
<br />
Users with the administrator role will have an Administration tab available at the top of each page. It is through this tab that the following administrative activities are available.<br />
<br />
== Reviewing Submitted Requirements/Questions ==<br />
<br />
If you have the administrator role, a link will be displayed at the top of both the requirements and questions list pages to review submitted requirements or questions. Clicking this link will present a list of requirements or questions that have a status of submitted. The administrator can open each item for review and then set the new status accordingly. A Public status adds the item to the public pool.<br />
<br />
== Modifying Users ==<br />
<br />
Administrators also have the ability to modify individual user accounts. This includes setting the roles and industries, as well as changing the name and e-mail. Caution should be exercised with e-mail changes, as this is the basis for authentication with the LiMSpec account. The manage users link is available from the Administration page.<br />
<br />
== Sending System Alerts ==<br />
<br />
The Administration page also presents the option of sending out a message to all users of the system. Typically, this will be used for system maintenance and similar announcements.<br />
<br />
= Contacting the System Administrators =<br />
<br />
If a user runs into technical difficulties, or needs their account upgraded, they can contact the administrator team by clicking on the contact link, and preparing a message.</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Limspec&diff=37360Limspec2020-01-09T13:19:13Z<p>Avaughan: /* About */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:Limspec_new_logo.jpg|300px]]<br />
= About =<br />
<br />
The [http://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Limspec:Main_Page LiMSpec] is intended to ultimately serve as a complete tool for managing the evaluation process for LIMS/LIS selection. Initially, it is focused on cataloguing requirements and vendor questions, and allowing for the categorization and assignment to specific industries. Users can create their own private collection of requirements and questions, and export in a variety of formats - including Open Office Document format.<br />
<br />
You can review the [https://github.com/LIMSforge/LiMSpec/wiki/Product-Roadmap product roadmap] for the product to understand the long term goals for the application. The source code can be found at [https://github.com/LIMSforge/LiMSpec here].<br />
<br />
Following are a brief set of directions for use.<br />
<br />
= Creating an Account =<br />
<br />
You have several choices to create an account in the LiMSpec tool. You can create a unique account by entering your e-mail address and a password, or you can use your LinkedIn, Google, or Twitter account. When your account has been created, you will have basic access. If you would like to contribute to the public collection of requirements and questions, you will need to [[#Contacting the System Administrators|request]] an account upgrade from the administrator.<br />
<br />
= Navigating Requirements =<br />
<br />
Because of the sheer number of requirements, several functions exist to help the user isolate specific requirements of interest. First, each requirement can be assigned an optional category, and the list of requirements [[File:Limspec_requirements.png|thumb|Requirements Page]] being displayed can be filtered based on these categories. Next, the user can identify specific requirements to be included in their personal collection. The user can choose to only display requirements that are associated with their industries. This can be set permanently by using the application settings screen.<br />
<br />
In order to add requirements to a personal collection, simply check the desired requirements and click on the &quot;Select for Personal Collection&quot; button.<br />
<br />
== Full Text Searching ==<br />
<br />
Requirements have a full text search field, which will look across both titles and requirement text for a match. This tool utilizes the [http://lucene.apache.org/solr/ Solr] search engine.<br />
<br />
= Navigating Questions =<br />
<br />
Navigating questions is generally the same as navigating requirements except for the absence of full text searching and categories. These were left out as the number of questions is relatively small, and so there is not much value to these options.<br />
<br />
= Personal Copies of Requirements and Questions =<br />
<br />
Requirements and questions which have been selected for inclusion in your personal collection can be accessed under the requirements or question menu.[[File:Limspec_MyRequirements.png|thumb|My Requirements Page]] Within your personal collection, you have the ability to edit requirements and questions at will. If you decide you want to undo your changes, a revert link will be available for any modified requirements or questions.<br />
<br />
If you no longer wish to have a copy of a given requirement in your collection, simply delete it.<br />
<br />
==Adjusting the Sort Order==<br />
<br />
Personal copies of requirements and questions can be manually re-ordered. Simply drag the and drop them into a new position. Personal requirements can only be reordered within a category. To permanently save the new order, click on the update sort order button at the bottom of the page.<br />
<br />
= Generating an RFP Document =<br />
<br />
[[File: RFP_Requirements_Section.png|thumb|Requirements Section of the RFP]] Clicking on the Generate RFP tab will cause the download of an ODT document that contains requirements and questions formatted into some basic tables. The intent is to provide a document that can be customized by the individual user for submission as an RFI/RFP document.<br />
<br />
=Suggesting New Requirements and Questions=<br />
<br />
Users with the correct permissions will be able to create new requirements and questions for inclusion in the general collection. These submissions will be reviewed first by an administrator.<br />
= Administrative Activities =<br />
<br />
Users with the administrator role will have an Administration tab available at the top of each page. It is through this tab that the following administrative activities are available.<br />
<br />
== Reviewing Submitted Requirements/Questions ==<br />
<br />
If you have the administrator role, a link will be displayed at the top of both the requirements and questions list pages to review submitted requirements or questions. Clicking this link will present a list of requirements or questions that have a status of submitted. The administrator can open each item for review and then set the new status accordingly. A Public status adds the item to the public pool.<br />
<br />
== Modifying Users ==<br />
<br />
Administrators also have the ability to modify individual user accounts. This includes setting the roles and industries, as well as changing the name and e-mail. Caution should be exercised with e-mail changes, as this is the basis for authentication with the LiMSpec account. The manage users link is available from the Administration page.<br />
<br />
== Sending System Alerts ==<br />
<br />
The Administration page also presents the option of sending out a message to all users of the system. Typically, this will be used for system maintenance and similar announcements.<br />
<br />
= Contacting the System Administrators =<br />
<br />
If a user runs into technical difficulties, or needs their account upgraded, they can contact the administrator team by clicking on the contact link, and preparing a message.</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=35103Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2019-03-04T20:59:12Z<p>Avaughan: /* ELab */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_sharing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| eln_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_msexcel = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_raw = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_warehouse = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| deadline_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| production_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| customer_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_val = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| enviro_monitoring = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_msword = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_htmlxml = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| fax_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multilingual = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
[[File:2019 LLX Price List.PNG]]<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/T4/T4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=File:2019_LLX_Price_List.PNG&diff=35102File:2019 LLX Price List.PNG2019-03-04T20:58:31Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=34263Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-11-28T15:24:30Z<p>Avaughan: /* ELab */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_sharing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| eln_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_msexcel = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_raw = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_warehouse = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| deadline_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| production_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| customer_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_val = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| enviro_monitoring = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_msword = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_htmlxml = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| fax_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multilingual = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
[[File:New 2018-19 Price List.PNG]]<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/T4/T4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=File:New_2018-19_Price_List.PNG&diff=34262File:New 2018-19 Price List.PNG2018-11-28T15:23:22Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=34261Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-11-28T14:09:49Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_sharing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| eln_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_msexcel = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_raw = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_warehouse = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| deadline_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| production_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| customer_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_val = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| enviro_monitoring = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_msword = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_htmlxml = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| fax_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multilingual = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
[[File:2018-19 ELab Pricelist.PNG]]<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/T4/T4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=34047Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-10-12T17:25:44Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
[[File:2018-19 ELab Pricelist.PNG]]<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/T4/T4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=File:2018-19_ELab_Pricelist.PNG&diff=34046File:2018-19 ELab Pricelist.PNG2018-10-12T17:22:19Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=34045Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-10-08T19:00:28Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2500/yr<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2500/yr<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2500/yr (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional (includes developer tools)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5000/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5000/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5000/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Year'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$185/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$185/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$185/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/T4/T4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=34039Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-10-05T16:42:43Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2500/yr<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2500/yr<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2500/yr (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5000/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5000/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5000/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Year'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$185/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$185/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$185/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/T4/T4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=34038Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-10-05T16:38:39Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Year'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$185/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$185/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$185/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/T4/T4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=34023Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-09-26T17:58:57Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Year'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/T4/T4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=33854Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-08-23T14:48:33Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Hour'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/T4/T4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=33853Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-08-23T14:39:38Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Hour'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/P2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/t4/t4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=33852Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-08-23T14:30:41Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Hour'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://www.lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/t4/t4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=33851Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-08-23T14:18:47Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Hour'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/p3/p3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/p4/p4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/t4/t4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=33850Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-08-23T14:04:46Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Hour'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/p3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/p4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [https://lablynx.net/vid/t4/t4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=33849Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-08-22T17:20:16Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Hour'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/p3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/p4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/t4/t4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=33848Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-08-22T17:12:07Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Hour'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/p3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/p4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/3ZqHknG8cj6cnfm LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [https://lablynx.scicloud.net/s/HPsWr77CQ9JTQWm The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/t4/t4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Vendor:LabLynx,_Inc.&diff=33439Vendor:LabLynx, Inc.2018-06-13T15:28:43Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Infobox company<br />
|company_name = '''LabLynx, Inc.'''<br />
|company_logo = [[File:LabLynnx-logo.png|180px]]<br />
|company_type = Incorporated<br />
|traded_as = <br />
|industry = [[Laboratory informatics]]<br />
|genre =<br />
|fate = <br />
|predecessor =<br />
|successor = <br />
|company_slogan = <br />
|foundation = July 24, 2000<ref name="SoS_llx">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=33586 |title=Business Entity – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><br />
|founder = [[LabLynx KB:John H. Jones|John H. Jones]]<br />
|defunct =<br />
|location_city = 2400 Lake Park Drive<br />Suite 435<br />Smyrna, Georgia 30080<br />
|location_country = U.S.<br />1-866-LABLYNX<br />
|locations = <br />
|area_served = Worldwide<br />
|key_people = <br />
|products = {{Collapsible list<br />
|framestyle=border:none; padding:0;<br />
|title=<small>Products list</small><br />
|1=<li>ELab<br />
|2=<li>Health Cloud Hub<br />
|3=<li>LiMStudio<br />
|4=<li>webLIMS}}<br />
|production =<br />
|service =<br />
|revenue = ~ $10 million<ref name="Owler">{{cite web |url=https://www.owler.com/iaApp/505814/lablynx-company-profile |title=LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Owler, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
|operating_income = <br />
|net_income = <br />
|aum =<br />
|assets = <br />
|equity = <br />
|owner = <br />
|num_employees = 20+<ref name="Owler" /><br />
|parent = <br />
|divisions =<br />
|subsid = <br />
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.lablynx.com/|LabLynx.com}}<br />
|linkedin = [https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217 https://www.linkedin.com/company/209217]<br />
|footnotes =<br />
|intl = No<br />
}}<br />
'''LabLynx, Inc.''' is a privately owned, funded, and managed American corporation that develops, supports, and markets [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) solutions. Its most well-known product is webLIMS, a browser-based LIMS offered as a local installation or under a scalable, hosted "[[software as a service]]" (SaaS) delivery model. The company’s primary clients include [[Laboratory|laboratories]] in the agriculture, clinical, environmental, [[Forensic science|forensics]], health care, and manufacturing industries, including government agencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=40482985 |title=Internet Software and Services – LabLynx, Inc. |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |work=Bloomberg Business |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> The company is known for introducing one of the first browser-based LIMS products in 1997<ref name="LS_prod">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071012123126/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=12 October 2007 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: LabLynx, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="LIMSwb" /> and being a long-term player in the [[laboratory informatics]] market.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
Before LabLynx was a company, it was a LIMS product offered by Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASC).<ref name="LLX_archive1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19990125100717/http://www.lablynx.com/ |title=LABLynx On The Web |archivedate=25 January 1998 |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="doh_fl">{{cite web |title=LABLynx on the Web |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/Background/asc_website.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831183340/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Irm/Apps/ihis/JADS/deh/Market%20Research/background/asc_website.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Florida Department of Health |date=8 March 2000 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=31 August 2004}}</ref> Formed in 1992,<ref name="SoS_asc">{{cite web |url=https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/BusinessSearch/BusinessInformation?businessId=863106 |title=Business Entity – Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> ASC's LabLynx division later began work on a laboratory information management system designed specifically for a web browser. ASC demonstrated its new Internet Explorer-based LabLynx LIMS at [[Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy|Pittcon]] in 1997, among the first browser-based LIMS to appear at the time.<ref name="LS_prod" /><ref name="LIMSwb">{{cite book |title=LIMS Workbook - A Practical Guide |edition=3rd |author=McGinnis, Mike and Norman Perkins|chapter=I. Wireless LANs |year=2003 |pages=I-16 |publisher=Q2marketsite, Inc |asin=B00161Y71K}}</ref> The company again showcased LabLynx at Pittcon in 1998<ref name="LS_pitt98">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/19980529121944/http://www.limsource.com/calendar/pitt98.html |archivedate=29 May 1998 |title=LIMSource: Calendar: Pittcon ’98 Preview |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> and soon after picked up a major LIMS-based contract with the U.S. Customs Service.<ref name="FBO">{{cite web |url=http://www.fbodaily.com/cbd/archive/1998/07(July)/30-Jul-1998/70awd003.htm |title=70 -- Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) (07/30/98) |publisher=FedBizOpps |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref><br />
<br />
<div class="col-sm-4 pull-right"><br />
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">[[File:2400_Lake_Park_Drive%2C_Smyrna%2C_Georgia.jpg|right|350px|LabLynx home office]]</div><br />
</div><br />
<br />
By July 2000, the LabLynx division of ASC separated to become its own incorporated entity.<ref name="SoS_llx" /> And while ASC eventually ceased to exist in 2005,<ref name="SoS_asc" /> LabLynx, Inc. went on to diversify its offerings. LabLynx’s browser-based LIMS previously demonstrated at Pittcon in 1997 expanded to become ELab, which in 2001 took on an application service provider (ASP) model of distribution.<ref name="LS_prod2">{{cite web |url=http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20010409200118/http://www.limsource.com/products/vatlanta.html |archivedate=9 April 2001 |title=LIMSource: LIMS Vendor: Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> In 2004 LabLynx released a browser-based tool called openLIMS, which gave consultants and end-users the ability "to build custom LIMS solutions that are geared to the exact operational needs of many different laboratories."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143618/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl100.html |title=Build your own LIMS: News from LabLynx |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=6 January 2004 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
On June 19, 2006, LabLynx established the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open membership group with the purpose of advancing the field of laboratory informatics and shaping the standards associated with it.<ref name="LII">{{cite web |title=Laboratory Informatics Institute Established |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027121044/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=31049_0_3_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=17 July 2006 |archivedate=27 October 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> LabLynx made further moves to better its LIMS offerings in August 2008, renewing and expanding its contract with Nagarro, Inc., a U.S.-based technology consulting firm. The collaboration allowed LabLynx to upgrade its existing LIMS software to .NET architecture and expand its initiative to create and market a SaaS-based LIMS.<ref name="Nagarro1">{{cite web |url=http://www.nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716033503/http://nagarro.com/NewsEvents/Press%20Releases/LABLynx%20Extends%20Contract%20with.aspx |title=LABLynx Extends Contract with Nagarro to Include Additional Product Development and SaaS Projects |publisher=Nagarro, Inc |date=20 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=16 July 2012}}</ref> Less than a year after the announced renewed partnership, LabLynx revealed its redeveloped webLIMS product to the public, featuring ELab in a SaaS model and additional integration of developer tools to allow users to create and modify modules for the LIMS.<ref name="webLIMS1">{{cite web |title=LabLynx launches the new webLiMS.com, Laboratory SaaS Provider |url=http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101223/http://scienceandresearch.argylenews.com/press_release.aspx?LabLynx-launches-the-new-webLiMScom-Laboratory-SaaS-Provider-542 |publisher=Argyle News |date=6 March 2009 |archivedate=04 March 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="webLIMS2">{{cite web |title=Weblims – LabLynx |url=https://www.scientific-computing.com/press-releases/weblims |publisher=Scientific Computing World |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> This move to a cloud-based SaaS model brought renewed interest in the company’s LIMS, with clients like the Georgia Department of Agriculture<ref name="ChemEng1">{{cite web |url=http://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i21/LIMS-Cloud.html |title=LIMS In The Cloud |author=Mullin, Rick |work=Chemical & Engineering News |publisher=American Chemical Society |date=24 May 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref> and Cypress Bioscience<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmaceuticalonline.com/doc/saas-model-turns-lims-paradigm-on-its-0001 |title=SaaS Model Turns LIMS Paradigm On Its Head |author=Dubin, Cindy |publisher=VertMarkets, Inc |work=Pharmaceutical Online |date=29 July 2010 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SaaS - Is a web hosted LIMS right for your laboratory? |url=http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509064611/http://www.lablynx.com/ArticlesBlogs/tabid/326/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13/SaaS--Is-a-web-hosted-LIMS-right-for-your-laboratory.aspx |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=15 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=09 May 2012}}</ref> taking on the new LIMS.<br />
<br />
In 2011, LabLynx was involved in an initiative to standardize and structure the transmission of laboratory data that first originates in a LIMS or LIS and then moves to a person's or population of people's [[electronic health record]]s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Laboratory Results Interface (LRI) Pilots Guide |edition= v0.9.4.093011 |author=Clarke, Ann | year=2011 |pages=1–2 |publisher=LabLynx/mdDigest |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142427/http://wiki.siframework.org/file/view/LRI_Pilots_Guide_Draft_v0_9_4_093011.docx |archivedate=12 August 2014}}</ref> This laboratory results interface (LRI) pilot began in August 2011 and included collaborations with the supported open source project mdDigest and the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).<ref>{{cite web |title=PROJECT BRIEF: LabLynx/mdDigest Pilot |url=http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812142106/http://wiki.siframework.org/LabLynx+Pilot+Brief |publisher= LabLynx/mdDigest |archivedate=12 August 2016 |accessdate=16 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
In February 2015, LabLynx announced the introduction of HealthCloudPOL, a cloud-based [[laboratory information system]] (LIS) for the physician office laboratory (POL), making the basic starter package free to users.<ref name="HCPOL_LinkedIn">{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/lablynx-inc./comments?topic=5979788253375520768&type=U&scope=209217&stype=C&a=NHFX |title=Security, Reliability, and Regulatory Compliance: healthcloudpol.com |author=LabLynx, Inc |publisher=LinkedIn Corporation |date=February 2015 |accessdate=29 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="HCPOLArch">{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcloudpol.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314182554/www.healthcloudpol.com |title=HealthCloudPOL — the FREE Cloud-based Physician Office LIS |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |archivedate=14 March 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> That product line soon after changed names, becoming sciCloud.net, though as of January 2018 that product line had not fully launched.<br />
<br />
===Community history===<br />
Since transitioning from Atlanta Systems Consultants, Inc. to LabLynx, Inc. in 2000, LabLynx has become increasingly active in the laboratory informatics community. Projects that LabLynx has started or been involved in within the community include:<br />
<br />
* the Laboratory Informatics Institute, an open trade association with the mission of educating, standardizing, and promoting the laboratory informatics industry<ref name="LII" /><br />
* LIMSfinder, an online interactive magazine released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute that aims to be "the best resource for information technology in the laboratory"<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSfinder Home |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214114/http://www.limsfinder.com/Home.aspx |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSbook, a LIMS buyer’s guide released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute<ref>{{cite web|title=The LIMS Book |url=http://limsbook.com/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104091826/http://limsbook.com/ |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |archivedate=04 January 2014 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSforum, a LinkedIn discussion group created to facilitate the exchange of ideas and technical information across the fields of laboratory, science, and [[health informatics]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419143627/http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/lbl/lbl103.html |title=Lablynx - latest company news |work=LaboratoryTalk.com |publisher=Pro-Talk Ltd |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=29 December 2015 |archivedate=19 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=LiMS forum - Laboratory Informatics Institute user's group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics |url=http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2069898 |publisher=LinkedIn.com |accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref>; this later became a stand-alone community web portal.<ref name="LIMSForumSite">{{cite web |url=https://www.limsforum.com/ |title=LiMSForum |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSuniversity, an open-access learning resource released by the Laboratory Informatics Institute, targeted towards laboratories and the LIMS community<ref>{{cite web |title=LiMSuniversity.com, the on-line, Open Access, Virtual Learning Center for Laboratory Informatics users and professionals |url=http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306214123/http://www.limsfinder.com/BlogDetail.aspx?id=35134_0_25_0_C |publisher=Laboratory Informatics Institute, Inc. |date=4 April 2011 |archivedate=06 March 2017 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
* LIMSwiki, a Creative Commons-licensed wiki with the goal of bringing related informatics communities together to maintain a repository of information about the industry<ref>{{cite web|title=LIMSwiki mission |url=https://www.limswiki.org/index.php/LIMSwiki_mission |date=4 June 2015 |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Technology and products==<br />
===ELab===<br />
ELab is a hosted [[software as a service]] (SaaS) [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS) + [[laboratory information system]] (LIS). Introduced in 2009 as webLIMS<ref name="webLIMS1" />, ELab "offers complete functionality for every type of lab - at a price that's affordable."<ref name="ELabLimsNew">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/weblims/ |title=Laboratory Management System (LIMS/LIS/LES) |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref> The software can be hosted in the cloud or self-hosted.<br />
<br />
===LabVia===<br />
LabVia is a middleware hardware/software-based hub that "intelligently manages multiple data communications between all kinds of devices, services, systems or other sources."<ref name="LabVia">{{cite web |url=https://www.lablynx.com/eai/ |title=LabVia |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |accessdate=26 January 2018}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Product Features====<br />
{{Ombox productfeature}}<br />
<br />
{| <br />
| STYLE="vertical-align:top;"|<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="border-style:none;" background="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2"| Product: [http://www.lablynx.com/Products/webLiMScom/tabid/237/Default.aspx ELab]<br />
|-<br />
| style="background-color:white; border-style:none;"| {{Databox LIMSfeature<br />
| sample_login_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_track = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| sample_batch = <br />
| task_event_sched = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| manual_entry = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| multiple_view = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_analysis = <br />
| data_sharing = <br />
| custom_fields = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| query = <br />
| import_data = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_int = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_linking_ext = <br />
| eln_support = <br />
| export_msexcel = <br />
| export_raw = <br />
| data_warehouse = <br />
| deadline_control = <br />
| production_control = <br />
| project_task_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| inventory_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| document_man = <br />
| case_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| workflow_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| spec_man = <br />
| customer_man = <br />
| billing_man = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| reg_compliance = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| qa_qc = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| performance_eval = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| audit_trail = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| chain_custody = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| roles_security = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_norm = <br />
| data_val = <br />
| data_encrypt = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| version_control = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| data_backup = <br />
| enviro_monitoring = <br />
<br />
| custom_reporting = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| report_printing = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| label_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| barcode_support = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| export_pdf = <br />
| export_msword = <br />
| export_htmlxml = <br />
| fax_integration = <br />
| email_integration = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
<br />
| admin_manage = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| modular = <br />
| instrument_inter = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| mobile_device = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| alarms_alerts = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| work_timetrack = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| voice_rec = <br />
| external_monitor = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| messaging = <br />
| multilingual = <br />
| network = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| web_client = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| online_help = <br />
| saas_model = Y<ref name="ELabLimsNew" /><br />
| usage_cost = <br />
<br />
| industries = agriculture, cannabis, chemical, clinical research, contract services, cosmetic, environmental, food and beverage, geology and mining, law enforcement and forensic, general, health care, manufacturing and R&D, material testing, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, toxicology, veterinary<br />
}}<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Pricing===<br />
====ELab====<br />
Source for pricing information is directly from LabLynx. Additional pricing information can be gleaned from [https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/ref_text/GS35F511DA/0R3HDC.3GGC22_GS-35F-511DA_IFSS600LABLYNX.PDF GSA Avantage]. As prices may change at any time, always contact the vendor directly to obtain a price list or quote.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable collapsible" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4"| ELab Price List<br />
|-<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| <br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Standard: $3,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Premium: $6,000/year<br />
! style="color:brown; background-color:#ffffee;"| Enterprise: $30,000<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Solutions'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Types'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Named/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Concurrent/Perpetual<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |2 Each<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |5 Each<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Licenses (each)'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$1,200/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$2,400/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$5,000 (one time)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Plug-ins & Options'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Add-on Applications'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''License Type'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Open Source<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Licenses Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Unlimited<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Pricing'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Quote<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Cloud Servers'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |None (service plan required)<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SSAE 16 SOC II Type II'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''SLA'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''HIPAA Compliance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Dedicated Cloud Server'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Optional<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Hosting fee<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Included storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;* Additional storage<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$900/year per 100 GB<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |<br />
|- <br />
| style="text-decoration: underline;" |'''Service Plan'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Included'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" align="center"|'''Optional'''<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Annual Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Included in Subscription<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |15% of License Fee/Services<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Self-Hosting Fee'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |N/A<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$4,500/year<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Maintenance'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Warranty'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |Yes<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Support Hours Per Hour'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |8<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |16<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |24<br />
|- <br />
| style="background-color:white;" |'''Additional Hours'''<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
| style="background-color:white;" |$175/hour<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Demonstration videos and other media===<br />
The following demonstration videos are available for ELab:<br />
<br />
* [https://vimeo.com/193706366 LabLynx Solutions]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/p3/Presentation_Files/index.html LabLynx: A Guide to the Company]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/p4/Presentation_Files/index.html LIMS: The Laboratory ERP]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d100/d100.html LIMS and ISO 17025]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d7/d7.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Water/Wastewater and Environmental Labs]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/p13/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Medical Examiners]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/p2/Presentation_Files/index.html The LabLynx ELab LIMS for Pharmaceutical Labs]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/t4/t4.html ELab - Key Functions and Topics]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d108/d108.html ELab: FOG Functionality]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d11/d11.html ELab: Sample Login and Receiving in ELab]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d140/d140.html ELab: Sample Receiving – In Depth]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d102/d102.html ELab: Local and Remote Accessioning]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d104/d104.html ELab: Data Entry - Manual, Bulk, Importing, and Instrument Interfaces]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d105/d105.html ELab: External Interfaces, Queries, and Exporting Data]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d106/d106.html ELab: Case Coordination]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d139/d139.html ELab: Project Receiving]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d14/d14.html ELab: Benchsheets]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d163/d163.html ELab: Analysis Price Quoting and Invoicing]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/d103/d103.html ELab: Invoicing - Special Pricing, Editing and Tracking Invoices]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d161/d161.html ELab: e-Signatures]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d162/d162.html ELab: Password Management and Session Timeout]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d166/d166.html ELab: Work Assignment and Tracking]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d23/d23.html ELab: Inventory of Stocks, Standards, and Reagents]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d172/d172.html ELab: Creating Storage Locations]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d188/d188.html ELab: Changing Field Captions and Labels]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d24/d24.html ELab: Instrument Calibration and Maintenance Management]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d26/d26.html ELab: Creating and Editing Custom Reports]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d31/d31.html ELab: Tracking and Versioning Reports]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d34/d34.html ELab: Security Access Control]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d35/d35.html ELab: Audit Trail]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/eBooks/Movies/d37/d37.html ELab: Results Trending, QC Charting, and Limits Update]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d40/d40.html ELab: Analyte and Test Group Management]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d75/d75.html ELab: Creating and Managing Picklists]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d93/d93.html ELab: System Setup]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/movies/d98/d98.html ELab: Training Management and Certification Tracking]<br />
* [http://files.mylablynx.com/share/ebooks/Movies/f1/f1.html ELab: Forensic Case Management]<br />
<br />
===Additional information===<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.lablynx.com/ Official website]<br />
* [http://www.limsforum.com/ LIMSforum community portal]<br />
* [http://www.limswiki.org/ LIMSwiki site]<br />
* [http://vimeo.com/lablynx LabLynx on Vimeo]<br />
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/lablynx LabLynx on YouTube]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:Agriculture LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cannabis LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Chemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Clinical research LIMS]] <br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cloud-based LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Contract services LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Cosmetic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Environmental LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Food and beverage LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:General LIS]]<br />
[[Category:Geology and mining LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Health care LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx KB:Articles]]<br />
[[Category:LabLynx, Inc.]]<br />
[[Category:Law enforcement and forensic LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:LIMS vendor]]<br />
[[Category:Manufacturing and R&D LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Material testing LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Petrochemical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Pharmaceutical LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Toxicology LIMS]]<br />
[[Category:Veterinary LIS]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel4&diff=29704User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel42017-03-30T19:04:44Z<p>Avaughan: /* LIMS */</p>
<hr />
<div><br />
<br />
==Overview of the cannabis industry in the United States==<br />
'''Author, for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas<br />
<br />
The following is a brief overview of the cannabis industry in the United States. It's meant to give a quick and concise review of where cannabis use, regulation, testing, and research have been and where they are now. Many of the topics touched upon here will be expanded upon later in this guide.<br />
<br />
===Brief history of cannabis in the U.S.===<br />
[[File:Drug bottle containing cannabis.jpg|right|140px]]''Cannabis'' is a rapid-growing, flowering plant that has been used for centuries for industrial, medicinal, and recreational purposes. The plant includes three species or subspecies: ''indica'', ''ruderalis'', and ''sativa''.<ref name="GRINCannabis11">{{cite web |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomygenus.aspx?id=2034 |title=Genus: Cannabis L. |work=U.S. National Plant Germplasm System |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture |date=01 January 2011 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Both industrial hemp and recreational marijuana are derived from cannabis plants, but with important differences in biochemical composition. Hemp — which has historically been used to create clothing, food and feed, paper, textiles, and other industrial items — tends to have lower levels of the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and higher levels of the non-psychoactive component cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="SwansonControlled15">{{cite journal |title=Controlled Substances Chaos: The Department of Justice's New Policy Position on Marijuana and What It Means for Industrial Hemp Farming in North Dakota |journal=North Dakota Law Review |author=Swanson, T.E. |volume=90 |issue=3 |pages=599–622 |year=2015 |url=https://law.und.edu/_files/docs/ndlr/pdf/issues/90/3/90ndlr599.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="DeitchHemp03">{{cite book |title=Hemp – American History Revisited |author=Deitch, R. |publisher=Algora Publishing |location=New York City |year=2003 |pages=232 |isbn=9780875862262}}</ref> Some cannabis strains have intentionally been bred to produce low levels of THC, while others have been bred with the intent to maximize the psychoactive component. <br />
<br />
Cannabis cultivation began in England's Jamestown colony of America in earnest around 1611, via formal orders. Several years later those orders turned into a royal decree, enacted by the Virginia Company, asking colonists to each grow 100 hemp plants for export to England.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Colonial America continued its growth, use, and exportation of hemp, even beyond the formal founding of the United States. During that time, growers undoubtedly were using the female plant (which flowers and has higher levels of THC) to treat aches and pains as well as enjoy it recreationally. By the time the U.S. Civil War arrived in the 1860s, however, the growth and use of industrial hemp declined as increased cotton and wood use took away much of the profitability of hemp.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Around the same time, local governments began recognizing tonics, tinctures, and extracts from cannabis plants as potentially dangerous substances, labeling them as hypnotics, narcotics, or even poisons.<ref name="Senate1860">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1860/02/16/news/senate-88150825.html |title=Senate |author=U.S. Senate |work=The New York Times |date=15 February 1860 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> In the early twentieth century, U.S. labeling and prescription laws — such as the the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 at the federal level as well as various state laws — saw further restrictions put on cannabis, effectively culminating in the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. With the passage of those acts, hemp and marijuana essentially became illegal, controlled substances.<ref name="WaltonMari38">{{cite book |author=Walton, R.F. |title=Marijuana, America’s New Drug Problem |location=Philadelphia |publisher=B. Lippincott |year=1938 |page=37}}</ref><ref name="WoodwardTax37">{{cite web |url=http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/woodward.htm |title=Taxation of Marihuana |author=Woodward, W.C.; House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means |work=Schaffer Library of Drug Policy |date=04 May 1937 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CaversTheFood39">{{cite journal |title=The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938: Its Legislative History and its Substantive Provisions |journal=Law and Contemporary Problems |author=Cavers, D.F. |volume=6 |pages=2–42 |year=1939 |url=http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/lcp/vol6/iss1/2/}}</ref><br />
<br />
State efforts to decriminalize marijuana were somewhat successful in the early 1970s, though progress towards that goal slowed again with the Reagan Administration's war on drugs.<ref name="MeierPolitics16">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4wYDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT58 |title=The Politics of Sin: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy |author=Meier, K.J. |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2016 |page=58 |isbn=9781315287270}}</ref> Progress picked up steam again in the late 1990s into the 2000s, particularly in states such as California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, and Colorado.<br />
<br />
As of March 2017, twenty-eight U.S. states have approved some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization of medicinal and/or recreational marijuana.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16">{{cite web |url=http://time.com/4559278/marijuana-election-results-2016/ |title=These States Just Legalized Marijuana |author=Steinmetz, K. |work=Time |publisher=Time, Inc |date=08 November 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Industrial hemp has also been addressed in some regard, with 16 states having legalized commercialized industrial hemp production and the federal government making certain concessions on it (''Cannabis sativa'' containing no more than 0.3 percent THC, grown under a state-sanctioned agricultural pilot program).<ref name="NCSLState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/agriculture-and-rural-development/state-industrial-hemp-statutes.aspx |title=State Industrial Hemp Statuses |publisher=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=19 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="81FR53395">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-19146/statement-of-principles-on-industrial-hemp |journal=Federal Register |title=Statement of Principles on Industrial Hemp |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53395–6 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> However, cannabis, including industrial hemp, remains a Schedule I controlled substance, as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<ref name="LegerMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/11/dea-marijuana-remains-illegal-under-federal-law/88550804/ |title=Marijuana to remain illegal under federal law, DEA says |author=Leger, D.L. |work=USA. Today |publisher=Gannett Company |date=11 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref>, including extracts and other derivatives such as cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="WallaceLegal17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/01/13/hemp-dea-extracts-marijuana-cbd-judicial-review/71387/ |title=Legal challenge filed against DEA’s new marijuana extract rule |work=The Cannabist |author=Wallace, A. |publisher=The Denver Post |date=13 January 2017 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> This federal classification continues to clash with changing state laws and regulations at an increasing pace, creating both opportunities and difficulties for involved citizens at all points along the industrial, economic, and social chain.<br />
<br />
===Medical and recreational use===<br />
In its 2016 World Drug Report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that 3.8 percent of the global population — roughly 183 million people — used cannabis in 2014.<ref name="UNODCWorld16">{{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/doc/wdr2016/WORLD_DRUG_REPORT_2016_web.pdf |format=PDF |title=World Drug Report 2016 |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |publisher=United Nations |isbn=9789210578622 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Focusing in on the United States, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that in 2014 the country had 35.1 million past-year marijuana users.<ref name="SAMHSAResults16">{{cite web |url=https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.pdf |format=PDF |title=Results from The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use And Health: Detailed Tables |author=Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |editor=RTI International |page=178 |date=08 September 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> It's not clear if that total includes legal medical marijuana users, which numbered roughly 2.4 million that year according to non-profit ProCon.org.<ref name="ProConNumber14">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=006445 |title=Number of Legal Medical Marijuana Patients (as of Oct. 27, 2014) |publisher=ProCon.org |date=27 October 2014 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref> When compared to SAMHSA's estimate of 11.1 million users in 1997<ref name="RabkinDrug99">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvzBdlolKrQC&pg=PA16 |title=Drug Control: DEA's Strategies and Operations in the 1990s |author=Rabkin, N.J. |publisher=U.S. General Accounting Office |year=July 1999 |pages=172 |isbn=9780788184833}}</ref>, it becomes clear that reported marijuana use has increased in the United States over the past few decades, whether it's through legalization efforts or otherwise. Some have pointed to the expansion of medical marijuana laws acting as gateways for increased adolescent use; however, multiple studies have tried but failed to find such a cause and effect relationship.<ref name="HasinMedical15">{{cite journal |title=Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the USA from 1991 to 2014: Results from annual, repeated cross-sectional surveys |journal=The Lancet Psychiatry |author=Hasin, D.S.; Wall, M.; Keyes, K.M. et al. |volume=2 |issue=7 |pages=601–608 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00217-5}}</ref><ref name="WallAdol11">{{cite journal |title=Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008: Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Wall, M.M.; Poh, E.; Cerdá, M. |volume=21 |issue=9 |pages=714–716 |year=2011 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.06.001 |pmid=21820632 |pmc=PMC3358137}}</ref><ref name="HarperDoMed12">{{cite journal |title=Do Medical Marijuana Laws Increase Marijuana Use? Replication Study and Extension |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Harper, S.; Strumpf, E.C.; Kaufman, J.S. |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=207–212 |year=2012 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.12.002 |pmid=22285867}}</ref> Regardless, with 28 U.S. states now having some type of legalization law on the books<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" />, the number of marijuana users isn't likely to decrease any time soon in the U.S.<br />
<br />
===Cultivation and distribution===<br />
At the federal level, marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug and remains illegal.<ref name="GPO21USC812">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title21/html/USCODE-2011-title21-chap13-subchapI-partB-sec812.htm |title=§812. Schedules of controlled substances |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LegerMari16" /> (Federal regulation of cannabis is discussed in detail later under "Regulation and standardization.") This doesn't leave a lot of options for researchers and the like. In fact, the only federally-granted grow operation (grow-op) as of this writing is the University of Mississippi, contracted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to grow marijuana for approved research studies.<ref name="BajajHowThe14">{{cite web |url=https://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/how-the-federal-government-slows-marijuana-research/ |title=How the Federal Government Slows Marijuana Research |author=Bajaj, V. |work=Taking Note: The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=30 July 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CheslerGov15">{{cite web |url=http://weedrush.news21.com/government-restrictions-lack-of-funding-slow-progress-on-medical-marijuana-research/ |title=Government restrictions, lack of funding slow progress on medical marijuana research |author=Chesler, J.; Ard, A. |work=News21: America's Weed Rush |publisher=Carnegie Corporation of New York; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation |date=15 August 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/10/marijuana-medical-research-dea/ |title=DEA decision keeps major restrictions in place on marijuana research |author=Joseph, A. |work=STAT |publisher=Boston Globe Media |date=10 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RudroffMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/marijuana-regulation-blocks-vital-ms-research-544886 |title=Marijuana Regulation Blocks Vital Multiple Sclerosis Research |author=Rudroff, T. |work=Newsweek |publisher=IBT Media, Inc |date=21 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (That may change for the better in 2017; see the next section on testing and research for more.)<br />
<br />
On the state level, the growth, testing, and distribution of cannabis depends on state law, which can vary from state to state. This topic is discussed further in the "Regulation and standardization" section, but here are the key points:<br />
<br />
* Federal law makes it illegal to cultivate and distribute marijuana, even in a state that has legalized such activity. However, while there's no legally binding guarantee cultivators and distributors won't be pursued by federal law enforcement, they can limit their chances of such federal enforcement by following to the letter state and local law.<br />
<br />
* Despite some of the variances among state laws, one aspect largely remains consistent: it's illegal to distribute marijuana over state lines, even when distributing between two states with similar laws.<ref name="BelvilleCanI16">{{cite web |url=http://www.weednews.co/can-i-take-marijuana-from-one-legal-state-to-another/ |title=Can I Take Marijuana From One Legal State To Another? |work=Weed News |author=Belville, R. |publisher=WN Media, LLC |date=28 November 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
* Regulations on the personal and commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana vary significantly from state to state. Some states make a limited pool of available licenses available; others don't offer them or instead have specific alternative treatment or non-profit centers that handle growth and distribution.<ref name="FindLawMari">{{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LeaflyHome">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="ProCon28Legal16">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Testing and research===<br />
[[File:Juan Velez- Planta Cannabis.jpg|left|250px]]One area that continues to expand — while taking advantage of new scientific research and techniques — is the laboratory sphere, particularly in research, regulation, and standardization activities. According to July 2016 testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Division Director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) alone supported 281 cannabinoid research projects totaling more than $111 million in 2015.<ref name="WeissTestimony16">{{cite web |url=https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/asl/testimony/2016-09/the-state-of-the-science-on-the-therapeutic-potential-of-marijuana-and-cannabinoids/index.html |title=Testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Ph.D. on The State of the Science on the Therapeutic Potential of Marijuana and Cannabinoids before Judiciary Committee |author=Weiss, S.R.B. |work=ASL Testimony |publisher=U.S. Department of Health & Human Services |date=13 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
While the research, analysis, and processing of cannabis has been ongoing for centuries<ref name="DeitchHemp03" />, it wasn't until 1896 that Wood ''et al.'' conducted one of the first documented chemical experiments to determine the constituents of cannabis. Several years later, the researchers were able to correctly identify the extracted and isolated cannabinol from the exuded resin of Indian hemp as C<sub>21</sub>H<sub>26</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.<ref name="WoodCann1899">{{cite journal |title=III.—Cannabinol. Part I |journal=Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions |author=Wood, T.B.; Newton Spivey, W.T.; Easterfield, T.H. |volume=75 |pages=30–36 |year=1899 |doi=10.1039/CT8997500020}}</ref> As of mid-2015, 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' have been identified as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15">{{cite journal |title=Isolation and pharmacological evaluation of minor cannabinoids from high-potency ''Cannabis sativa'' |journal=Journal of Natural Products |author=Radwan, M.M.; ElSohly, M.A.; El-Alfy, A.T. et al. |volume=78 |issue=6 |pages=1271-6 |year=2015 |doi=10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00065 |pmid=26000707 |pmc=PMC4880513}}</ref>, "a class of diverse chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in cells that modulate neurotransmitter release in the brain."<ref name="WHOTheHealth16">{{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}</ref><br />
<br />
Yet in the United States, when it comes to 1. enacting the broad level of testing required to ensure public safety — whether it be medical, recreational, or industrial use of cannabis — and 2. researching and better understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (medical use and benefit) of cannabinoids in the human population, many have argued that laboratory testing of cannabis is still in its infancy<ref name="HazekampCanna12">{{cite journal |title=Cannabis - from cultivar to chemovar |journal=Drug Testing and Analysis |author=Hazekamp, A.; Fischedick, J.T. |volume=4 |issue=7–8 |pages=660–7 |year=2012 |doi=10.1002/dta.407 |pmid=22362625}}</ref><ref name="BushWorlds15">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/worldrsquos-strongest-weed-potency-testing-challenged/ |title=World’s strongest weed? Potency testing challenged |author=Bush, E. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=18 February 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RutschQuality15">{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/24/395065699/quality-testing-legal-marijuana-strong-but-not-always-clean |title=Quality-Testing Legal Marijuana: Strong But Not Always Clean |author=Rutsch, P. |work=Shots |publisher=National Public Radio |date=24 March 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15">{{cite journal |title=Unraveling the Cannabinome |journal=The Analytical Scientist |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Lipps, W. |issue=0915 |year=2015 |url=https://theanalyticalscientist.com/issues/0915/unraveling-the-cannabinome/ |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CrombieMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2016/07/marijuana_labs_prepping_for_st.html |title=Marijuana labs prepping for regulation and oversight; no lab licenses issued yet |author=Crombie, N. |work=The Oregonian |publisher=Oregon Live LLC |date=25 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16">{{cite web |url=http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170210234439/http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Closer Look at Cannabis Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Clifford, R.; Winkler, P.; Bankert, W. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=December 2016 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref> and evidence-based research of marijuana continues to be slow and bogged down in regulation.<ref name="BajajHowThe14" /><ref name="CheslerGov15" /><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="RudroffMari17" /> In regards to the first issue, as some form of legalization continues to sweep across states, regulators, users, and industry are recognizing the need for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana; the current state of improper labeling and potentially harmful contaminants<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /> will only serve to hinder the industry. To the second issue, some within the federal government seem to recognize the roadblocks to improved evidence-based research and are working to slowly improve how researchers can legally acquire and test marijuana in the U.S.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis/post/2016-08-15/the-silver-lining-in-the-dea-s-refusal-to-reclassify-cannabis |title=The silver lining in the DEA’s refusal to reclassify cannabis |work=Tracking Cannabis |author=Romza-Kutz, D.; Roth V., F. |publisher=Thompson Coburn LLP |date=15 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
An excerpt from the previously mentioned testimony of NIDA's Dr. Weiss summates this well:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The current state of the research on marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids suggests the potential for therapeutic value for a number of conditions; however, more evidence is needed before marijuana or cannabinoid products (beyond those already approved through the Food and Drug Administration [FDA]) are ready for medical use. Promising preclinical findings do not always prove to be clinically relevant, and even fewer lead to new treatments. Moreover, clinical studies of sufficient quality to meet FDA standards for drug approval are currently lacking for most conditions. Among the factors that impact this research are the specific statutory requirements and treaty obligations that govern research on marijuana. NIH is working closely with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and FDA to explore ways to streamline these processes to facilitate research.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /></blockquote> <br />
<br />
In the meantime, government entities such as the National Institutes of Health and non-profits such as jCanna push forward with scientific conferences, summits, and roundtables that bring scientists and interested parties together to share existing knowledge and testing techniques.<ref name="NIHMari16">{{cite web |url=http://apps1.seiservices.com/nih/mj/2016/ |title=The Marijuana and Cannabinoids: A Neuroscience Research Summit |publisher=National Institutes of Health |date=23 March 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="jCannaCSC17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Other areas of concern===<br />
When examining the current state of the U.S. cannabis industry, it's important to note a few additional areas of concern that impact it, again tightly linked to federal regulations (which are discussed extensively in the next section): banking and advertising. Issues related to both of these topics continue to limit how state-based grow-ops, dispensaries, and testing laboratories are funded and operated. <br />
<br />
====Banking====<br />
Since the U.S. federal government still considers marijuana to be illegal, by extension banks and credit unions — which are regulated by a patchwork collection of federal (and state) laws — put themselves into potentially dangerous territory by accepting money from depositors engaging in federally illegal activities; the bank can be punished by federal institutions such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).<ref name="HillBanks15">{{cite journal |title=Banks, Marijuana, and Federalism |journal=Case Western Reserve Federal Law Review |author=Hill, J.A. |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=597–647 |year=2015 |url=http://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrev/vol65/iss3/7}}</ref> In an attempt to ease the concerns of industry players as well as banks in states that had implemented legalization efforts, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released a guidance document in February 2014 that "does not grant immunity from prosecution or civil penalties to banks that serve legal marijuana businesses" but rather "directs prosecutors and regulators to give priority to cases only where financial institutions have failed to adhere to the guidance."<ref name="KovaleskiUS14">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/us/us-issues-marijuana-guidelines-for-banks.html |title=U.S. Issues Marijuana Guidelines for Banks |author=Kovaleski, S.F. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Corporation |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FinCEN_BSA14">{{cite web |url=https://www.fincen.gov/resources/statutes-regulations/guidance/bsa-expectations-regarding-marijuana-related-businesses |title=BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses |author=Financial Crimes Enforcement Network |publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, the guidance has remained just that: guidance; it doesn't prevent federal law enforcement or regulating agencies from taking action. An August 2016 attempt to reclassify marijuana into a lower classification than Schedule I failed<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" />, keeping the FinCEN guidance in place as a recommendation for how federal authorities should enforce existing law. <br />
<br />
According to an Associated Press report in April 2016, the guidance has had some sort of impact, with banks and credit unions willing to handle any money associated with marijuana increasing from 51 in March 2014 to 301 in March 2016.<ref name="HansenBanking16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/804ae396daab4ba98f814b186f872ef6/banking-woes-easing-some-legal-pot-businesses |title=Banking woes easing for some legal pot businesses |author=Hansen, K.; Johnson, G. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=20 April 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, this hasn't prevented those in states with newly minted medical and recreational marijuana legalization laws from being worried about how cannabis money will be handled, particularly with the new Trump administration taking the reigns of government. California, which in November 2016 legalized recreational use of marijuana beginning in 2018, has already petitioned that administration to clarify its policy early on. "We have a year to develop a system that works in California and which addresses the many issues that exist as a result of the federal-state legal conflict," wrote California Treasurer John Chiang to Trump. "Uncertainty about the position of your administration creates even more of a challenge."<ref name="BloodCali16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d54ea614db274238986a8e0d77dbb147/california-treasurer-asks-trump-guidance-pot-banking |title=California treasurer asks Trump for guidance on pot, banking |author=Blood, M.R. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=02 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Similar legalization changes in Massachusetts prompted its senator, Elizabeth Warren, along with nine other senators, to write to FinCEN in early 2017 requesting even clearer, more friendly guidance for marijuana vendors.<ref name="LeBlancUSSen17">{{cite web |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/jan/02/us-sen-warren-seeks-to-pull-pot-shops-out-of-banki/ |title=US Sen. Warren seeks to pull pot shops out of banking limbo |author=LeBlanc, S. |work=Las Vegas Sun |publisher=Greenspun Media Group |date=02 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> Yet it remains to be seen if entities outside of grow-ops and dispensaries will see banking relief. In particular, testing laboratories continue to struggle with managing cash flow and acquiring bank lending for their operations<ref name="LampachQA13">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/qa-with-steep-hill-lab-ceo-david-lampach-cannabis-testing-market-could-hit-40m-in-2-years/ |title=Q&A With CEO of Steep Hill Halent: US Cannabis Testing Market Could Hit $40M by 2016 |work=Marijuana Business Daily |author=Lampach, D. |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=20 November 2013 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MartinProfit16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ |title=Profitability in the Cannabis Laboratory Industry |work=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |author=Martin, R.W. |publisher=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |date=May 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="TulsiABright16">{{cite web |url=http://www.labmanager.com/research-specific-labs/2016/10/today-s-cannabis-research-market |title=A Bright Future for Cannabis Testing Services |work=Lab Manager |author=Tulsi, B.B. |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=03 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>, causing some to believe consolidation of such labs will occur before the industry can really even take off.<ref name="LampachQA13" /><ref name="DigiPathAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Digipath-Company-Report.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |date=October 2016 |pages=36 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Advertising====<br />
Advertising of marijuana products is another area of concern, though the regulations and laws regarding it are less clear. When it comes to television and radio broadcasting and its associated advertising, a federally granted broadcasting license stands to be lost, care of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The trouble is, it's not clear if the FCC would act against broadcasters; the FCC hasn't issued guidance in the same way FinCEN has. "I don’t think anybody knows, and that’s the problem," said California Broadcasters Association President Joe Berry in an August 2016 report published by the The Sacramento Bee. "Without a clear indication [from the FCC on marijuana advertising], the vast majority of broadcasters are going to stay away from this issue."<ref name="WhiteIfCali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article96040082.html |title=If California legalizes pot, will TV ads be far behind? |author=White, J.B. |work=The Sacramento Bee |publisher=The McClatchy Company |date=17 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> California, of course, made recreational marijuana legal, and its proposed law sought to address the issue of advertising, including "a provision restricting TV and radio ads so they are not targeted to minors," while also addressing the authority of the FCC to enforce regardless.<ref name="McGreevyQA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-proposition-64-marijuana-legalization-qa-20161030-snap-20161029-story.html |title=Q&A: Proposition 64 would legalize recreational use of marijuana though it's illegal under federal law. How will that work? |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=30 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Other forms of advertising also remain problematic. In late November 2015, the United States Postal Service (USPS) out of Portland, Oregon published its interpretation of federal law regarding "mailpieces containing advertisements about marijuana," regarding it illegal to distribute certain forms of marijuana advertisement while citing 21 U.S. Code § 843(c).<ref name="ReinThePot15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/12/21/the-pot-business-may-be-legal-but-newspapers-cant-run-ads-for-it-the-u-s-postal-service-says/ |title=The pot business may be legal, but newspapers can’t run ads for it, the U.S. Postal Service says |author=Rein, L. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=21 December 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has, controversially, also gotten involved, stating that trademarking of a "brand controlled substances or related paraphernalia that are illegal to possess or sell" legally doesn't fit within a trademark's commercial viability because at the federal level marijuana is not legal for commerce.<ref name="OxenfordAccepting16">{{cite web |url=http://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2016/12/articles/accepting-advertising-for-marijuana-or-marijuana-paraphernalia-the-trademark-office-rules-on-a-related-issue-that-provides-more-reason-for-caution/ |title=Accepting Advertising for Marijuana or Marijuana Paraphernalia: The Trademark Office Rules on a Related Issue that Provides More Reason For Caution |author=Oxenford, D. |work=Broadcast Law Blog |date=13 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (Legal experts such as Dariush Adli suggest "creative ways" of getting around this, from registering trademarks in multiple states to registering "non-cannabis merchandise in order to generate some federal protection for their mark."<ref name="AdliObtain16">{{cite web |url=http://adlilaw.blogspot.com/2016/12/obtaining-trademark-protection-for_9.html |title=Obtaining Trademark Protection for Cannabis Businesses |author=Adli, D. |publisher=ADLI Law Group |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>) Even billboards are an issue, with state lawmakers proposing new regulations on billboard-based marijuana advertising weeks after the state passed its recreational legalization laws.<ref name="McGreevyPotAds16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-pot-ads-snap-20161221-story.html |title=Pot ads along highways? Lawmakers wrangle over legalization's consequences |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> And state laws, such as those found in Alaska, can create their own set of challenges in staying legal with marijuana advertising.<ref name="AndrewsGaps16">{{cite web |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-marijuana/2016/12/26/gaps-in-alaska-marijuana-advertising-rules-cause-worry/ |title=Gaps in Alaska marijuana ad rules cause worry |author=Andrews, L. |work=Alaska Dispatch News |publisher=Alaska Dispatch Publishing |date=27 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Despite all this, at least one financial consultant believes marijuana marketing will become more prevalent: GreenWave Advisors' Matthew Karnes estimates spending will jump to $75 million by 2021.<ref name="StilsonWhyMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/why-marijuana-marketing-will-be-bigger-ever-year-175246 |title=Why Marijuana Marketing Will Be Bigger Than Ever This Year |author=Stilson, J. |work=Adweek |publisher=Adweek, LLC |date=03 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Regulation and standardization==<br />
===Federal regulation of cannabis===<br />
[[File:Dea color logo.svg|right|250px]]On October 27, 1970, the Controlled Substances Act put into place five schedules or classifications of drugs that would be regulated in some fashion, and drugs were initially classified into those schedules, followed by annual reviews and updates.<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> Marijuana was initially placed under Schedule I<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> and remains there today.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/alex-grubbs/dea-declines-request-reclassify-marijuana-citiing-its-high-potential-abuse |title=DEA Declines Request to Reclassify Marijuana, Citiing Its 'High Potential for Abuse' |author=Grubbs, A. |work=CNSNews |publisher=Media Research Center |date=13 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> As a Schedule I drug, the federal government is indicating marijuana has<ref name="GPO21USC812" />:<br />
<br />
* "a high potential for abuse";<br />
* "no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States"; and<br />
* "a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision".<br />
<br />
Then came the Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973, which took existing enforcement entities such as the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and placed them into a new, unified entity called the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).<ref name="GPO5USCApp">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title5/html/USCODE-2011-title5-app-reorganiz-other-dup96.htm |title=Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973 |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="DEAHist7075">{{cite web |url=https://www.dea.gov/about/history/1970-1975.pdf |format=PDF |title=Drug Enforcement Administration: 1970–1975 |work=DEA History In Depth |publisher=U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Then President Richard Nixon said of the transition<ref name="GPO5USCApp" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The enforcement work could benefit significantly, however, from consolidation of our anti-drug forces under a single unified command. Right now the Federal Government is fighting the war on drug abuse under a distinct handicap, for its efforts are those of a loosely confederated alliance facing a resourceful, elusive, worldwide enemy.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The DEA was given numerous responsibilities, including but not limited to the development of enforcement strategy; investigation and prosecution preparation of suspects violating federal law; regulation of drugs and other controlled substances; and coordination and cooperation with state and local government drug enforcement efforts.<ref name="GPO5USCApp" /> Since then the DEA has taken various steps — with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<ref name="HamiltonTheFDA16">{{cite web |url=https://news.vice.com/article/dea-fda-marijuana-schedule-1-status-decision |title=The FDA told the DEA whether pot is medicine — but it won't tell the public |author=Hamilton, K. |work=Vice News |publisher=Vice Media, LLC |date=27 June 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> — to regulate and enforce the availability and use of controlled substances such as marijuana. As the decriminalization and legalization efforts of states have increased in past decades, this has brought federal regulation and enforcement conflicts to those states that have decriminalized and legalized, largely due to the federal government's insistence on maintaining marijuana as a Schedule I drug.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /><ref name="HudakTheCon15">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/conflict-between-federal-and-state-marijuana-laws-claims-victim-345099 |title=The Conflict Between Federal and State Marijuana Laws Claims a Victim |author=Hudak, J. |work=Newsweek |publisher=Newsweek, LLC |date=20 June 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Numerous changes in policy and controversies have occurred since the Controlled Substance Act and DEA were implemented, including a 22-year-long effort by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) to have marijuana rescheduled (1972–1994).<ref name="DPAMAPSTheDEA14">{{cite web |url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/DPA-MAPS_DEA_Science_Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=The DEA: Four Decades of Impeding And Rejecting Science |author=Drug Policy Alliance; MAPS |publisher=Drug Policy Alliance |date=June 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> However, the following talking points represent the most recent important federal-level changes and rulings that impact federal regulation of and enforcement of laws relating to cannabis.<br />
<br />
'''October 19, 2009: The Ogden Memorandum'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden issued a memorandum "intended solely as a guide to the exercise of investigative and prosecutorial discretion" in regards to state-based laws allowing medical cannabis.<ref name="OgdenMemor09">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/blog/memorandum-selected-united-state-attorneys-investigations-and-prosecutions-states |title=Memorandum for Selected United State Attorneys on Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana |author=Ogden, D.W. |work=Justice Blogs |publisher=Department of Justice |date=19 October 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The guidance essentially told U.S. attorneys to not prosecute those entities complying fully with state cannabis laws. Researchers generally agree that this memo acted "as a catalyst for expansion of [state-sanctioned and gray market] cannabis supply in states with poorly defined regulations," though the degree to which it influenced such growth remains poorly documented and requires further investigation.<ref name="CambronState16">{{cite journal |title=State and National Contexts in Evaluating Cannabis Laws: A Case Study of Washington State |journal=Journal of Drug Issues |author=Cambron, C.; Guttmannova, K.; Fleming, C.B. |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=74–90 |year=2017 |doi=10.1177/0022042616678607}}</ref> To be sure, it likely had some effect, as the number of licensed patients using medical marijuana in the state of Colorado increased from 4,800 in 2008 to 41,000 in 2009, and operating dispensaries jumped to more than 900 by mid-2010.<ref name="HIDTATheLeg13">{{cite web |url=http://www.rmhidta.org/html/final%20legalization%20of%20mj%20in%20colorado%20the%20impact.pdf |format=PDF |title=The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact |author=Rocky Mountain HIDTA |volume=1 |date=August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''June 29, 2011: The Cole Memorandum 1'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a memo as a follow-up to the Ogden Memo, muddying the waters in the process. While stating that the stance of efficiently using department resources as outlined in the Ogden Memo still stood, Cole also made it clear that large grow-ops that didn't qualify as "caregivers" had sprung up since.<ref name="ColeMemo11">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/oip/legacy/2014/07/23/dag-guidance-2011-for-medical-marijuana-use.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 June 2011 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The language of the memo essentially said "get off your butts and nail those suckers."<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13">{{cite web |url=https://blog.simplejustice.us/2013/08/30/the-cole-memo-2-0-this-changes-everything/ |title=The Cole Memo 2.0: This Changes Everything |work=Simple Justice |author=Greenfield, S.H. |date=30 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> Cambron ''et al.''<ref name="CambronState16" /> and Fairman<ref name="FairmanTrends16">{{cite journal |title=Trends in registered medical marijuana participation across 13 US states and District of Columbia |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Fairman, B.J. |volume=159 |pages=72–9 |year=2016 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.015 |pmid=26686277}}</ref> suggest this memo had some impact as evidenced by declines in cannabis patient registration from 2011–2013 in Colorado, Michigan, and Montana.<br />
<br />
'''August 29, 2013: The Cole Memorandum 2'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a follow-up memo to his original two years later, following 1. on the heels of then President Obama reiterating publicly that the Department of Justice (DoJ) was to not focus unnecessarily on states that had passed legalization laws and 2. Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational use of cannabis.<ref name="CambronState16" /> The second memorandum sought to reduce the emphasis on the size of the grow-op and increase emphasis on — by a case-by-case basis — "whether the operation is demonstrably in compliance with a strong and effective state regulatory system."<ref name="ColeMemo13">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/3052013829132756857467.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for All United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The memo also clarified specific cases where federal enforcement would be warranted, including distribution to minors, interstate transport, and preventing drugged driving (though it didn't state how). Generally speaking, states saw little federal intervention except in the case of state law being broken or requiring dispensaries to move further away from schools.<ref name="MPPFederal16">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/federal-enforcement-policy-on-state-marijuana-laws/ |title=Federal Marijuana Enforcement Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=2016 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CambronState16" /> Despite the memo, some attorneys continued to see Cole Memorandum 2 as nothing more than unclear language that had no legal weight for anxious growers and distributors in states where cannabis was legalized.<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13" /><br />
<br />
'''December 16, 2014 to current: Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment'''<br />
<br />
A tenuous truce of sorts arrived with the passage of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment in December 2014. The amendment prohibited the DoJ from spending funds to prevent or enforce against state laws that allow for medical marijuana cultivation, distribution, and use, particularly when those actions are performed consistently with those state laws.<ref name="ArmentanoPres14">{{cite web |url=http://blog.norml.org/2014/12/16/president-to-sign-federal-spending-bill-protecting-state-sanctioned-medical-marijuana-programs/ |title=President Signs Federal Spending Bill Protecting State Sanctioned Medical Marijuana Programs |author=Armentano, P. |work=NORML Blog |publisher=NORML Foundation |date=16 December 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Before being passed in December 2014, the amendment had actually been introduced and defeated six times in the previous 10 years.<ref name="BrekkeHouse14">{{cite web |url=https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/05/30/house-votes-to-block-medical-pot-prosecution/ |title=House Votes to End Medical Marijuana Prosecutions |author=Brekke, D. |work=KQED News |publisher=KQED, Inc |date=30 May 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> The DoJ later went on to challenge the amendment on several occasions, from ''U.S. v. Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana'' in 2015 to a collection of 10 different cases from California and Washington in 2016. In both cases, the courts ruled against the DoJ, setting precedent against further department action.<ref name="IngrahamFed15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/10/20/federal-court-tells-the-dea-to-stop-harassing-medical-marijuana-providers/ |title=Federal court tells the DEA to stop harassing medical marijuana providers |author=Ingraham, C. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=20 October 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FermerTheLargest16">{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/medical-marijuana-9th-circuit_us_57b36a31e4b04ff883990337 |title=The Largest Federal Appeals Court Tells DOJ To Back Off State-Legal Medical Marijuana |author=Fermer, M. |work=The Huffington Post |publisher=TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc |date=16 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
One of the downsides of Rohrabacher-Farr is that it has essentially acted as a short-term rider attached to several spending bills since December 2014. As of March 2017, it was last renewed through April 28, 2017; however, with the new Trump administration coalescing — including Trump's demonstrably anti-drug U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions — some in the industry are concerned the amendment may not be renewed, opening the door again for the DoJ to implement stronger enforcement.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /><ref name="SwerdlowApril17">{{cite web |url=http://www.marijuananews.org/afraid |title=April 28, 2017 - Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid + IRS FU |author=Swerdlow, L. |publisher=Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project |date=22 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="YakowiczThePerfect17">{{cite web |url=http://www.inc.com/will-yakowicz/perfect-storm-regulations-could-cripple-marijuana-industry.html |title=The Perfect Storm That Could Cripple the Marijuana Industry Under Trump |author=Yakowicz, W. |work=Inc |publisher=Mansueto Ventures, LLC |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RohrabacherRohr17">{{cite web |url=https://rohrabacher.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rohrabacher-praises-sessions-urges-ag-nominee-to-respect-federal |title=Rohrabacher praises Sessions, urges AG nominee to respect federal marijuana law |author=Rohrabacher, D. |publisher=State of California |date=11 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MuiTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/14/donald-trump-and-jeff-sessions-anti-legal-pot-industry.html |title=Trump and his attorney general are freaking out the $7 billion pot industry |author=Mui, Y. |work=CNBC |publisher=CNBC, LLC |date=14 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref> Alternative bills are continuing to be proposed, including a more permanent version of Rohrabacher-Farr introduced by Representative Dana Rohrabacher of California; however, Speaker Paul Ryan has implemented rules prohibiting amendments to budgetary legislation, and the fact remains that Congress remains reluctant in hearing bills that would change the country's marijuana laws.<ref name="AdamsMari17">{{cite web |url=https://thefreshtoast.com/cannabis/marijuana-bills-currently-congress-can-change-game/ |title=Marijuana Bills Currently In Congress: How They Can Change The Game |author=Adams, M. |work=The Fresh Toast |publisher=Project Coco, Inc |date=13 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="RuskinSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/news/chemtales/sessions-hints-at-a-war-on-marijuana-now-what/ |title=Sessions Hints at a War on Marijuana. Now What? |author=Ruskin, Z. |work=SF Weekly |publisher=San Francisco Media Co |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''August 11, 2016: DEA denies petition to reschedule marijuana out of Schedule I'''<br />
<br />
A request made by two governors and a psychiatric nurse practitioner to the DEA asking it to reschedule marijuana into any other schedule other than Schedule I was denied, as had been done with previous attempts in 2009 and 2011.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16" /> Reasons included known health issues such as prenatal exposure and negative impacts on several biological systems, as well as limited research data and new drug applications.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> At the same time, however, the DEA also recognized the need for further research and the lack of legal marijuana sources for researchers, publishing a policy statement stating intent "to increase the lawful supply of marijuana available to researchers."<ref name="81FR53846">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-17955/applications-to-become-registered-under-the-controlled-substances-act-to-manufacture-marijuana-to |journal=Federal Register |title=Applications To Become Registered Under the Controlled Substances Act To Manufacture Marijuana To Supply Researchers in the United States |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53846–8 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===State and local regulation===<br />
As of January 2017, 28 states have some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization laws for cannabis on the books.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /> In October 1973, Oregon became the first state to enact decriminalization laws for marijuana, imposing a $100 fine for possession of less than an ounce. Eleven other states followed a similar path within five years.<ref name="SingleTheImp81">{{cite book |chapter=The Impact of Marijuana Decriminalization |title=Research Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems |author=Single, E.W. |editor=Israel, Y.; Glaser, F.B.; Kalant, H. et al. |publisher=Springer US |year=1981 |pages=405–424 |doi=10.1007/978-1-4615-7740-9_12 |isbn=9781461577409}}</ref> The next wave of changes began with the passage of medical marijuana legislation in California — the Compassionate Use Act — in November 1996, followed by similar legislation in Oregon and Alaska in 1998, Maine in 1999, and Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada in 2000.<ref name="CambronState16" /><ref name="Alaska98Results">{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/98GENR/results.htm |title=Election Summary Report, State of Alaska 1998 General Election: Official Results |work=Election Results |publisher=State of Alaska Division of Elections |date=1 December 1998 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> Other states continued to add decriminalization and medical marijuana laws in the 2000s. But it wasn't until 2012 that Colorado and Washington became the first states to make recreational marijuana legal, followed by Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia in 2014.<ref name="CambronState16" /> Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada followed suit in 2016.<ref name="BurkeFour17">{{cite web |url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/four-more-states-pass-new-marijuana-laws-california-maine-massachusetts-nevada |title=Four More States Pass New Marijuana Laws: California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada |author=Burke, C. |work=National Law Review |publisher=National Law Forum, LLC |date=04 January 2017 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As shown by Cambron ''et al.'' in 2016 (before the November election results)<ref name="CambronState16" />, dispensaries, possession limits, and interstate ID card acceptance can vary significantly among affected states. California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington lead in number of dispensaries; Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington in maximum possession limits; and Arizona plus five others allowed ID cards from other states. Yet allowed dispensaries can number in the single digits, possession limits can be as low as one ounce, and numerous states still don't honor ID cards from other states.<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Then there's the matter of state differences in testing, enforcement, advertising allowances, etc. It helps to turn to professional associations and organizations — who often lead the charge for improved, more relevant standards — to sort through the variances. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), for example, has published its ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs'' to help sort through the confusing tangle of existing testing laws, where they exist. They exemplify this variation of law in their document<ref name="APHLGuide16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>As with most programs in the United States, every state takes a different approach. For example as of January 2016, New Jersey’s Public Health & Environmental Laboratories only test cannabis plant material. Just across the Hudson, however, New York’s Public Health Laboratory will not be testing any plant material, only cannabis extracts. In addition, the New York Department of Health will provide an oversight role for commercial cannabis laboratories that are licensed by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and approved for testing cannabis products. On the other hand, New Jersey state government does all testing in-house for the medical cannabis program.</blockquote><br />
<br />
As such, unlike their federal counterpart, it's difficult to make broad generalizations about cannabis regulations and their enforcement in the states. It becomes even more difficult when examining states that don't have clear, well-considered regulations or strong enforcement powers. Cambron ''et al.'' emphasized this issue in regards to the supply side, saying: "States without clearly defined regulations for medical cannabis supply have fostered gray markets for cannabis whereby individuals without documented medical conditions are able to easily obtain medical cannabis authorizations. This scenario has created substantial challenges for law enforcement in multiple states."<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Cole ''et al.'' argue that in the end, it will take pressure on the federal government "to set up policy guardrails to steer state regulatory systems" in a more unified and safe direction. Drugged driving, use by minors, interstate distribution, relation to crime and firearms, consumer safety, and advertising are all issues the government should be tackling towards that goal, they say. Not that states aren't addressing these regulatory concerns; they are, but not in consistent ways.<ref name="ColeAll16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thirdway.org/report/all-state-marijuana-laws-are-not-created-equal |title=All State Marijuana Laws Are Not Created Equal |work=Third Way |author=Cole, T.; Trumble, S.; Hatalsky, L.E. |date=17 February 20116 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Standardization===<br />
While federal, state, and local governments wrestle with the regulatory frameworks surrounding cannabis, scientists and government officials are carrying on, doing what they can to harmonize those regulations with emerging industry standards and guidelines. For example, state officials from Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington teamed up to give a presentation called "State Regulatory Approaches to Cannabis Testing, Operations and Product Logistics" at the July 2016 Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit. That presentation focused on the harmonization of regulatory standards and frameworks across states, as well as discussions of what scientific efforts are required to support those standards and frameworks.<ref name="CQSSS16">{{cite web |url=http://chernislaw.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NEW-Cannabis-Quality-Summit-Main-Summit-Agenda.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit - Agenda |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=July 2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, organizations such as Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), and the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) have been developing standards, methods, and certifications for analysis, extraction, labeling, and laboratory operations surrounding medical (and recreational) marijuana.<ref name="InfocastNew16">{{cite web |url=http://infocastinc.com/industries/new-certification-program-brings-quality-assurance-to-the-medical-marijuana-industry/ |title=New Certification Program Brings Quality Assurance to the Medical Marijuana Industry |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AHPARecomm16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="AHPCanna14">{{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}</ref><ref name="MarcuJahan16">{{cite web |url=https://www.projectcbd.org/article/jahan-marcu-cannabis-lab-testing-safety-protocols |title=Jahan Marcu: Cannabis Lab Testing & Safety Protocols |work=Project CBD |author=Project CBD; Marcu, J. |publisher=Project CBD |date=16 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
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Notable among those organizations is the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS), which has been working to produce internationally applicable voluntary consensus standards for various parts of the cannabis business chain, including cultivation, extraction, laboratory testing, and packaging. FOCUS completed its public review process and finalized its standards in July 2016, though at that time it wasn't clear how to gain access to them.<ref name="FOCUSPublic16">{{cite web |url=http://www.focusstandards.org/public-review-of-cannabis-standards/ |title=Public Review Completes Development Process |publisher=FOCUS |date=2016 |accessdate=16 February 2016}}</ref> New information came to light in March 2017, when FOCUS and ASTM International announced a collaboration between the two entities, which will, pending April 2017 ASTM board approval, see the formation of volunteer committee D37 at ASTM and the further adaptation of FOCUS' standards for a future ASTM release.<ref name="BirosASTM17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/news_article/astm-international-launches-cannabis-committee/ |title=ASTM International Launches Cannabis Committee |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ASTMD37">{{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Laboratory testing of cannabis==<br />
[[File:Juan Velez y Sebastian Cortes - Investigadores del Cannabis Medicinal.jpg|right|300px]]The overview mentioned how regulators, users, and industry are calling for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana. Without proper testing, several issues are bound to arise<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="CANORMLHow11">{{cite web |url=http://canorml.org/news/ringtest.html |title=How Accurate Is Cannabis Potency Testing? |publisher=California NORML |date=21 September 2011 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* label claims may not match actual contents;<br />
* contaminants may linger, causing illness or even death;<br />
* chemical properties and medicinal benefits of specific strains and their unique cannabinoid-turpene profiles can't be isolated; and<br />
* research on potential therapeutic qualities can't be replicated, hindering scientific progress.<br />
<br />
In 2011 — a year before any U.S. state had enacted broad legalization of recreational marijuana — California NORML reported that its assessment of analytical cannabis testing laboratories' accuracy found that while California labs broadly reached +/- 20 percent consistency from a replicate sample, three out of 10 provided unfavorable results on at least half of their tests. Similar wide-ranging discrepancies were also found among edibles, extracts, and tinctures, and NORML found that none of the labs could reach two decimal points precision of cannabinoid results despite laboratory claims stating otherwise.<ref name="CANORMLHow11" /> Another report out of Washington State in January 2015, not long after recreational marijuana sales to the public (requiring accredited lab testing prior) began<ref name="WLCBFAQ">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/mj2015/faqs_i-502 |title=FAQs on I-502 |publisher=Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>, found blind tests of recreational marijuana at dispensaries could range as much as 7.5 percent in accuracy from its corresponding label.<ref name="BushWorlds15" /> Further issues in 2016 with alleged partiality by some Washington testing laboratories prompted emergency proficiency testing rules to be enacted.<ref name="YoungSome16">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/marijuana/some-pot-labs-in-state-failed-no-pot-at-all-says-scientist/ |title=Some pot labs in state failed no pot at all, says scientist |author=Young, B. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=05 January 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/to-combat-claims-of-inconsistency-washington-testing-labs-turn-to |title=To Combat Inconsistency, Washington Testing Labs Turn to Self-Policing |work=Leafly - Politics |author=Coughlin-Bogue, T. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=11 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> (Proficiency testing essentially requires a laboratory in question to test a sample with known properties, and then those results are compared to those of a neutral third-party lab testing the same sample.)<br />
<br />
These discrepancies and deficiencies highlight the growing need for homogenization of testing methods and procedures, if not nationally at least across an entire state. Such homogenization would, in theory, not only positively affect the quality of product but also provide greater consumer confidence that label and product match. As Marketing Director Scott Kuzdzal of Shimadzu pointed out during a January 2017 webinar on analytic testing of cannabis, poor sample preparation, lack of thorough testing, and the manual process itself — which can introduce user error, particularly when good laboratory practices aren’t used — all can contribute to discrepancies between label and product.<ref name="KuzdzalOpp17">{{cite web |url= http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170119200158/http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |title=Webinar: Opportunities & Challenges in Cannabis Analytical Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.A. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=19 January 2017 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=03 February 2017 |quote=Source is actual webinar.}}</ref> When dispensaries, edible manufacturers, and supplement companies perform insufficient lab testing or overstate claims on labels, it reduces consumer confidence, and both state and federal authorities — including the FDA — have to interject.<ref name="YoungSome16" /><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16" /><ref name="FDAWarn16">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm484109.htm |title=2016 Warning Letters and Test Results for Cannabidiol-Related Products |work=Public Health Focus |publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration |date=31 August 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As was mentioned at the end of the previous section on state regulation, efforts to improve testing methods and procedures, with the goal of seeing the best of them become standards, are ongoing. Where are those efforts now, and where are they going? Before we can examine that, we first need to briefly look at what aspects of cannabis are actually being analyzed.<br />
<br />
===Analytical aspects of cannabis===<br />
====Cannabinoids====<br />
As of mid-2015, researchers have identified 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15" />, active chemical compounds that act in a similar way to compounds our body naturally produces. Many of our body's cells have cannabinoid receptors capable of modulating neurotransmitter release in the brain and other areas.<ref name="WHOTheHealth16" /> The plant's cannabinoids vary, with each bonding to specific receptors in our body, providing differing effects. From a theoretical and medical standpoint, crafting a strain of cannabis that has specific cannabinoids that can aid with a particular malady, while also carefully reproducing the grow conditions to consistently make that strain in the future, is a desirable but difficult goal to achieve.<ref name="RahnCannab14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/cannabinoids-101-what-makes-cannabis-medicine |title=Cannabinoids 101: What Makes Cannabis Medicine? |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=22 January 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabinoids is done primarily as a measure of psychoactive "potency," though cannabinoids have many other potential therapeutic uses. Current laboratory testing looks at only a handful of cannabinoids; more research and development of analytical techniques that can quickly and accurately detect and separate the the rest is required.<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> Some of the major cannabinoids tested for include<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/understanding-cannabis-testing |title=Understanding Cannabis Testing: A Guide to Cannabinoids and Terpenes |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=09 October 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''THC (∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)''': This is the most commonly known cannabinoid found in cannabis, notable for its strong psychoactive effects and ability to aid with pain, sleep, and appetite issues. Included is its analogue ∆8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (which shows notably less strong psychoactive effects than ∆9<ref name="NIHDelta8">{{cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug?cdrid=485262 |title=delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol |work=NCI Drug Dictionary |publisher=National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>) and its homologue THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), which tends to appear in trace amounts and has a more pronounced psychoactive effect, but for a shorter duration. THCV shows promise in fighting anxiety, tremors from neurological disorders, appetite issues, and special cases of bone loss. Also notable is Δ9-THCA (Δ9-Tethrahydrocannibinolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to THC. <br />
<br />
* '''CBC (Cannabichromene)''': This non-psychoactive cannabinoid is found in trace amounts; however, it tends to be markedly more effective at treating anxiety and stress than CBD (see next). It's also notable for its anti-inflamatory properties and potential use for bone deficiencies. <br />
<br />
* '''CBD (Cannabidiol)''': CBD is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, typically accounting for up to 35 to 40 percent of cannabis extracts. It acts as a counter-balance to THC, regulating its psychoactivity. It's been researched as a treatment for anxiety, sleep loss, inflammation, stress, pain, and epilepsy, among other afflictions. Included is its homologue CBDV (Cannabidivarin), which is also non-psychoactive and demonstrates promise as a treatment for epileptic seizures. Also notable is CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBD.<br />
<br />
* '''CBG (Cannabigerol)''': This cannabinoid is also non-psychoactive but only appears in trace amounts of cannabis. If has potential as a sleep aid, anti-bacterial, and cell growth stimulant. Also notable is CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid ), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBG.<br />
<br />
* '''CBN (Cannabinol)''': CBN is mildly psychoactive at best and appears only in trace amounts in ''Cannabis sativa'' and ''Cannabis indica''. It occurs largely as a metabolite of THC and tends to have one of the strongest sedative effects among cannabinoids. It shows promise as a treatment for insomnia, glaucoma, and certain types of pain.<br />
<br />
====Terpenes====<br />
Mandated lab testing of terpenes — volatile organic compounds that distinctly affect cannabis aroma and taste — is done primarily as a way to ensure proper labeling of cannabis and related products, including extracts and concentrates, so buyers have confidence in what they are purchasing.<ref name="HabibTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1c-Testing-for-Psychoactive-Agents-Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing for Psychoactive Agents |author=Habib, R.; Finighan, R.; Davenport, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=24 August 2013 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CMTLabs">{{cite web |url=http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/test-services/tests-offered/ |title=Tests Offered |publisher=CMT Laboratories |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="WercShop">{{cite web |url=http://thewercshop.com/services/terpene-profiling-services/ |title=Terpene Profiling Services |publisher=The Werc Shop |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> However, additional lab research goes into terpenes as they also show potentially useful pharmacological properties<ref name="HabibTesting13" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16">{{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}</ref>, and they demonstrate synergies (referred to at times as the "entourage effect") with cannabinoids that largely still require further exploration.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="WachsbergerTerpene16">{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomcityclub.com/terpine-testing-the-future-of-cannabis-is-here/ |title=Terpene Testing: The future of Cannabis is here |author=Wachsberger, K. |work=Bloom Blog |publisher=Bloom City Club |date=02 February 2016 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> Testing for specific terpenes (discussed later) is less of a standardized practice, though it's rapidly improving.<ref name="HabibTesting13" /> Commonly tested terpenes by third-party testing labs include<ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="CMTLabs" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14" /><ref name="SCLabs">{{cite web |url=http://sclabs.com/terpene-analysis/ |title=Terpene Analysis |publisher=SC Labs, Inc |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Bisabolol<br />
* Caryophyllene<br />
* Cymene<br />
* Humulene<br />
* Limonene<br />
* Linalool<br />
* Myrcene<br />
* Phytol<br />
* Pinene<br />
* Terpinolene<br />
<br />
====Contaminates====<br />
Generally speaking, a contaminate is an unwanted substance that may show up in the final product, be it recreational marijuana or a pharmaceutical company's therapeutic tincture. The following are examples of contaminates that laboratories may test for in cannabis products. <br />
<br />
'''Pesticides''': Pesticides represent the Wild West of not only growing cannabis but also performing analytical testing on it. One of the core issues, again, is the fact that on the federal level marijuana is illegal. Because it's illegal, government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) don't test and create standards or guidelines for what's safe when it comes to residual pesticides, let alone how to best test for them.<ref name="BorelTheWild15">{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/08/pot-marijuana-pesticide-legalization/401771/ |title=The Wild West of Marijuana Pesticides |author=Borel, B. |work=The Atlantic |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group |date=31 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ZhangNobody15">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/nobody-knows-pesticides-legal-marijuana// |title=Nobody Knows What to Do About Pesticides in Legal Marijuana |author=Zhang, S. |work=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |date=07 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, researchers face their fair share of difficulties obtaining product to test. The end result is we don't know much about how inhalation of pesticide-coated marijuana smoke affects long-term health<ref name="BorelTheWild15" /><ref name="ZhangNobody15" />, and we don't have standards for pesticide application and testing.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> With numerous pesticide products and little oversight on what growers apply to their plants, combined with the technical difficulty of testing for pesticides in the lab, pesticides remain one of the most difficult contaminates to test for.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> That said, several classes of of pesticides are commonly applied during cannabis cultivation and can be tested for by labs<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/PreventionWellness/marijuana/Documents/oha-8964-technical-report-marijuana-contaminant-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Technical Report: Oregon Health Authority’s Process to Determine Which Types of Contaminants to Test for in Cannabis Products, and Levels for Action |author=Farrer, D.G. |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |date=December 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''avermectins''': functions as an insecticide that is useful against mites, which are a common problem for cultivators<br />
* '''carbamates''': functions as an insecticide, similar to organophosphates, but with decreased dermal toxicity and higher degradation<br />
* '''organophosphates''': functions as the base of many insecticides and herbicides, valued for its easy organic bonding<br />
* '''pyrethroids''': functions as the base of most household insecticides and exhibits insect repellent properties<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': In 2003, Canadian Rick Simpson published a recipe of sorts for preparing cannabis extract via the use of solvents such as naphtha or petroleum ether. Claiming the resulting oil helped cure his skin cancer, others hoping for a cure tried it, and the solvent method of preparation grew in popularity. Dubious healing claims aside, the solvent extraction method remains viable, though it has evolved over the years to include less harmful solvents such as supercritical carbon dioxide, which has low toxicity, low environmental impact, and beneficial extraction properties.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RomanoCannabis13">{{cite journal |url=http://www.stcm.ch/en/files/hazekamp_cann-oil_2013.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis oil: Chemical evaluation of an upcoming cannabis-based medicine |journal=Cannabinoids |author=Romano, L.L.; Hazekamp, A. |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1–11 |year=2013}}</ref><ref name="PeachSuper14">{{cite journal |title=Supercritical carbon dioxide: A solvent like no other |journal=Journal of Organic Chemistry |author=Peach, J.; Eastoe, J. |volume=10 |pages=1878-95 |year=2014 |doi=10.3762/bjoc.10.196 |pmid=25246947 |pmc=PMC4168859}}</ref> However, chemical solvents are still used, and if not evaporated out properly, the remaining solvents can be particularly harmful to sick patients using the extract. As for what solvents should be tested for, it gets a bit trickier, though Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'', the Oregon Health Authority's December 2015 technical report on contaminant testing of cannabis, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's response to public comments on cannabis testing provide helpful guidance. Listed solvents include benzene, butane, cumene, dimethoxyethane, hexane, and pentane, among others.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="USPNF467">{{cite web |url=https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/USPNF/generalChapter467Current.pdf |format=PDF |title=<467> Residual Solvents |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="MDPHResponse">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/external-comment-response-020416-final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Response to Public Comments |author=Bureau of Healthcare Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |date=12 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': 2013 research on contaminant testing on the behalf of Washington State provides insights into heavy metals and why they're looked for in cannabis testing. That research, as well as other sources, tell us<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DaleyTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Heavy metals contribute to several health problems, including those of a neurological nature.<br />
* Cannabis can "hyperaccumulate metals from contaminated soils."<br />
* Research parallels can be found in tobacco research and how the FDA regulates heavy metal content in foods.<br />
* The most prominently tested heavy metals include arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni).<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': "The ideal conditions for cannabis growth are also ideal for the growth of potentially harmful bacteria and fungi, including yeast and molds," say Shimadzu's Scott Kuzdzal and William Lipps, "therefore microbial contamination poses health risks to consumers and immunocompromised individuals."<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> In truth, these concerns have already borne out; most recently the University of California, Davis reported in February 2017 one of its patients had contracted an incurable fungal infection from inhaling aerosolized marijuana. They later tested 20 marijuana samples from Northern California dispensaries — using specialized techniques — and found a wide variety of potentially hazardous microorganisms.<ref name="UCDavis17">{{cite web |url=http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/11791 |title=UC Davis study finds mold, bacterial contaminants in medical marijuana samples |publisher=UC Davis |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The degree to which such contaminates commonly appear in grown and stored cannabis material and to which microbiological contaminates should be tested is not clear, however. As mentioned previously, neither the U.S. EPA or neighboring Health Canada provide any significant guidance on cannabis testing, including microbiological contaminates.<ref name="KennardYouAre16">{{cite web |url=https://tantaluslabs.com/populace/you-are-probably-smoking-mouldy-weed-why-does-quality-assurance-matter/ |title=You are Probably Smoking Mouldy Weed - Why Does Quality Assurance Matter? |work=Populace |author=Kennard, M. |publisher=Tantalus Labs |date=02 June 2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> Like heavy metal testing, parallels are drawn from microbial testing guidelines and standards relating to tobacco and food, where they exist.<ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> As warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, maintaining stable moisture levels during cultivation and storage is essential. Regularly measuring water activity — how moist something is — is particularly useful as a front-line preventative tool to better ensure microbial growth is limited.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> Regardless, testing of some kind is still required by many U.S. states, including for organisms such as<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="UCDavis17" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="CANNAMicro14">{{cite web |url=http://www.fundacion-canna.es/en/microbiological-study-cannabis-samples |title=Microbiological study of Cannabis samples |publisher=Fundación CANNA |date=2014 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RussoCann13">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qH-2Lj9x7L4C&pg=PT457&lpg=PT457 |chapter=Chapter 30: Contaminants and Adulterants in Herbal Cannabis |title=Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential |author=McPartland, J.M. |editor=Russo, E.B. |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |pages=478 |isbn=9781136614934}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Aflatoxin<br />
* ''Alternaria''<br />
* ''Aspergillus''<br />
* ''Cryptococcus''<br />
* ''E. coli''<br />
* ''Mucor''<br />
* ''Penicillium''<br />
* ''Salmonella''<br />
<br />
===Methods and guidelines===<br />
Now that we've addressed what's being tested for, we can move on to how they're being tested and what's being done to improve testing methods and procedures, including associated guidelines and recommendations. It would be beyond the scope of this guide to include every state's laws and guidelines on cannabis testing; entities such as [https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations Leafly Holdings]<ref name="RoughLeaflysState">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}</ref> and [http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ CannaGuard Security]<ref name="CSCanna16">{{cite web |url=http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ |title=CannaBiz Resources |publisher=CannaGuard Security |date=2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> provide such online resources. Instead, this section will focus on current and promising techniques using generalizations based on information from multiple sources. If any guidelines and recommendations are known, they'll be included.<br />
<br />
====Sampling====<br />
Random, representative sampling is encouraged. When dealing with solid cannabis, BOTEC Analysis recommends a "quartering" method that divides the sample into four equal parts and takes portions from opposite sections of a square-shaped arrangement of the sample. For liquid cannabis products, remembering to stir before sample collection is advised.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> When deriving a sample from a cannabis-laden edible, the QuEChERS approach used by food safety labs for pesticide testing has practical use.<ref name="RigdonExtract16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=25790 |title=Extraction Method for Cannabinoid Analysis in Edibles: Too Much of a Good Thing |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> In fact, a variety of parallels have been drawn from the food and herbal medicine industries' sampling guidelines, including from the Codex Alimentarius Commission's ''CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling'' as well as various chapters of the ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary''.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CACGL50-2004">{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCAC%2BGL%2B50-2004%252FCXG_050e.pdf |format=PDF |author=Codex Alimentarius Commission |title=CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling |pages=69 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> As the APHL points out, "[g]ood sampling is key to improving analytical data equivalency among organizations," and it provides a solid base for any future testing and standardization efforts.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> <br />
<br />
Additional sampling insight can be found by examining other states' guidelines, e.g., Massachusetts' ''Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries''.<ref name="DPHMassProto16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Cannabinoid testing====<br />
Quantifying cannabinoids for label accuracy is a major goal of testing, though calculation and testing processes may vary slightly from state to state. Despite any differences, laboratorians generally agree that when testing for cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, as well as their respective biosynthetic precursors THCA and CBDA, the methodology used must be scrutinized. The naturally occurring THCA of cannabis isn't psychoactive; it requires decarboxylation (a chemical reaction induced by drying/heating that releases carbon dioxide) to convert itself into the psychoactive cannabinoid THC. Chemical calculations show that the process of decarboxylation results in approximately 87.7 percent of the THCA's mass converting to THC, with the other 12.3 percent bubbling off as CO<sub>2</sub> gas.<ref name="CAWhy1">{{cite web |url=http://conflabs.com/why-0-877/ |title=Why 0.877? |publisher=Confidence Analytics |date=10 February 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> The problem with this in the testing domain is gas chromatography (GC) involves heating the sample solution. If you, the lab technician, require precise numbers of both THCA and THC, then GC analysis poses the risk of under-reporting THC total values.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> As such, liquid chromatography-diode array detection (LC-DAD) may be required if a concise profile of all cannabinoids must be made, primarily because it provides environmental stability for them all during analysis. If GC is used, the analysis requires extra considerations such as sample derivatization.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RigdonAccurateJuly15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=14961 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids by GC – Is it Possible? |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 July 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RigdonAccurateSept15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=15135 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids and Neutrals by GC – Derivatives without Calculus |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=09 September 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The APHL briefly describes analysis methods of cannabinoids using both LC and GC on pages 31–32 of their May 2016 ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs''. They also point to New York Department of Health - Wadsworth Center's various guidance documents (MML-300, -301, and -303) for methodologies when testing sample types other than solids, particularly using high-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA).<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MML-300">{{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> Overall, methods used in cannabinoid testing include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="MML-300" /><ref name="SCCann16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/docs/Sigma-Aldrich/General_Information/1/cannabis-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing: Quality You Can Trust |publisher=Sigma-Aldritch Co. LLC |date=2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AdamsNear16">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/column/near-infrared-gc-and-hplc-applications-in-cannabis-testing/ |title=Near Infrared, GC and HPLC Applications in Cannabis Testing |author=Adams, T.; Bertone, M. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=30 November 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR; has limitations, such as requiring standard samples tested w/ other methods)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like 5α-cholestane, docosane, and tetracosane)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like deuterated cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA; stable for all forms of cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography UV detection (HPLC-UV)<br />
* Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
* Thin-layer chromatography (TLC; older, less common technology)<br />
* Ultra-performance chromatography (UPC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
<br />
====Terpene testing====<br />
Identifying and quantifying terpenes is one of the more difficult tasks facing laboratorians<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Terpenes present an analytical challenge because they are nonpolar and structurally similar, and many structural isomers exist. Mass spectrometry (MS) cannot distinguish terpenes that co-elute from a GC column because many have the same molecular weight and share fragment ions.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Of course, types of gas chromatography work; but like cannabinoids, terpenes can degrade with the high heat of gas chromatography.<ref name="AdamsNear16" /> Combined with the problems mentioned above, highly specialized gas chromatography processes that include additional steps — such as full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID) — can be used to produce cleaner results, particularly for volatile components.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> It's less clear if high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used frequently; some entities such as Eurofins Experchem Laboratories claim HPLC works best for them<ref name="AdamsNear16" />, while others such as Restek Corporation claim the method is problematic at best.<ref name="HerringCanHP16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=33071 |title=Can HPLC-UV Be Used For Terpenes Analysis In Cannabis? |author=Herring, T. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 December 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Overall, methods for terpene identification and analysis include<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="SCLabs" /><ref name="SCCann16" /><ref name="AdamsNear16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/life_science/shimadzu_cannabis_brochure.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Solutions |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID; tends to be semi-quantitative)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; may have limitations due to coelution of terpenes and cannabinoids at certain ranges<ref name="HerringCanHP16" />)<br />
<br />
====Contaminate testing====<br />
[[File:LC MS pic.jpg|right|400px]]'''Pesticides''': Gas and liquid chromatography methods are by and large the staple of testing methods for pesticides, which remain "the hardest analyses that are going to be done in the cannabis industry."<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Notably, high-performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) tends to be one of the most thorough methods says Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon. "Ninety-five percent of the pesticides out there can be analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS, although there are some that you would need a GC-MS/MS for," she says.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Testing methods that have been used include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Gas chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of pesticides in cannabis, the EPA's Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) or FDA's Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) provide guidance to labs.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="FDA_PAM">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': Testing for solvents is largely standardized into a couple of options, which have parallels to existing pharmaceutical testing standards outlined in Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'' (USP <467>)<ref name="USPNF467" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS)<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID)<br />
<br />
Massachusetts and Oregon — and likely other states — have used a variety of guidance documents such as USP <467>, reports from the Commission of the European Communities' Scientific Committee on Food (now the European Food Safety Authority), and the International Conference on Harmonization's (ICH) Q3C(R5)<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MDPHResponse" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /> to set their action level testing values for particular solvents.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': The methods used for quantifying levels of highly toxic metals in plants depend on ease-of-use, level of accuracy, and overall cost. The following methods are most common for testing cannabis and other plants<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DavisAnalysis15">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/aas/ssi-icp-002.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of "The Big Four" Heavy Metals in Cannabis by USN-ICP-OES |author=Davis, D.; Long, K.; Masone, J.; Firmin, P. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=August 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), sometimes called inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) (at times coupled with an ultrasonic nebulizer)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma tandem-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of metals in cannabis, the U.S. FDA's ICP-MS methodology document is often used.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': A standard method of testing for the existence of microorganisms is through the process of culturing a sample in a Petri dish, a common diagnostic method in microbiology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is also used, particularly to identify mycotoxins. However, Petri culture analysis isn't rigorous, and ELISA can be time consuming, as it's limited to one mycotoxin per test.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> The following are other, more precise techniques that are improving laboratorians' analyses, particularly using DNA snippets of microbiological contaminates<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="ThompsonAMicro16">{{cite journal |title=A microbiome assessment of medical marijuana |journal=Clinical Microbiology and Infection |author=Thompson III, G.R.; Tuscano, J.M.; Dennis, M. et al. |pages=S1198-743X(16)30605-X |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.cmi.2016.12.001 |pmid=27956269}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)<br />
* Whole metagenome shotgun (WMGS) sequencing<br />
* Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
The extent of mycotoxin testing required remains in question by several entities. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) claims "[t]here is no readily available evidence to support the contention that cannabis harbors significant levels of mycotoxins."<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> The Oregon Health Authority takes a more middle-ground approach, noting that testing for ''E. coli'' and ''Salmonella'' will "protect public health," though ''Aspergillus'' only deserves a warning for people with suppressed immune systems due to its prevalence in the environment.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> USP <561> recommendations largely limit mycotoxin testing of botanical products to those borne from root or rhizome material<ref name="USPNF561">{{cite web |url=https://hmc.usp.org/sites/default/files/documents/HMC/GCs-Pdfs/c561.pdf |format=PDF |title=<561> Articles of Botanical Origin |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>, "which THC-containing cannabis products presumably do not possess," emphasizes the APHL.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Regardless, U.S. Pharmacopeia's Chapter 561 remains a useful document for testing guidelines and limits regarding microbials.<ref name="USPNF561" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> In the less common case of dealing with powdered cannabis — a relatively new THC extract form — Chapter 2023 provides at least some testing parallels, though Dr. Tony Cundell, a microbiologist consulting for the pharmaceutical industry, suggests USP <2023> doesn't go far enough for immunocompromised patients.<ref name="CundellMicro15">{{cite web |url=http://www.americanpharmaceuticalreview.com/Featured-Articles/177487-Microbiological-Attributes-of-Powdered-Cannabis/ |title=Microbiological attributes of powdered cannabis |work=American Pharmaceutical Review |author=Cundell, T. |publisher=CompareNetworks, Inc |date=31 July 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Somewhat related and worth mentioning is moisture content testing. As previously mentioned, warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, and regularly measuring water activity is useful for the prevention of microbial growth.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> The APHL references specifications from the Dutch Office of Medical Cannabis that recommend water content be between five to ten percent in cannabis.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><br />
<br />
===Reports===<br />
There's little in the way of standardization for lab reporting of cannabis test results, though some U.S. states have outlined requirements for what must be included in such reports. The Oregon Health Authority's ''Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 333, Division 64, Section 0100: Marijuana Item Sampling Procedures and Testing'' stipulates that any report must include total THC and total CBD (by dry weight) and, if discovered, "up to five tentatively identified compounds (TICS) that have the greatest apparent concentration." It also lays out requirements for pesticides, failed tests, limits of quantification, and specimen identifiers such as test batch number.<ref name="OHA333-064-0100">{{cite web |url=http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_300/oar_333/333_064.html |title=Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, Division 64, Accreditation of Laboratories |work=Oregon Administrative Rules |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In late January 2017, Pennsylvania released its temporary regulations in support of its new medical marijuana program (28 Pa. Code Chapter 1171), which includes a section on test results and reporting (1171.31). The regulations stipulate reporting by electronic tracking system, with stipulations on using certificates of analysis which include lot/batch number and the specific compounds and contaminates tested.<ref name="28PA1171">{{cite journal |url=http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/M-P/MedicalMarijuana/Documents/Chapter%201171%20Laboratories%201-26-17.pdf |format=PDF |title=Title 28 - Health and Safety, Department of Health - 28 Pa. Code Ch. 1171 |journal=Pennsylvania Bulletin |author=Pennsylvania Department of Health |volume=46 |issue=52 |pages=8036–8041 |date=24 December 2016}}</ref> Regulations aside, it's largely up to the laboratory — and often by extension, the software they're using — to decide how a report is formatted. Some labs like Seattle-based Analytical 360 offer clean, color-based certificates of analysis, with high-magnification photographs, the chromatogram, potency, cannabinoid content, contaminate content, and explanation of limits, with the name of the approving analyst.<ref name="CC_A360">{{cite web |url=http://cannabis-chronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/Godzilla.pdf |format=PDF |title=Certificate of Analysis - Sample: Godzilla |publisher=Cannabis Chronicles |date=07 July 2014 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="C360Results">{{cite web |url=http://analytical360.com/testresults |title=Current Test Results |publisher=Analytical 360, LLC |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Others may simply generate a computer printout with the basic data and a legend.<ref name="HydrioCan16">{{cite web |url=http://beyondchronic.com/question/can-you-help-me-analyze-lab-reports-of-cannabis-oil/ |title=Can you help me analyze lab reports of cannabis oil? |author=Hydrio |work=Beyond Chronic: Ask Old Hippie |date=August 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Reports may originate from the measuring device itself (e.g., an integrator in a chromatography device), a middleware or data station attached to the instrument, or a laboratory information management system that accepted data from the instrument.<ref name="McKennaSetting15">{{cite web |url=http://www.slideshare.net/GenTechScientific/ica2015-cannabis-presentation |title=Setting Up Your Cannabis Lab for Potency Testing |author=McKenna, M. |work=SlideShare |publisher=GenTech |date=18 June 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Though not directly related to laboratory testing, it's worth noting states also have their own reporting requirements for growers, processors, and dispensaries. Both Oregon and Washington, for example, require monthly reports related to medical marijuana transfers.<ref name="OMMPReporting">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/ChronicDisease/MedicalMarijuanaProgram/Pages/reporting.aspx |title=Reporting Requirements for Tracking Medical Marijuana |author=Public Health Division |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="314-55 WAC">{{cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=314-55&full=true |title=Chapter 314-55 WAC: Marijuana Licenses, Application Process, Requirements, and Reporting |work=Washington Administrative Code |publisher=Washington State Legislature |date=16 November 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Lab equipment===<br />
As indicated in previous sections, spectrometry and chromatography have played and will continue to play an important role in cannabis laboratory testing. This should not be surprising: "mass spectrometry is superior to other spectral techniques in such features as sensitivity, selectivity, generation possibility of molecular mass/formula, and combinability with chromatography."<ref name="MilmanTech10">{{cite book |chapter=Chapter 2: Techniques and Methods of Identification |title=Chemical Identification and its Quality Assurance |author=Milman, B.L. |publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg |year=2010 |pages=23–39 |isbn=9783642153617 |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-15361-7_2}}</ref> Analyzing complex chemical compounds that have many features and which are at times difficult to differentiate from each other proves challenging, but these technologies excel in meeting that task.<ref name="MilmanTech10" /> Refer to the previous "Methods and guidelines" section to note the specific technology associated with each molecule and contaminate. Aside from spectrometry and chromatography equipment, the analysis of microorganisms in cannabis may turn to DNA analysis methods that require additional equipment such as a thermal cycler (qPCR) or sequencer (WMGS), or ELISA, which utilizes a photometer or spectrophotometer. Of course, preparing and storing samples requires equipment as well, such as microplates, centrifuges, comparison standards, capillaries, chemicals, columns, Petri dishes, scales, and disposable gloves. Software-based data management systems may also constitute equipment and are discussed in the next section.<br />
<br />
When it comes to purchasing lab equipment specifically for cannabis testing, a 2015 interview with Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon (then with Restek Corporation) provides good advice<ref name="TaylorCanna15">{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/article/2015/06/cannabis-testing-opens-whole-new-market |title=Cannabis Testing Opens Up a Whole New Market |author=Taylor, M. |work=Laboratory Equipment |publisher=Advantage Business Media |date=23 June 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Industry-specific instrumentation isn't needed in most cases as most of the techniques and equipment used in food and herbal medicine testing have strong parallels to cannabis testing.<br />
* That said, some sample preparation tools, standards, and consumables specifically marketed to the industry may very well make the job quicker and more reliable.<br />
* Appropriate sample preparation techniques are just as vital as the equipment you use.<br />
* Do your research; many instrument companies are examining methodologies usable on conventional equipment, lessening the need for more expensive devices.<br />
* If buying used equipment, make sure the original manufacturer is still in business and producing consumables and replacement parts. Make sure your planned methods match the equipment, and make sure it's not so old that it can't be serviced by a qualified technician.<br />
<br />
===Software===<br />
Laboratories increasingly depend on software to analyze, store, and share critical data from instruments and experiments.<ref name="VI11">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150425070143/http://virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |title=Laboratory Informatics |publisher=virtualinformatics.com |date=09 April 2011 |archivedate=25 April 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> This has led to the development of laboratory-specific software like the [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS), [[electronic laboratory notebook]] (ELN), and [[chromatography data management system]] (CDMS; sometimes simply CDS). These and other software systems such as "seed-to-sale" programs can also play an important role in the cannabis testing laboratory.<br />
<br />
====LIMS====<br />
Laboratories of all types use LIMS software to manage the wide variety of data, testing and analysis workflows, and other enterprise activities typical of them. This generally includes — but is not limited to — sample receipt, workflow management, sample tracking and analysis, quality control, instrument data management, data storage, reporting and document management.<ref name="SkobelevLab11">{{cite journal |title=Laboratory information management systems in the work of the analytic laboratory |journal=Measurement Techniques |author=Skobelev, D.O.; Zaytseva, T.M.; Kozlov, A.D. et al. |volume=53 |issue=10 |pages=1182–1189 |year=2011 |doi=10.1007/s11018-011-9638-7}}</ref> The cannabis testing laboratory is no exception, though its activities differ slightly from, for example, a clinical pathology laboratory. As such, a few additional features outside of what's typically found in a generic LIMS are required.<br />
<br />
Features that may be incorporated into a cannabis testing LIMS that you might not necessarily find in an all-purpose LIMS include<ref name="BirosUsing15">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/feature_article/using-lims-in-cannabis-laboratories/ |title=Using LIMS in Cannabis Laboratories |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=23 October 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PromiumELIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=https://www.promium.com/main/element-lims-cannabis |title=LIMS for Managing Cannabis Testing |publisher=Promium, LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PharmWareHome">{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmware.net/ |title=PharmWare |publisher=PharmLabs LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LLLIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynxpress.com/index.php?title=LabLynx_LIMS_-_Cannabis |title=LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* sample loading screens optimized for the industry, including differentiation between medical and recreational marijuana<br />
* pre-loaded compliant test protocols, labels, and reports optimized and readily adjustable for a rapidly changing industry<br />
* tools for creating new, compliant test protocols, labels, and reports<br />
* a web API to integrate with state-required compliance reporting systems<br />
* chain-of-custody (CoC) tracking, when necessary<br />
* support for inventory reconciliation<br />
<br />
As previously discussed, industry-specific test protocols largely focus on cannabinoids, terpenes, and a wide variety of contaminates, including excess water. However, as regulations continue to be in a state of flux and not particularly standardized, most LIMS developers are including the ability for users to adjust their protocols and even add new ones. And while CoC functionality is not entirely foreign to generic LIMS, it's particularly important in an industry where currently transporting even a cannabis test sample across state lines can create huge problems.<br />
<br />
In cases where daily sample processing is infrequent and only a couple of chromatography machines are used, laboratories may weigh a decision between a LIMS and a chromatography-specific CDMS - although the ability to produce an acceptable COA and document the CoC are still factors, along with any state reporting requirements.<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
Scientists on the research side of cannabis are certainly using CDMSs from Agilent, Thermo Scientific, Waters, and other to manage the data coming out of their chromatography equipment<ref name="PurschkeDevelop16">{{cite journal |title=Development and validation of an automated liquid-liquid extraction GC/MS method for the determination of THC, 11-OH-THC, and free THC-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) from blood serum |journal=Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry |author=Purschke, K.; Heinl, S.; Lerch, O. et al. |volume=408 |issue=16 |pages=4379-88 |year=2016 |doi=10.1007/s00216-016-9537-5 |pmid=27116418 |pmc=PMC4875941}}</ref><ref name="AlbertiniDeterm15">{{cite web |url=http://tools.thermofisher.com/content/sfs/posters/PO-GC-MS-THC-Metabolites-Triple-Quad-EN.pdf |format=PDF |title=Determination of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Its Main Metabolites Using GC Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry |author=Albertini, T.; Caruso, A. |publisher=Thermo Fisher Scientific |date=2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LaytonAnalysis17">{{cite web |url=https://www.perkinelmer.com/lab-solutions/resources/docs/APP_Analysis-of-Cannabinoids-in-Hemp-Seed-Oils-by-HPLC-012317_01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Cannabinoids in Hemp Seed Oils by HPLC Using PDA Detection |author=Layton, C.; Reuter, W.M. |publisher=PerkinElmer, Inc |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>, and slowly but surely some of those CDMSs are beginning to also support spectrometer data management in a similar way.<ref name="DaviesCentral16">{{cite web |url=http://www.spectroscopyeurope.com/articles/tony-davies-column/3676-central-spectroscopic-data-systems-why-are-chromatographers-so-much-better-equipped |title=Central spectroscopic data systems: Why are chromatographers so much better equipped? |author=Davies, A.N. |work=Spectroscopy Europe |publisher=John Wiley & Sons Ltd; IM Publications LLP |date=12 April 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, some chromatography system developers will collaborate with CDMS vendors to develop software drivers — code that essentially acts as a translator between a device and a program — so chromatography devices can interact fully with the CDMS.<ref name="ShimadzuWaters">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/product.cfm?product=gcdriver |title=Waters Empower Shimadzu GC Driver Version 2 |publisher=Shimadzu Scientific Instruments |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The CDMS likely has a place in the cannabis testing lab as well, though it may depend on the lab's data management needs and goals. In more complex labs with multiple instruments and significant daily processing workflows, a LIMS may make more practical sense.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
The use of seed-to-sale software is an emerging trend that is only tangentially related to laboratory testing of cannabis. Rather than at testing laboratories, seed-to-sale software is found at cultivation sites, production facilities, and dispensaries, and that software is typically designed to be able to integrate with testing laboratory or other software. The goal: create a complete record of transaction, from the grown plant to the lab, producer, and seller. This sort of tracking is mandated in various ways by many U.S. states with legalization laws. "It’s there to prevent the diversion of marijuana, which the federal government still lists as a Schedule I substance, the most dangerous class of drugs," wrote Daniel Rothberg of the ''Las Vegas Sun'' in December 2015. "Tracking also ensures product safety, assists with audits and helps facilitate recalls."<ref name="RothbergSoft15">{{cite web |url=http://www.govtech.com/state/Software-Firms-Benefit-from-Governments-Seed-to-Sale-Marijuana-Tracking.html |title=Software Firms Benefit from Government’s Seed-to-Sale Marijuana Tracking |author=Rothberg, D. |work=Government Technology |publisher=e.Republic, Inc |date=29 December 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref> This type of software is able to track plant yields, attempted theft or diversion, patient preferences, extraction methods, batch weights, and various financial statistics for analysis.<ref name="SmythTrack16">{{cite web |url=https://mjfreeway.com/blog/track-and-trace-vs-seed-to-sale |title=Track and Trace vs. Seed to Sale |author=Smyth, H. |work=MJ Freeway Blog |publisher=MJ Freeway, LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RothbergSoft15" /><br />
<br />
==Future of cannabis regulation, testing, and market trends==<br />
===Regulation and market===<br />
[[File:Medical cannabis demo 2.JPG|right|250px]]On February 23, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer indicated for the first time that the Trump administration would indeed be ramping up enforcement in states that have legalized recreational marijuana use, stating "I do believe that you’ll see greater enforcement," adding that "there’s a big difference between the medical use ... that’s very different than the recreational use, which is something the Department of Justice will be further looking into."<ref name="KumarTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article134608704.html |title=Trump administration plans crackdown on recreational marijuana |author=Kumar, A.; Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Five days later, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions continued to send pessimistic signals, stating he was "dubious about marijuana," and that "[w]e have a responsibility to use our best judgment ... and my view is we don’t need to be legalizing marijuana."<ref name="WheelerSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/321525-sessions-we-dont-need-to-be-legalizing-marijuana |title=Sessions: 'We don't need to be legalizing marijuana' |author=Wheeler, L. |work=The Hill |publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp |date=28 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Several days later, seemingly in response to both Spicer's and Sessions' comments, 11 U.S. senators sent a letter to Sessions asking him to keep in mind Trump's campaign promises of letting states decide their own fate on legalization efforts.<ref name="HotokainenEleven17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article135996463.html |title=11 senators call on Trump team to allow sale of recreational marijuana |author=Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Until demonstrably intrusive federal enforcement actions take place in states with legalized recreational marijuana, it won't be clear if the administration is simply making an implied, noisy threat in order to bring more in the industry to heel. More certain is mounting evidence that a growing majority of U.S. voters believe the federal government should not be enforcing its laws in such states: 64 percent agreed on this in 2012<ref name="NewportAmericans12">{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/159152/americans-federal-gov-state-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=Americans Want Federal Gov't Out of State Marijuana Laws |author=Newport, F. |publisher=Gallup, Inc |date=10 December 2012 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>, rising to 71 percent in 2017.<ref name="QuinnipiacRepublicans17">{{cite web |url=https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2432 |title=Republicans Out Of Step With U.S. Voters On Key Issues, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Most Voters Support Legalized Marijuana |publisher=Quinnipiac University |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Despite such support, it may largely be up to the states in the future to twist the arm of the federal government. Legal representatives at Thompson Coburn expressed this idea well in a blog post in November 2016<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry may have to consider forcing the federal hand by providing credible data on the safety of cannabis as it was invited to do in the DEA decision, in addition to the continuing to support the groundswell of approval at the state level. At some point, in the near future, the state regulatory position and the federal position will have to be reconciled. The industry can and should prompt that reconciliation by a clear united message to federal lawmakers. Without that, it remains unlikely that agencies, such as the FDA, will change its position on cannabis. A lack of change will inhibit market growth and prevent the cannabis industry from reaching its potential.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The obvious issue with expanding research and testing on cannabis and of its safety is acquiring the product within a legal framework and a reasonable time frame. As mentioned previously, the DEA has recognized the need for more federally approved growers than the NIDA center at the University of Mississippi (which came under fire in March 2017 for not testing its provided samples for mold and other contaminants in any standardized fashion<ref name="HellermanScientists17">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/scientists-say-governments-pot-farm-moldy-samples-no-guidelines/ |title=Scientists say the government’s only pot farm has moldy samples — and no federal testing standards |author=Hellerman, C. |work=PBS NewsHour |publisher=NewsHour Productions, LLC |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref>), and they've begun accepting applications for additional entities looking to grow marijuana for researchers.<ref name="81FR53846" /> Assuming the Trump administration doesn't force the DEA to change course — and signs point to the administration at least being on spoken record of supporting medical marijuana and associated research<ref name="MPPTrumpMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/trump-marijuana-policy/ |title=Trump on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=12 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — researchers will optimistically have more options for acquiring research-quality cannabis in the future. This should in turn allow researchers a shot at more focused studies that provide efficacy and safety data related to the medical use of cannabis.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> In fact, this has been a goal of Dr. Susan Weiss, Division Director of Extramural Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for some time. In July 2016 testimony to the U.S. Judiciary Committee<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /> and in a February 2017 research paper set to be published in ''The International Journal of Drug Policy''<ref name="WeissBuilding17">{{cite journal |title=Building smart cannabis policy from the science up |journal=International Journal of Drug Policy |author=Weiss, S.R.B.; Howlett, K.D.; Baler, R.D. |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.01.007 |pmid=28189459}}</ref>, Weiss cautiously recognizes and promotes the need for further evidence-based cannabis research, emphasizing both the healthy and detrimental effects evident so far in the plant and its constituents. She said of recent federal actions towards this goal<ref name="WeissTestimony16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Multiple agencies (NIH, ONDCP, DEA, and FDA) are working together to find ways to streamline the process to facilitate research while meeting international and legislative obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the Controlled Substances Act. In addition to actions taken by the Department of Health and Humans Services to eliminate the Public Health Services (PHS) committee review for non-federally funded marijuana research, the DEA recently streamlined the administrative process for CBD research to allow researchers to obtain a waiver of the requirement for review of changes to an approved protocol in their DEA research registrations, and is attempting to address the marijuana diversity and product development concern by licensing additional manufacturers.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Another recent and significant body of research that may have future influence on cannabis research itself is a massive January 2017 cannabis literature review published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This 440-page report detailed the National Academies' findings after reviewing more than 10,700 abstracts related to cannabis. Among its final recommendations, the authors called for<ref name="NASEMTheHealth17">{{cite web |url=http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/reports/2017/health-effects-of-cannabis-and-cannabinoids.aspx |title=The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research |author=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine |publisher=The National Academies Press |pages=440 |doi=10.17226/24625 |date=12 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* public and private entities to fund and support a national cannabis research initiative that looks to fill key knowledge gaps;<br />
* government agencies to develop research methods and standards that may act as a guide towards higher-quality cannabis research;<br />
* government agencies, non-profit associations, and state and local health departments to fund and support efforts to improve federal, state, and local public health surveillance systems and efforts; and<br />
* government, non-government, and industry entities to work together towards developing a report on existing regulatory barriers to research and how to overcome them.<br />
<br />
However, some researchers such as Mayo Clinic psychiatrist and researcher Michael Bostwick are less convinced that the barriers will fall — claiming federal entities shift too much focus on the detrimental effects and not enough on the potential benefits — and aren't optimistic about the direction the Trump administration will take.<ref name="GrantMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/48122/title/Marijuana-Research-Still-Stymied-by-Federal-Laws/ |title=Marijuana Research Still Stymied by Federal Laws |author=Grant, B. |work=The Scientist |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Despite this pessimism, predictions of substantial revenues in states where recreational marijuana is legalized or could be legalized persist.<ref name="MorrisTheNext16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/21/the-next-big-billion-dollar-cannabis-markets-investors-are-rushing-to.html |title=The next big billion-dollar cannabis markets investors are rushing to |author=Morris, C. |work=CNBC |date=21 October 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ThomasBigPot17">{{cite web |url=http://ctmirror.org/2017/02/07/big-pot-of-money-waiting-if-ct-legalizes-marijuana-analysts-say/ |title=Big pot of money waiting if CT legalizes marijuana, analysts say |author=Thomas, J.R. |work=The CT Mirror |publisher=The Connecticut News Project |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="HoughtonTown17">{{cite web |url=http://www.capenews.net/mashpee/news/town-manager-marijuana-shops-could-boost-tax-revenue/article_c27b9b71-fb63-52de-bc24-fda320f38a32.html |title=Town Manager: Marijuana Shops Could Boost Tax Revenue |author=Houghton, S. |work=The Mashpee Enterprise |publisher=Enterprise Newspapers |date=14 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> The latest national estimates by market research and analytics company New Frontier Data put the U.S. marijuana industry at $24 billion by 2025, with 255,000 total jobs by 2019.<ref name="WallaceReport17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/02/22/report-united-states-marijuana-sales-projections-2025/74059/ |title=Report: America’s marijuana industry headed for $24 billion by 2025 |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Yet entities such as the Denver-based Marijuana Policy Group and cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg LLC preach caution when dealing with tax revenue estimates and economic projections in the U.S. cannabis market<ref name="WallaceReport17" />, pointing to CIBC World Markets' grossly inflated tax revenue estimate of $142 CAD ($106 USD) per resident in January 2016, an overshot of about 300 percent.<ref name="WallaceWhat16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/12/22/marijuana-sales-pot-taxes-colorado-estimates-projections/69831/ |title=What legal states need to know about sketchy pot tax predictions |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 December 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> "This is a fast-paced, changing market with varying different dynamics that have more to do based on governmental and regulatory dynamics than they do on consumer dynamics," said Vicente Sederberg's director of economics and research Andrew Livingston.<ref name="WallaceReport17" /> <br />
<br />
Indeed, current and future regulatory dynamics seem to be the biggest wildcards in making market-based predictions, with predicted tax and associated revenue estimates capable of both being significantly too high (by inadequately taking into account local and regional cultural and economic statuses) or too low (by not anticipating new states legalization efforts, research breakthroughs, or ties to other mainstream but related industries).<ref name="WallaceReport17" /><ref name="WallaceWhat16" /> Additionally, too much regulation can put a stranglehold on a state's cannabis program development — as it has done in Minnesota<ref name="PotterBig16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/08/12/big-losses-for-minn-medical-marijuana-providers |title=Big losses for Minn. medical marijuana providers |author=Potter, K. |work=MPR News |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=12 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — causing related grow-ops and laboratories to take significant losses or even go out of business.<br />
<br />
===Lab testing===<br />
Future-looking estimates on cannabis lab testing are more difficult to find. The primary numbers being floated around originate from a June 2015 market report published by GreenWave Advisors titled ''Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays''. GreenWave suggested that if the U.S. were to quickly legalize cannabis at the federal level, lab testing revenues alone would be $553 million by 2020, $866 million including related activities such as data analysis and consulting.<ref name="DPAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DigiPath-Investor-Presentation-11.3.pdf |format=PDF |title=DigiPath, Inc.: A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |pages=28 |date=November 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SBSignal15">{{cite web |url=https://signalbay.com/company-news/signal-bay-makes-strategic-acquisition-in-the-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=Signal Bay Makes Strategic Acquisition in the $850M Cannabis Testing Market |publisher=Signal Bay, Inc |date=24 September 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="GWMari15">{{cite web |url=https://www.greenwaveadvisors.com/research/marijuana-lab-testing-an-in-depth-analysis-of-investing-in-one-of-the-industrys-most-attractive-plays/ |title=Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays |publisher=GreeenWave Advisors, LLC |date=June 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
As for advances in cannabis lab testing, Kuzdzal ''et al.'' of Shimadzu envision a future where improvements in standardization, quality control, and research will shift what is tested and how its tested<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry and cannabis testing are in their infancies. As the need for better quality control continues and standardization is introduced, it is likely that lower limits for the various cannabis contaminants will be established and regulations will be introduced. Mass spectrometry will likely play a greater role in quantitation as detection levels are lowered and confirmatory tests are required. The health benefits of terpenes present in cannabis will also provide a fertile area of scientific research. CBD, CBG and other compounds appear to have a synergistic relationship with each other as well as with various THC forms and terpenes. This field needs much more investigation to determine mechanisms of action, bioavailability and health benefits.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabis should continue to provide more exact and useful results as methods and standards continue to evolve. Disparity of results between two labs for the same sample are continuing to narrow as states increasingly add testing requirements to their cannabis legislature.<ref name="NelsonHas16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/has-lab-testing-turned-a-corner/ |title=Has Lab Testing Turned A Corner? |author=Nelson, S. |work=Cannabis Business Times |publisher=GIE Media, Inc |date=03 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Those testing requirements are increasingly based off a growing body of recommendations, guidance, and standards developed by the likes of the Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS), and the Association of Public Health Laboratories.<ref name="InfocastNew16" /><ref name="AHPARecomm16" /><ref name="AHPCanna14" /><ref name="MarcuJahan16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Proficiency tests such as the Emerald Test<ref name="EmeraldTest">{{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>, which allows multiple labs to test an anonymous sample and compare results, should also continue to drive improved performance from cannabis testing labs.<ref name="NelsonHas16" /><br />
<br />
Another potential trend to keep an eye on with these testing laboratories: consolidation. Currently there's not a lot of data on the extent consolidation has affected the number of cannabis testing labs or how they operate; the industry is arguably still in its infancy. Regardless, mentions in press and practical examples demonstrate that consolidation is a real concern for the industry, if not now in the future. Suggestion of such came from Steep Hill Halent's CEO David Lampach in late 2013, anticipating "huge consolidation in general and fewer companies as a result."<ref name="LampachQA13" /> The previously mentioned GreenWave Advisors as well as CannaSafe Analytics have also lent their voices to this idea in recent years.<ref name="TMIDigiPath15">{{cite web |url=http://marijuanaindex.com/digipath-digp-well-positioned-to-take-advantage-of-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=DigiPath (DIGP) Well Positioned To Take Advantage of $850M Cannabis Testing Market |work=The Marijuana Index |author=CannabisFN |publisher=MJIC, Inc |date=16 July 2015 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SchroyerIndustry16">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizmagazine.com/industry-snapshot-testing-labs/ |title=Industry Snapshot: Testing Labs |author=Schroyer, J. |work=Marijuana Business Magazine |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=January 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Production===<br />
Outside the lab, on the production side, resides a glimpse of technology that ties several of the previously mentioned ideas together: growing cannabis as an environmentally modified organism (EMO). A June 2016 article published in <em>Motherboard</em> references the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) in Canada and its effort to apply innovations in growing plants in closed environments (such as on spaceships) to cannabis production.<ref name="OwensHow16">{{cite web |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/how-space-technology-will-produce-the-best-weed-marijuana-cannabis-pot |title=How Space Technology Will Produce the Best Weed Ever |author=Owens, B. |work=Motherboard |publisher=Motherboard-IPTV LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref> Specifically, the researchers see promise in being able to precisely control grow conditions to produce a plant with a particular ratio of active chemicals. As such, the previously mentioned synergistic relationship of cannabis' chemicals can be more carefully studied, and the end product, once studied and methodically tested, could potentially "achieve the status of a conventional pharmaceutical commodity that a doctor can rely on and prescribe."<ref name="OwensHow16" /> CESRF isn't alone in developing grow technology that can tailor the necessary conditions for a particular strain. Several Israeli-linked start-ups (see the last section "Non-U.S. policy" for more) like Corsica Innovations (LEAF) and Flux (Eddy) have been developing similar grow technology that may transform future research.<ref name="GustafsonStartup16">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinegustafson/2016/12/07/it-just-became-incredibly-easy-to-grow-marijuana-at-home-meet-leaf/print/ |title=Startup Launches Automated System It Claims Makes It Easy To Grow Marijuana At Home |author=Gustafson, K. |work=Forbes |publisher=Forbes.com LLC |date=07 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SolomonIsreali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startup-creates-idiots-guide-to-home-grown-food/ |title=Israeli startup creates idiot’s guide to home-grown food |author=Solomon, S. |work=The Times of Israel |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="PressFive17">{{cite web |url=https://www.israel21c.org/5-reasons-israel-is-dominating-the-cannabis-industry/ |title=5 reasons Israel is dominating the cannabis industry |author=Press, V.S. |work=ISREAL21c |date=13 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
With better research, more definitive fact-based decisions can be made in the regulatory sphere, better guiding medical and recreational marijuana policy. That said, keep an eye on developments in controllable production methods; advances in this area stand to improve many of the other facets of research and testing discussed.<br />
<br />
===Big Marijuana===<br />
Both U.S. states and the federal government have a long, sometimes torturous history with regulating and controlling the production and sale of drug-containing products such as pharmaceuticals, tobacco, beer, wine, and spirits. As such, it seems intuitive to examine the successes and failures of those past efforts when considering what to do with cannabis. One aspect of that examination that raises concern among some is the likelihood of a narrow group of commercial interests taking over all aspects of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales. Taking from "Big Pharma," "Big Tobacco," and "Big Alcohol," some fear a similar "Big Marijuana" industry will develop.<ref name="HudakWorry16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana—not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These fears can be found among small private growers at the hyper-local level<ref name="SolovitchHow16">{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/marijuana-legalization-big-business-alcohol-214198 |title=How Big Alcohol Is About to Get Rich Off California Weed |author=Solovitch, S. |work=POLITICO |publisher=POLITICO, LLC |date=29 August 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>, all the way up to the state government level.<ref name="SteeringPathways15">{{cite web |url=https://www.aclunc.org/sites/default/files/20150721-brc_pathways_report.pdf |format=PDF |title=Pathways Report: Policy Options for Regulating Marijuana in California |author=Steering Committee of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |date=22 July 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In fact, in a 2015 Pathways Report, the state of California — including its Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom — expressed this very concern in regards to how best to regulate marijuana in the state. When considering the marijuana industry structure, they found that controls should be put in place to better incentivize smaller industry players, stating "[t]he goal should be to prevent the growth of a large, corporate marijuana industry dominated by a small number of players, as we see with Big Tobacco or the alcohol industry."<ref name="SteeringPathways15" /> Despite that advice, major California-based industry players such as Steve DeAngelo — who owns one of the largest medical marijuana dispensaries in the world and co-founded Steep Hill Labs — remain concerned that mandates for distribution, which mirror alcohol regulations, will only undermine small cannabis businesses in the state.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><br />
<br />
Anti-marijuana alliances such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and corporation-friendly pro-cannabis Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) act as opposing special interest groups, one fighting against Big Marijuana, the other borrowing from a libertarian approach proposing regulation of marijuana in a way similar to alcohol.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><ref name="WallachBoot16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="CRPTheMoney15">{{cite web |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/issues/marijuana/ |title=The Money in Marijuana: The political landscape |work=OpenSecrets.org |publisher=Center for Responsive Politics |date=November 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These and other special interest groups inevitably bring about the perception that, as the Brookings Institution puts it, "the marijuana industry is as self-serving as any other commercial lobby," further propelling worries of Big Marijuana.<ref name="WallachBoot16" /><br />
<br />
If worries of large corporations taking over significant portions of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales markets actually come to fruition, how will they potentially manifest? The previously mentioned concern of increased consolidation of testing labs is arguably one sign, as is DeAngelo's concern of forced distribution contracts taking away from smaller businesses. Brookings also points out concerns of large firms gaining hold over the evolving regulatory status as well as upward trends in antisocial marketing, though they also argue against undue alarmism of commercialization at the same time.<ref name="HudakWorry16" /><br />
<br />
Another manifestation of how Big Marijuana may be taking hold is through the patenting of cannabis strains and methods. PBS' ''Nova'' reported in October 2016 that a group of California growers were granted a patent for "compositions and methods for the breeding, production, processing and use of specialty cannabis,"<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/evolution/patenting-pot/ |title=The Rise of Marijuana™ (Patent Pending) |author=Arnold, C. |work=Nova Next |publisher=PBS |date=19 October 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> raising concerns about how Big Pharma could capitalize. Mowgli Holmes — founder of Phylos Biosciences, a genetics testing laboratory for cannabis — says as much: "Everyone is terrified of some big corporation with deep pockets coming in and taking over ... and they should be." To fight against the misappropriation of patents for "public domain" cannabis strains, he and others have developed Phylos Galaxy to better track relations between existing cannabis strains and the creation of new strains. From a lab testing perspective, a small but increasing number of qualified labs could test not only for potency, terpenes, and pesticides but also genetically verify in a standardized format that a unique strain is actually what it is claimed to be, providing slight competitive advantage.<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16" /> As the patenting trend continues (most recently a patent was issued to a Florida company for an "apparatus and methods for biosynthetic production of cannabinoids"<ref name="LivniTheUS17">{{cite web |url=https://qz.com/927649/the-us-government-grants-cannabis-patents-though-weed-is-illegal/ |title=The US government grants cannabis patents even though weed is illegal |author=Livni, E. |work=Quartz |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group, Inc |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>) the intellectual property war over strains and methods is bound to get more heated; as such, the development of accurate and open genetic and other laboratory testing methods may become increasing vital.<br />
<br />
===Non-U.S. policy===<br />
[[File:Treaty decades.png|right|800px]]Aside from a few mentions of Canada and European regulation, this guide has focused solely on the state of cannabis and related lab testing in the United States. However, it would be remiss to not look at how policy elsewhere may potentially impact the U.S. cannabis market, if nothing else at least indirectly. Broadly speaking, other countries like the Netherlands and Portugal have put more emphasis on decriminalization and recreational legalization of marijuana than on researching and providing marijuana for medical purposes.<ref name="JohnsonPast15">{{cite journal |title=Past 15-year trends in adolescent marijuana use: Differences by race/ethnicity and sex |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Johnson, R.M.; Fariman, B.; Gilreath, T. et al. |volume=155 |pages=8–15 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.025 |pmid=26361714 |pmc=PMC4582007}}</ref> Israel has been one of the major exceptions to this generalization, arguably "up to 10 years ahead of other countries in innovation in the cannabis industry."<ref name="PressFive17" /> The country has been involved with cannabis research since the 1960s, and today it has its hands in many medical research-based initiatives (though recreational marijuana is still illegal), including<ref name="PressFive17" /><ref name="KershnerIsrael16">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/middleeast/israel-a-medical-marijuana-pioneer-is-eager-to-capitalize.html?_r=0 |title=Israel, a Medical Marijuana Pioneer, Is Eager to Capitalize |author=Kershner, I. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=17 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* The Green Book, a set of written protocols and policy detailing how doctors should work with medical marijuana (still in draft phase as of March 2017) as well as how it would be commercialized across the country; includes training and certification of 100 doctors for prescribing it<ref name="EfratiIsraeli16">{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.747985 |title=Israeli Pharmacies Prepare to Sell Medical Cannabis |author=Efrati, I. |work=Haaretz |publisher=Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd |date=20 October 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="iCANIsrael16">{{cite web |url=http://journal.cannabislaw.report/israel-a-peek-inside-the-israeli-knessets-special-committee-on-medical-cannabis/ |title=Israel: A Peek Inside the Israeli Knesset’s Special Committee on Medical Cannabis |author=iCAN Israel |work=Cannabis Law Journal |date=01 September 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
* the creation of the Medical Cannabis Unit, a government agency that regulates medical cannabis research and use<br />
* the development of significant investment and infrastructure for clinical trials involving medical cannabis<br />
* the development of a national institute for medical marijuana research<br />
* the discussion of potentially exporting cannabis and/or cannabis-related extracts and derivatives<br />
* several higher education facilities offering courses and research opportunities on cannabis<br />
* several start-ups developing improved cultivation, pharmaceutical, and medical device technology<br />
<br />
Another major country challenging traditional cannabis regulation is Uruguay, which in December 2013 adopted the first stages of regulatory legislation that will ultimately make the cultivation, sale, and use (recreational and medical) of cannabis in the country legal and government-controlled. In part due to concerns regarding gang-related violence and a tentative but not proven connection to black-market cannabis, the country has since carefully and methodically implemented the laws and regulations with the goal of keeping in mind evidence-based research and the potential social impact.<ref name="RamseyGetting16">{{cite web |url=https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Getting-Regulation-Right-WOLA-Uruguay.pdf |format=PDF |title=Getting Regulation Right: Assessing Uruguay's Historic Cannabis Initiative |author=Ramsey, G. |publisher=WOLA |date=November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> In fact, a late February 2017 press release from Canadian company Emblem Corp. stated it and Uruguayan ICC International Cannabis Corporation would, pending finalization of regulatory processes between the two countries, begin a partnership that would have Emblem import CBD (cannabidiol) from ICC "to help fulfill the demand in the Canadian market."<ref name="NCVEmblem17">{{cite web |url=https://www.newcannabisventures.com/emblem-to-import-cbd-from-uruguay-into-canada/ |title=Emblem to Import CBD from Uruguay into Canada |work=New Cannabis Ventures |publisher=NCV Media, LLC |date=27 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The reality of all this — combined with the legalization momentum in the U.S. and other countries — means that new pressures are being applied to organizers of international treaties and policy, and any future changes to those treaties and policy may inversely apply pressure back on the U.S. government to update its stance on cannabis. An October 2014 Brookings Institution interview revealed some of the issues "straining the limits of an international drug control regime that most participants, including the United States, have long understood to be quite strict."<ref name="RauchMari14">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2014/10/16/marijuana-legalization-poses-a-dilemma-for-international-drug-treaties/ |title=Marijuana Legalization Poses a Dilemma for International Drug Treaties |author=Rauch, J. |work=Brookings FIXGOV: Making Government Work |publisher=The Brookings Institution |date=16 October 2014 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> Drug treaties such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988) represent hard policy that the U.S. government (as well as other federal governments) has followed steadfastly for years. However, a dichotomy begins to form when federal governments bend those treaties either through outright legalization or, as is the case in the U.S., by allowing the states power to determine their own laws.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><br />
<br />
As a result of these stresses, policy experts around the world are shining light on the need for not only federal governments but also international agencies such as the United Nations' World Health Organisation (WHO) to move forward with critical reviews of existing cannabis research in the social and medical domains and determine if revising cannabis' scheduling is appropriate. Additionally, policy experts urge United Nations members to discuss and amend existing treaties, even if such amendments only provide greater flexibility in regards to marijuana.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><ref name="HamiltonWhyWHO16">{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/why-who-needs-a-radical-rethink-of-its-draconian-approach-to-cannabis-68209 |title=Why WHO needs a radical rethink of its draconian approach to cannabis |author=Hamilton, I.; Monaghan, M.; Rolles, S. et al. |work=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation US, Inc |date=23 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Whether or not the decriminalization and legalization efforts of Israel, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and other foreign governments has a noticeable impact on international and U.S. federal law remains to be seen. However, it would be foolish to entirely ignore foreign policy when considering the future of cannabis — and by extension its laboratory testing — in the United States.<br />
<br />
==Final thoughts==<br />
This guide has attempted to provide insight into various aspects of the current status of laboratory testing of cannabis in the U.S. By extension, it has required a closer look at many non-testing or tangentially related aspects of cannabis, including history, regulations, standards, methods, equipment, and software. The guide has also attempted to look at the potential future of testing, a more difficult feat that has required inspection of — and speculation on — a mix of statistics and politics, as well as government and social policy and how they may all affect the future of cannabis testing. We learned that many point fingers at the U.S. federal government for being responsible for several cannabis-related issues, including lack of clear government support for cannabis research, lack of standardization of testing and analysis methods for said research, and wavering policy that remains inconsistent at best. At root is the fact that the federal government maintains cannabis (and its constituents) as a Schedule I drug, by extension declaring that it has no respectable medical use. This and related decisions have slowed down the academic study of cannabis, including its analysis, quality testing, and research and use as a medical treatment. The development, implementation, and reassessment of cultivation and testing standards and methods have largely been piecemeal; additionally, those efforts have been enacted in an environment where, despite the legal status in a state, fear that the federal government will inevitably intervene slows progress even further.<br />
<br />
Despite these barriers, the speed at which U.S. states have adopted some form of legalization of cannabis has pushed scientists and researchers to collaborate and improve standards and methods. Necessity continues to be the mother of invention, driving those in the industry to adapt or perish in a difficult, inconsistent market. State officials are teaming up at industry conferences and sharing ideas. Non-profit organizations are joining forces with major standards agencies to expand and improve good laboratory practices. Researchers — whether on their own or with the help of others internationally — are learning more about the cannabinoid and its interaction with terpenes, driving new insight into potential therapeutic remedies. Overall public perception about marijuana consumption and use is gradually shifting towards a positive light, even when so little is still understood about the long-term ramifications of its use. Commercial interests are taking notice, and so are international treaty makers. All of this adds up to forward momentum in the cannabis industry, with warts and all.<br />
<br />
Many factors will affect the future of cannabis regulation, testing, and research in the future; in the process, we're certain to see both ups and downs as political and social climates continue to change. However, as marijuana consumption and hemp-based manufacturing methods continue to see expanded support, consumers and manufacturers, as well as all those involved in between, will always clamor for a safer product that is "as advertised." Laboratory analysis will play an important role in that effort, whether it's in the medical research lab, the quality control lab, or the manufacturer's lab. It will be imperative for all interested parties to further work together to ensure methods are sound and standardized in a realistic and beneficial way to ensure that in the end consumers will get the best possible product available.<br />
<br />
==Resources==<br />
===Key reading===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana — not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Reference material===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/bookstore/state-legislatures-magazine/marijuana-deep-dive.aspx |title=Marijuana Deep Dive |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170117133745/https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |title=Marijuana Resource Center |author=Office of National Drug Control Policy |archivedate=17 January 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Law and regulation====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=State Medical Marijuana Laws |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=09 November 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Publications and blogs====<br />
<br />
* ''[http://www.liebertpub.com/overview/cannabis-and-cannabinoid-research/633/ Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research]''<br />
* ''[https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/ Cannabis Industry Journal]''<br />
* ''[http://mjbizdaily.com/ Marijuana Business Daily]''<br />
* ''[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7570_supp/index.html Nature Outlook: Cannabis]''<br />
* ''[http://www.beyondthc.com/ O’Shaughnessy’s]''<br />
* ''[http://terpenesandtesting.com/ Terpenes and Testing Magazine]''<br />
* ''[http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis Tracking Cannabis]'' - Thomas Coburn LLP<br />
<br />
<br />
====Standards and guidance====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Accreditation and certification====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientfocusedcertification.org/ |title=Patient Focused Certification |author=Americans for Safe Access Foundation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://certified-kind.com/ |title=Certified Kind: Certification for Responsibly Grown Cannabis |author=Certified Kind, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cleangreencert.org/ |title=Clean Green Certified |author=Clean Green Certified}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |author=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.pjlabs.com/accreditation-programs/medical-marijuana-testing |title=Accreditation Programs: Medical Marijuana Testing |author=Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Testing====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.a2la.org/appsweb/cannabis_testing.cfm |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Accreditation |author=American Association of Laboratory Accreditation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/ST-NAR-40-Ebook.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of cannabis and cannabis products |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=September 2009}} (Note year; still provides historical perspective)<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/STNAR48_Synthetic_Cannabinoids_ENG.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in seized materials |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=June 2013}}<br />
<br />
'''New York State Department of Health''':<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/359205661/MML-303-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Mycotoxins by LC-MS/MS, NYS DOH MML-303 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=43 |date=18 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/1495494332/MML-301-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medical marijuana sample preparation protocols for potency analysis, NYS DOH MML-301 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=13 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* For all other methods documents, see [https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana].<br />
<br />
<br />
===Scientific conferences and trade shows===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://2017.canntencon.com/ |title=Cann10 |publisher=Paragon Israel}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesssummit.com/oakland-2017/ |title=Cannabis Business Summit and Expo |publisher=National Cannabis Industry Association}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.canna-tech.co/ |title=CannaTech |publisher=iCAN Israel Cannabis}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldconference.com/ |title=Emerald Conference |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.csupueblo.edu/institute-of-cannabis-research/2017-conference/ |title=Institute of Cannabis Research Conference |publisher=Colorado State University - Pueblo}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://internationalcbc.com/ |title=International Cannabis Business Conference |publisher=International Conferences Group, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://mjbizconference.com/ |title=Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientsoutoftime.org/2017-national-clinical-conference-on-cannabis-therapeutics/ |title=National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics |publisher=Patients Out of Time}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.compassionatecertificationcenters.com/conference-overview/ |title=World Medical Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Present Syndikos LLC}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Associations, organizations, and interest groups===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agriculturalgenomics.org/ Agricultural Genomics Foundation]<br />
* [http://americancannabisnursesassociation.org/ American Cannabis Nurses Association]<br />
* [https://www.aocs.org/ American Oil Chemists Society]<br />
* [http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ Americans for Safe Access]<br />
* [http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories]<br />
* [http://www.australiancannabisindustry.org/ Australian Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.chascience.com/ Cannabis Horticultural Association]<br />
* [http://cannabissafetyinstitute.org/ Cannabis Safety Institute]<br />
* [https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/organization/workgroups-interest-groups-consortia/cannabis-science-interest-csi-group Cannabis Science Interest (CSI) Group], part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse<br />
* [http://cannabisandsocialpolicy.org/ Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy]<br />
* [http://www.cocannabischamber.com/ Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce]<br />
* [http://dfcr.org/ Doctors for Cannabis Regulation]<br />
* [https://www.cannabis-med.org/ International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines]<br />
* [http://icrs.co/ International Cannabinoid Research Society]<br />
* [http://thecannabisindustry.org/ National Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.nvcla.org/ Nevada Coalition Laboratory Association for Public Safety]<br />
* [http://norml.org/ NORML]<br />
* [http://patientsoutoftime.org/ Patients Out of Time]<br />
* [https://www.projectcbd.org/ Project CBD]<br />
* [https://learnaboutsam.org/ Smart Approaches to Marijuana]<br />
* [http://cannabisclinicians.org/ Society of Cannabis Clinicians]<br />
* [https://themedicalcannabisinstitute.org/ The Medical Cannabis Institute]<br />
* [http://www.vetscp.org/ Veterans Cannabis Project]<br />
* [http://womengrow.com/ Women Grow]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Testing labs and pricing info===<br />
<br />
The prevalence of testing laboratories in any given state depends on a few factors: legalization status, state laws regarding testing, and strictness of regulations. Labs typically appear as stand-alone, third-party entities. Though not common, some testing laboratories are located within dispensaries (e.g., Champlain Valley Dispensary in Vermont<ref name="CVDOurQuality">{{cite web |url=http://www.cvdvt.org/products/quality-commitment/ |title=Our Quality Commitment |publisher=Champlain Valley Dispensary, Inc |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>) and treatment centers (e.g., Sanctuary ATC in New Hampshire.<ref name="SATCAnalysis">{{cite web |url=http://www.sanctuaryatc.org/laboratory-analysis-nh.php |title=New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Laboratory Analysis — Therapeutic Uses |publisher=Sanctuary ATC |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>).<br />
<br />
The following are known active cannabis testing labs (those currently in the licensing process are not included):<br />
<br />
'''Alaska'''<br />
<br />
* [http://www.canntest.com/ Canntest] ($70–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/alaska Steep Hill Alaska] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arizona''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.arizonaanalytical.com/ Arizona Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.c4lab.com/ C4 Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.deltaverdelaboratory.com/ Delta Verde Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://desertvalleytesting.com/ Desert Valley Testing] ($15–$360, single and package tests)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arkansas''':<br />
<br />
* Laboratory testing requirements being drafted<br />
<br />
<br />
'''California''':<br />
<br />
* [http://anresco.com/ Anresco Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://budgenius.com Bud Genius] ($50/sample)<br />
* [https://www.cannalysislabs.com/ Cannalysis] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [https://coastalanalytical.com/ Coastal Analytical] ($77–$249, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.cblabstesting.com/ CS Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cwanalytical.com/ CW Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.flowertesting.com/ Flower Potency Testing] ($65–80/test type)<br />
* [http://greenherbanalytics.com/ GreenHerb Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenstyleconsulting.com/ Green Style Analytics] ($55–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.harrenslab.com/ Harrens Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.sdpharmlabs.com PharmLabs] ($40–$569, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://pureanalytics.net/ Pure Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.sequoia-labs.com Sequoia Analytical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/california Steep Hill California] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Colorado''':<br />
<br />
* [http://agricorlabs.com/ Agricor Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.aurum-labs.com/ Aurum Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://bonafideslab.com/ Bonafides Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/ CMT Laboratories] ($15–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://gobianalytical.net/ Gobi Labs] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [https://greenlabsolutionscompany.com/ Green Lab Solutions Company] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenhilllab.com/ GreenHill Laboratories] ($45–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://www.nordicanalytic.com Nordic Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phytatech.com/ PhytaTech CO] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rm3.us/ Rm3 Labs] ($35–$237, single and package tests)<br />
* Shilo Labs (Licensed<ref name="COLGovMLab16">{{cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/MLab%2007012016%20%20%20this%20one%20.pdf |format=PDF |title=MLab 07012016 this one |publisher=State of Colorado |date=01 July 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://www.teqanalyticallabs.com/ TEQ Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://goodlabcolorado.com/ The Good Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Connecticut''':<br />
<br />
* [http://altascilabs.com/ AltaSci Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Delaware''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agrolab.us/ Agrolab Organics] (State-contracted<ref name="FloodState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.capegazette.com/article/state-contracts-medical-marijuana-tester/120159 |title=State contracts medical marijuana tester |author=Flood, C. |work=Cape Gazette |date=15 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''District of Columbia''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Florida''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis Testing Lab Florida, LLC (Active but no website?)<br />
* [http://www.marijinc.com/ MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] (Mobile lab; pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.moderncanna.com/ Modern Canna Science (MCS)] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Hawaii''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hitestmedicallabs.com/ HI Test Medical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.hipharmlabs.com/ PharmLabs Hawaii] ($50–$775, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/hawaii Steep Hill Hawaii] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Illinois''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.gracelabinc.com/ Grace Analytical Laboratory, Inc.] ([https://www.agr.state.il.us/medical-cannabis-pilot-program/ Approved by state], but not advertised on website)<br />
* [http://www.lkpurelabs.com/ LK Pure Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maine''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.testedlabs.com/ Tested Labs] ($25–35/sample)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maryland''':<br />
<br />
* [http://steephill.com/maryland Steep Hill Maryland] (Pricing not public; plans on expanding here)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Massachusetts''':<br />
<br />
* [http://mcrlabs.com/ MCR Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Michigan''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.greatlakeslabservices.com/ Great Lakes Lab Services] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–$430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://micannalabs.com/ MI Canna Labs] ($60–$100/test package)<br />
* [https://www.psilabs.org/ PSI Labs] ($30–$85, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.steadfastlab.com/ Steadfast] ($25–$90/test)<br />
* [http://mispott.com/ The Spott] ($40–$90/test w/o membership; cheaper with, and can access package test prices)<br />
* [http://www.truenorthlaboratory.com/ True North Laboratory] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://upgclabs.com/ UPGC Labs] ($35/sample for potency testing)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Minnesota''':<br />
<br />
* Not clear; independent labs must be approved by Commissioner of Health.<ref name="KlarqvistMinnesota16">{{cite web |url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/MCTRA.pdf |format=PDF |title=Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research Act |author=Klarqvist, E. |publisher=Minnesota House of Representatives |date=August 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Two labs — Aspen Research and Legend Technical Services — were approved to do testing in 2015, but neither lists those services on their website.<ref name="MDHPublic16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2016/other/160894.pdf |format=PDF |title=Public Health Laboratory Annual Report: Fiscal Year 2015 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory |date=2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Montana''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buboanalytics.com/ Bubo Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://cannabanalysis.com/ Cannabanalysis Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://fidimt.com/ Fidelity Diagnostics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://montanabiotech.com/ Montana BioTech] (From $60)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Nevada''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.374labs.com/ 374 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://certifiedaglab.com/ Certified AgLab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://dblabslv.com/ DB Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://digipath.com/ Digipath] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://g3labsllc.com/ G3 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mmlabtesting.com/ MM Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.newheightslaboratory.com/ New Heights Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.nvcann.com/ NV Cann Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rsrlabs.com/ RSR Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.testlablasvegas.com/ Test Lab Las Vegas] (Pricing not public]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Hampshire''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates testing, but it's not clear which independent laboratories are approved to do so.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Jersey''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis testing is performed by the Department of Health and Senior Services.<ref name="HSS_NJAC8-64">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/documents/final_rules.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medicinal Marijuana Program Rules |publisher=New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services |date=23 November 2011 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Mexico''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.scientificbasesolutions.com/ Scientific Base Solutions] (Pricing not public]<br />
* [http://steephill.com/new-mexico Steep Hill New Mexico] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New York''':<br />
<br />
* "The Department's Wadsworth Center Laboratory will perform initial testing and analysis of final medical marijuana products until independent laboratories receive certification from the New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP)."<ref name="NYSFAQ">{{cite web |url=https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/faq.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |work=New York State Medical Marijuana Program |publisher=New York State Department of Health |date=March 2016 |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''North Dakota''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates that its compassion centers must test cannabis in-house or have it done by a contracted facility, though it's not clear what labs are performing such testing.<ref name="NDPetitionMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Measures%20Info/2016%20General/Measure%205.pdf |format=PDF |title=Initiated Constitutional Amendment No. 5 |publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State |date=2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Ohio''':<br />
<br />
* Licensing requirements for testing labs will become clearer in September 2017.<ref name="OMMCPTesting">{{cite web |url=http://www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/testing |title=Testing: Frequently Asked Questions |work=Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program |publisher=State of Ohio |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Oregon'''<br />
<br />
* Anova Laboratory (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ktvz.com/news/olcc-oks-26-recreational-pot-licenses-3-are-in-bend/101328364 |title=OLCC OKs 26 recreational pot licenses, 4 in Bend |work=News Channel 21 KTVZ |publisher=NPG of Oregon, Inc |date=30 September 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://cascadia-labs.com/ Cascadia Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://chemhistory.com/ ChemHistory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.easternoregonanalytical.com/ Eastern Oregon Analytical] ($50–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public; also see [http://www.kenevirresearch.com/ Kenevir Research], [http://oregonanalyticalservices.com/ Oregon Analytical Services], and [http://www.ghalabs.com/ GreenHaus Analytical Labs])<br />
* [http://www.greenleaflab.org/ Green Leaf Lab] ($50–$355, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://www.juniperanalyticsllc.com/ Juniper Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://lightscale.com/ Lightscale Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mrxlabs.com/ MRX Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://oganalytical.com/ Oregon Growers Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phlabsoregon.com/ pH Labs] (($60–$375, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.phylosbioscience.com/ Phylos Bioscience] ($15–$295; sexing and genotyping only)<br />
* [http://pixislabs.com/ Pixis Labs] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
* [http://www.rosecitylabs.com Rose City Laboratories] ($25–$360, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://spartananalytics.com/ Spartan Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.synpestlab.com/ Synergistic Pesticide Lab] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Pennsylvania''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here. Laboratory testing rules will become clearer later in 2017.<ref name="SchmittPA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.pamcs.org/pa-health-department-asks-public-input-medical-pot-rules/ |title=Pa. Health Department asks public for input on medical pot rules |author=Schmitt, B. |publisher=Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Rhode Island''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.bpanalytical.com/ Baseline Precision Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.ecltesting.com/ East Coast Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Vermont''':<br />
<br />
* The Department of Public Safety "may require laboratory testing of cannabis produced by a registered dispensary. The Department may specify the testing methodology. The registered dispensary shall bear the costs of any testing required by the Department."<ref name="DPSRulesReg15">{{cite web |url=http://vcic.vermont.gov/sites/vcic/files/files/marijuana-registry/MR-Rules-Regulating-Cannabis-for-Symptom-Relief.pdf |format=PDF |title=Rules Regulating Cannabis for Symptom Relief |publisher=Vermont Department of Public Safety |date=30 November 2015 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Washington''':<br />
<br />
* [http://analytical360.com/ Analytical 360] ($70–$120, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.anateklabs.com/ Anatek Labs] (Pricing for cannabis QA testing not clear)<br />
* [http://www.cannalyticsqc.com/ Cannalytics QC] ($35–$70/test)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://conflabs.com/ Confidence Analytics] ($40–$250, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.dragonlaboratory.com/ Dragon Analytical Laboratory] ($25–$1600, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.greengrowerlabs.com/ Green Grower Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.herbalanalytics.com/ Herbal Analytics] ($15–$70/test; contact for test package pricing)<br />
* [http://integritylabsolympia.com/ Integrity Labs] ($40–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.medicinecreekanalytics.com/ Medicine Creek Analytics] ($20–$100, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.peakanalyticslab.com/ Peak Analytics] ($50–$75/test)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/washington Steep Hill Washington] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://traceanalytics.com/ Trace Analytics] ($40–$350, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://tnwlab.com/ True Northwest] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
====Support services====<br />
The following entities are known to provide consulting and support services of various types to cannabis testing labs (as well as cultivators, dispensaries, etc.):<br />
<br />
* [http://www.3ccannabis.com/ 3C Consulting]<br />
* [http://www.americancannabisconsulting.com/ American Cannabis Company]<br />
* [http://c3analytical.com/ C3 Labs]<br />
* [http://cannabisconsultantsfl.com/ Cannabis Business Services (of Florida)]<br />
* [http://michigan-marijuana-lawyer.com/ Cannabis Legal Group]<br />
* [http://www.carbonblueconsulting.com/ Carbon Blue Consulting]<br />
* [https://www.hypur.com/ Hypur]<br />
* [http://www.phytoscienceinstitute.com/ Phytoscience Institute]<br />
* [http://www.phytosciences.com/ PhytoSciences Consultants]<br />
* [http://signoto.com/ Signoto] (Canada)<br />
* [http://steephilllab.com/consulting/ Steep Hill Halent]<br />
* [http://www.vitalescientific.com/services/cannabis/ Vitale Scientific Associates]<br />
<br />
===Testing hardware and supplies vendors===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buchi.com/en/ BÜCHI Labortechnik AG]<br />
* [http://www.emeraldscientific.com/ Emerald Scientific, LLC]<br />
* [http://www.fritsch-international.com/ Fritsch GmbH]<br />
* [http://gentechscientific.com/cannabis-testing/index.php GenTech Scientific]<br />
* [https://us.lgcstandards.com/US/en LGC Standards]<br />
* [http://www.orangephotonics.com/ Orange Photonics, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.restek.com/Landing-Pages/Medical-Marijuana Restek Corporation]<br />
* [http://sageanalytics.com/ Sage Analytics]<br />
* [http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/industry/industry_cannabistesting.cfm Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.spexcertiprep.com/products/cannabis SPEX CertiPrep]<br />
* [http://www.srigc.com/ SRI Instruments]<br />
* [http://vicam.com/ VICAM]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Software vendors===<br />
====Cannabis-oriented LIMS====<br />
<br />
* [http://www.atlab.com/industries/medical-marijuana Accelerated Technology Laboratories, Inc. - Various]<br />
* [[Bika LIMS|Bika Lab Systems (Pty) Ltd. - Bika LIMS]]<br />
* [[CannaSys, Inc.|CannaSys, Inc. - CannaLIMS]] <br />
* [[Guardian Data Systems, LLC|Guardian Data Systems, LLC - ROAR Cannabis Lab Software]]<br />
* [[lablynxwiki:LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis|LabLynx, Inc. - LabLynx LIMS]]<br />
* [[PharmLabs, LLC|PharmLabs, LLC - PharmWare]]<br />
* [[TheraCann International Benchmark Corporation|TheraCann International Corporation - TheraCannSYSTEM]]<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
<br />
See the [[CDMS vendor]] page.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
<br />
This is a representative sample of solutions and not a directory of all available solutions:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.biotrack.com/government-seed-to-sale-tracking/ Bio-Tech Medical Software, Inc. - BioTrackTHC]<br />
* [http://www.chetu.com/agriculture/seed-to-sale.php Chetu, Inc. - Custom software solutions]<br />
* [http://www.traceweed.com/ Dauntless Software, Inc. - TraceWeed]<br />
* [http://viridiansciences.com/ Far-From-Groove'N, Inc. dba Viridian Sciences - Viridian Sciences]<br />
* [https://www.metrc.com/the-system Franwell, Inc. - Metrc]<br />
* [https://mmjmenu.com/ Ghost Management Group, LLC - MMJMenu]<br />
* [https://www.greenbits.com/ Green Bits, Inc. - Green Bits]<br />
* [http://growone.com/ Grow One Software (US), LLC - Grow One]<br />
* [http://kind.financial/agrisoft-seed-to-sale-software/ KindManage, LLC - Agrisoft]<br />
* [https://www.motagistics.com/ Motagistics, LLC - 4S]<br />
* [https://www.proteus420.com/ Proteus Business Solutions, Inc. - PROTEUS420]<br />
* [http://www.webjoint.com/ Pyrotree, Inc. - WebJoint]<br />
* [http://theracanncorp.com/our-products-2/theracannsystem/ TheraCann International Corporation – TheraCannSYSTEM]<br />
* [https://weedtraqr.com/ WeedTraQR, LLC - WeedTraQR]<br />
<br />
===LIMSpec===<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel4&diff=29701User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel42017-03-30T18:58:05Z<p>Avaughan: /* Lab equipment */</p>
<hr />
<div><br />
<br />
==Overview of the cannabis industry in the United States==<br />
'''Author, for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas<br />
<br />
The following is a brief overview of the cannabis industry in the United States. It's meant to give a quick and concise review of where cannabis use, regulation, testing, and research have been and where they are now. Many of the topics touched upon here will be expanded upon later in this guide.<br />
<br />
===Brief history of cannabis in the U.S.===<br />
[[File:Drug bottle containing cannabis.jpg|right|140px]]''Cannabis'' is a rapid-growing, flowering plant that has been used for centuries for industrial, medicinal, and recreational purposes. The plant includes three species or subspecies: ''indica'', ''ruderalis'', and ''sativa''.<ref name="GRINCannabis11">{{cite web |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomygenus.aspx?id=2034 |title=Genus: Cannabis L. |work=U.S. National Plant Germplasm System |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture |date=01 January 2011 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Both industrial hemp and recreational marijuana are derived from cannabis plants, but with important differences in biochemical composition. Hemp — which has historically been used to create clothing, food and feed, paper, textiles, and other industrial items — tends to have lower levels of the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and higher levels of the non-psychoactive component cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="SwansonControlled15">{{cite journal |title=Controlled Substances Chaos: The Department of Justice's New Policy Position on Marijuana and What It Means for Industrial Hemp Farming in North Dakota |journal=North Dakota Law Review |author=Swanson, T.E. |volume=90 |issue=3 |pages=599–622 |year=2015 |url=https://law.und.edu/_files/docs/ndlr/pdf/issues/90/3/90ndlr599.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="DeitchHemp03">{{cite book |title=Hemp – American History Revisited |author=Deitch, R. |publisher=Algora Publishing |location=New York City |year=2003 |pages=232 |isbn=9780875862262}}</ref> Some cannabis strains have intentionally been bred to produce low levels of THC, while others have been bred with the intent to maximize the psychoactive component. <br />
<br />
Cannabis cultivation began in England's Jamestown colony of America in earnest around 1611, via formal orders. Several years later those orders turned into a royal decree, enacted by the Virginia Company, asking colonists to each grow 100 hemp plants for export to England.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Colonial America continued its growth, use, and exportation of hemp, even beyond the formal founding of the United States. During that time, growers undoubtedly were using the female plant (which flowers and has higher levels of THC) to treat aches and pains as well as enjoy it recreationally. By the time the U.S. Civil War arrived in the 1860s, however, the growth and use of industrial hemp declined as increased cotton and wood use took away much of the profitability of hemp.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Around the same time, local governments began recognizing tonics, tinctures, and extracts from cannabis plants as potentially dangerous substances, labeling them as hypnotics, narcotics, or even poisons.<ref name="Senate1860">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1860/02/16/news/senate-88150825.html |title=Senate |author=U.S. Senate |work=The New York Times |date=15 February 1860 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> In the early twentieth century, U.S. labeling and prescription laws — such as the the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 at the federal level as well as various state laws — saw further restrictions put on cannabis, effectively culminating in the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. With the passage of those acts, hemp and marijuana essentially became illegal, controlled substances.<ref name="WaltonMari38">{{cite book |author=Walton, R.F. |title=Marijuana, America’s New Drug Problem |location=Philadelphia |publisher=B. Lippincott |year=1938 |page=37}}</ref><ref name="WoodwardTax37">{{cite web |url=http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/woodward.htm |title=Taxation of Marihuana |author=Woodward, W.C.; House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means |work=Schaffer Library of Drug Policy |date=04 May 1937 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CaversTheFood39">{{cite journal |title=The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938: Its Legislative History and its Substantive Provisions |journal=Law and Contemporary Problems |author=Cavers, D.F. |volume=6 |pages=2–42 |year=1939 |url=http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/lcp/vol6/iss1/2/}}</ref><br />
<br />
State efforts to decriminalize marijuana were somewhat successful in the early 1970s, though progress towards that goal slowed again with the Reagan Administration's war on drugs.<ref name="MeierPolitics16">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4wYDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT58 |title=The Politics of Sin: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy |author=Meier, K.J. |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2016 |page=58 |isbn=9781315287270}}</ref> Progress picked up steam again in the late 1990s into the 2000s, particularly in states such as California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, and Colorado.<br />
<br />
As of March 2017, twenty-eight U.S. states have approved some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization of medicinal and/or recreational marijuana.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16">{{cite web |url=http://time.com/4559278/marijuana-election-results-2016/ |title=These States Just Legalized Marijuana |author=Steinmetz, K. |work=Time |publisher=Time, Inc |date=08 November 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Industrial hemp has also been addressed in some regard, with 16 states having legalized commercialized industrial hemp production and the federal government making certain concessions on it (''Cannabis sativa'' containing no more than 0.3 percent THC, grown under a state-sanctioned agricultural pilot program).<ref name="NCSLState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/agriculture-and-rural-development/state-industrial-hemp-statutes.aspx |title=State Industrial Hemp Statuses |publisher=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=19 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="81FR53395">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-19146/statement-of-principles-on-industrial-hemp |journal=Federal Register |title=Statement of Principles on Industrial Hemp |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53395–6 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> However, cannabis, including industrial hemp, remains a Schedule I controlled substance, as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<ref name="LegerMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/11/dea-marijuana-remains-illegal-under-federal-law/88550804/ |title=Marijuana to remain illegal under federal law, DEA says |author=Leger, D.L. |work=USA. Today |publisher=Gannett Company |date=11 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref>, including extracts and other derivatives such as cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="WallaceLegal17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/01/13/hemp-dea-extracts-marijuana-cbd-judicial-review/71387/ |title=Legal challenge filed against DEA’s new marijuana extract rule |work=The Cannabist |author=Wallace, A. |publisher=The Denver Post |date=13 January 2017 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> This federal classification continues to clash with changing state laws and regulations at an increasing pace, creating both opportunities and difficulties for involved citizens at all points along the industrial, economic, and social chain.<br />
<br />
===Medical and recreational use===<br />
In its 2016 World Drug Report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that 3.8 percent of the global population — roughly 183 million people — used cannabis in 2014.<ref name="UNODCWorld16">{{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/doc/wdr2016/WORLD_DRUG_REPORT_2016_web.pdf |format=PDF |title=World Drug Report 2016 |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |publisher=United Nations |isbn=9789210578622 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Focusing in on the United States, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that in 2014 the country had 35.1 million past-year marijuana users.<ref name="SAMHSAResults16">{{cite web |url=https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.pdf |format=PDF |title=Results from The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use And Health: Detailed Tables |author=Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |editor=RTI International |page=178 |date=08 September 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> It's not clear if that total includes legal medical marijuana users, which numbered roughly 2.4 million that year according to non-profit ProCon.org.<ref name="ProConNumber14">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=006445 |title=Number of Legal Medical Marijuana Patients (as of Oct. 27, 2014) |publisher=ProCon.org |date=27 October 2014 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref> When compared to SAMHSA's estimate of 11.1 million users in 1997<ref name="RabkinDrug99">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvzBdlolKrQC&pg=PA16 |title=Drug Control: DEA's Strategies and Operations in the 1990s |author=Rabkin, N.J. |publisher=U.S. General Accounting Office |year=July 1999 |pages=172 |isbn=9780788184833}}</ref>, it becomes clear that reported marijuana use has increased in the United States over the past few decades, whether it's through legalization efforts or otherwise. Some have pointed to the expansion of medical marijuana laws acting as gateways for increased adolescent use; however, multiple studies have tried but failed to find such a cause and effect relationship.<ref name="HasinMedical15">{{cite journal |title=Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the USA from 1991 to 2014: Results from annual, repeated cross-sectional surveys |journal=The Lancet Psychiatry |author=Hasin, D.S.; Wall, M.; Keyes, K.M. et al. |volume=2 |issue=7 |pages=601–608 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00217-5}}</ref><ref name="WallAdol11">{{cite journal |title=Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008: Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Wall, M.M.; Poh, E.; Cerdá, M. |volume=21 |issue=9 |pages=714–716 |year=2011 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.06.001 |pmid=21820632 |pmc=PMC3358137}}</ref><ref name="HarperDoMed12">{{cite journal |title=Do Medical Marijuana Laws Increase Marijuana Use? Replication Study and Extension |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Harper, S.; Strumpf, E.C.; Kaufman, J.S. |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=207–212 |year=2012 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.12.002 |pmid=22285867}}</ref> Regardless, with 28 U.S. states now having some type of legalization law on the books<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" />, the number of marijuana users isn't likely to decrease any time soon in the U.S.<br />
<br />
===Cultivation and distribution===<br />
At the federal level, marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug and remains illegal.<ref name="GPO21USC812">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title21/html/USCODE-2011-title21-chap13-subchapI-partB-sec812.htm |title=§812. Schedules of controlled substances |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LegerMari16" /> (Federal regulation of cannabis is discussed in detail later under "Regulation and standardization.") This doesn't leave a lot of options for researchers and the like. In fact, the only federally-granted grow operation (grow-op) as of this writing is the University of Mississippi, contracted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to grow marijuana for approved research studies.<ref name="BajajHowThe14">{{cite web |url=https://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/how-the-federal-government-slows-marijuana-research/ |title=How the Federal Government Slows Marijuana Research |author=Bajaj, V. |work=Taking Note: The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=30 July 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CheslerGov15">{{cite web |url=http://weedrush.news21.com/government-restrictions-lack-of-funding-slow-progress-on-medical-marijuana-research/ |title=Government restrictions, lack of funding slow progress on medical marijuana research |author=Chesler, J.; Ard, A. |work=News21: America's Weed Rush |publisher=Carnegie Corporation of New York; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation |date=15 August 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/10/marijuana-medical-research-dea/ |title=DEA decision keeps major restrictions in place on marijuana research |author=Joseph, A. |work=STAT |publisher=Boston Globe Media |date=10 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RudroffMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/marijuana-regulation-blocks-vital-ms-research-544886 |title=Marijuana Regulation Blocks Vital Multiple Sclerosis Research |author=Rudroff, T. |work=Newsweek |publisher=IBT Media, Inc |date=21 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (That may change for the better in 2017; see the next section on testing and research for more.)<br />
<br />
On the state level, the growth, testing, and distribution of cannabis depends on state law, which can vary from state to state. This topic is discussed further in the "Regulation and standardization" section, but here are the key points:<br />
<br />
* Federal law makes it illegal to cultivate and distribute marijuana, even in a state that has legalized such activity. However, while there's no legally binding guarantee cultivators and distributors won't be pursued by federal law enforcement, they can limit their chances of such federal enforcement by following to the letter state and local law.<br />
<br />
* Despite some of the variances among state laws, one aspect largely remains consistent: it's illegal to distribute marijuana over state lines, even when distributing between two states with similar laws.<ref name="BelvilleCanI16">{{cite web |url=http://www.weednews.co/can-i-take-marijuana-from-one-legal-state-to-another/ |title=Can I Take Marijuana From One Legal State To Another? |work=Weed News |author=Belville, R. |publisher=WN Media, LLC |date=28 November 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
* Regulations on the personal and commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana vary significantly from state to state. Some states make a limited pool of available licenses available; others don't offer them or instead have specific alternative treatment or non-profit centers that handle growth and distribution.<ref name="FindLawMari">{{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LeaflyHome">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="ProCon28Legal16">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Testing and research===<br />
[[File:Juan Velez- Planta Cannabis.jpg|left|250px]]One area that continues to expand — while taking advantage of new scientific research and techniques — is the laboratory sphere, particularly in research, regulation, and standardization activities. According to July 2016 testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Division Director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) alone supported 281 cannabinoid research projects totaling more than $111 million in 2015.<ref name="WeissTestimony16">{{cite web |url=https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/asl/testimony/2016-09/the-state-of-the-science-on-the-therapeutic-potential-of-marijuana-and-cannabinoids/index.html |title=Testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Ph.D. on The State of the Science on the Therapeutic Potential of Marijuana and Cannabinoids before Judiciary Committee |author=Weiss, S.R.B. |work=ASL Testimony |publisher=U.S. Department of Health & Human Services |date=13 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
While the research, analysis, and processing of cannabis has been ongoing for centuries<ref name="DeitchHemp03" />, it wasn't until 1896 that Wood ''et al.'' conducted one of the first documented chemical experiments to determine the constituents of cannabis. Several years later, the researchers were able to correctly identify the extracted and isolated cannabinol from the exuded resin of Indian hemp as C<sub>21</sub>H<sub>26</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.<ref name="WoodCann1899">{{cite journal |title=III.—Cannabinol. Part I |journal=Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions |author=Wood, T.B.; Newton Spivey, W.T.; Easterfield, T.H. |volume=75 |pages=30–36 |year=1899 |doi=10.1039/CT8997500020}}</ref> As of mid-2015, 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' have been identified as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15">{{cite journal |title=Isolation and pharmacological evaluation of minor cannabinoids from high-potency ''Cannabis sativa'' |journal=Journal of Natural Products |author=Radwan, M.M.; ElSohly, M.A.; El-Alfy, A.T. et al. |volume=78 |issue=6 |pages=1271-6 |year=2015 |doi=10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00065 |pmid=26000707 |pmc=PMC4880513}}</ref>, "a class of diverse chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in cells that modulate neurotransmitter release in the brain."<ref name="WHOTheHealth16">{{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}</ref><br />
<br />
Yet in the United States, when it comes to 1. enacting the broad level of testing required to ensure public safety — whether it be medical, recreational, or industrial use of cannabis — and 2. researching and better understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (medical use and benefit) of cannabinoids in the human population, many have argued that laboratory testing of cannabis is still in its infancy<ref name="HazekampCanna12">{{cite journal |title=Cannabis - from cultivar to chemovar |journal=Drug Testing and Analysis |author=Hazekamp, A.; Fischedick, J.T. |volume=4 |issue=7–8 |pages=660–7 |year=2012 |doi=10.1002/dta.407 |pmid=22362625}}</ref><ref name="BushWorlds15">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/worldrsquos-strongest-weed-potency-testing-challenged/ |title=World’s strongest weed? Potency testing challenged |author=Bush, E. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=18 February 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RutschQuality15">{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/24/395065699/quality-testing-legal-marijuana-strong-but-not-always-clean |title=Quality-Testing Legal Marijuana: Strong But Not Always Clean |author=Rutsch, P. |work=Shots |publisher=National Public Radio |date=24 March 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15">{{cite journal |title=Unraveling the Cannabinome |journal=The Analytical Scientist |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Lipps, W. |issue=0915 |year=2015 |url=https://theanalyticalscientist.com/issues/0915/unraveling-the-cannabinome/ |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CrombieMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2016/07/marijuana_labs_prepping_for_st.html |title=Marijuana labs prepping for regulation and oversight; no lab licenses issued yet |author=Crombie, N. |work=The Oregonian |publisher=Oregon Live LLC |date=25 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16">{{cite web |url=http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170210234439/http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Closer Look at Cannabis Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Clifford, R.; Winkler, P.; Bankert, W. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=December 2016 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref> and evidence-based research of marijuana continues to be slow and bogged down in regulation.<ref name="BajajHowThe14" /><ref name="CheslerGov15" /><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="RudroffMari17" /> In regards to the first issue, as some form of legalization continues to sweep across states, regulators, users, and industry are recognizing the need for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana; the current state of improper labeling and potentially harmful contaminants<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /> will only serve to hinder the industry. To the second issue, some within the federal government seem to recognize the roadblocks to improved evidence-based research and are working to slowly improve how researchers can legally acquire and test marijuana in the U.S.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis/post/2016-08-15/the-silver-lining-in-the-dea-s-refusal-to-reclassify-cannabis |title=The silver lining in the DEA’s refusal to reclassify cannabis |work=Tracking Cannabis |author=Romza-Kutz, D.; Roth V., F. |publisher=Thompson Coburn LLP |date=15 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
An excerpt from the previously mentioned testimony of NIDA's Dr. Weiss summates this well:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The current state of the research on marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids suggests the potential for therapeutic value for a number of conditions; however, more evidence is needed before marijuana or cannabinoid products (beyond those already approved through the Food and Drug Administration [FDA]) are ready for medical use. Promising preclinical findings do not always prove to be clinically relevant, and even fewer lead to new treatments. Moreover, clinical studies of sufficient quality to meet FDA standards for drug approval are currently lacking for most conditions. Among the factors that impact this research are the specific statutory requirements and treaty obligations that govern research on marijuana. NIH is working closely with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and FDA to explore ways to streamline these processes to facilitate research.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /></blockquote> <br />
<br />
In the meantime, government entities such as the National Institutes of Health and non-profits such as jCanna push forward with scientific conferences, summits, and roundtables that bring scientists and interested parties together to share existing knowledge and testing techniques.<ref name="NIHMari16">{{cite web |url=http://apps1.seiservices.com/nih/mj/2016/ |title=The Marijuana and Cannabinoids: A Neuroscience Research Summit |publisher=National Institutes of Health |date=23 March 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="jCannaCSC17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Other areas of concern===<br />
When examining the current state of the U.S. cannabis industry, it's important to note a few additional areas of concern that impact it, again tightly linked to federal regulations (which are discussed extensively in the next section): banking and advertising. Issues related to both of these topics continue to limit how state-based grow-ops, dispensaries, and testing laboratories are funded and operated. <br />
<br />
====Banking====<br />
Since the U.S. federal government still considers marijuana to be illegal, by extension banks and credit unions — which are regulated by a patchwork collection of federal (and state) laws — put themselves into potentially dangerous territory by accepting money from depositors engaging in federally illegal activities; the bank can be punished by federal institutions such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).<ref name="HillBanks15">{{cite journal |title=Banks, Marijuana, and Federalism |journal=Case Western Reserve Federal Law Review |author=Hill, J.A. |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=597–647 |year=2015 |url=http://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrev/vol65/iss3/7}}</ref> In an attempt to ease the concerns of industry players as well as banks in states that had implemented legalization efforts, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released a guidance document in February 2014 that "does not grant immunity from prosecution or civil penalties to banks that serve legal marijuana businesses" but rather "directs prosecutors and regulators to give priority to cases only where financial institutions have failed to adhere to the guidance."<ref name="KovaleskiUS14">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/us/us-issues-marijuana-guidelines-for-banks.html |title=U.S. Issues Marijuana Guidelines for Banks |author=Kovaleski, S.F. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Corporation |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FinCEN_BSA14">{{cite web |url=https://www.fincen.gov/resources/statutes-regulations/guidance/bsa-expectations-regarding-marijuana-related-businesses |title=BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses |author=Financial Crimes Enforcement Network |publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, the guidance has remained just that: guidance; it doesn't prevent federal law enforcement or regulating agencies from taking action. An August 2016 attempt to reclassify marijuana into a lower classification than Schedule I failed<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" />, keeping the FinCEN guidance in place as a recommendation for how federal authorities should enforce existing law. <br />
<br />
According to an Associated Press report in April 2016, the guidance has had some sort of impact, with banks and credit unions willing to handle any money associated with marijuana increasing from 51 in March 2014 to 301 in March 2016.<ref name="HansenBanking16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/804ae396daab4ba98f814b186f872ef6/banking-woes-easing-some-legal-pot-businesses |title=Banking woes easing for some legal pot businesses |author=Hansen, K.; Johnson, G. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=20 April 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, this hasn't prevented those in states with newly minted medical and recreational marijuana legalization laws from being worried about how cannabis money will be handled, particularly with the new Trump administration taking the reigns of government. California, which in November 2016 legalized recreational use of marijuana beginning in 2018, has already petitioned that administration to clarify its policy early on. "We have a year to develop a system that works in California and which addresses the many issues that exist as a result of the federal-state legal conflict," wrote California Treasurer John Chiang to Trump. "Uncertainty about the position of your administration creates even more of a challenge."<ref name="BloodCali16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d54ea614db274238986a8e0d77dbb147/california-treasurer-asks-trump-guidance-pot-banking |title=California treasurer asks Trump for guidance on pot, banking |author=Blood, M.R. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=02 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Similar legalization changes in Massachusetts prompted its senator, Elizabeth Warren, along with nine other senators, to write to FinCEN in early 2017 requesting even clearer, more friendly guidance for marijuana vendors.<ref name="LeBlancUSSen17">{{cite web |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/jan/02/us-sen-warren-seeks-to-pull-pot-shops-out-of-banki/ |title=US Sen. Warren seeks to pull pot shops out of banking limbo |author=LeBlanc, S. |work=Las Vegas Sun |publisher=Greenspun Media Group |date=02 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> Yet it remains to be seen if entities outside of grow-ops and dispensaries will see banking relief. In particular, testing laboratories continue to struggle with managing cash flow and acquiring bank lending for their operations<ref name="LampachQA13">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/qa-with-steep-hill-lab-ceo-david-lampach-cannabis-testing-market-could-hit-40m-in-2-years/ |title=Q&A With CEO of Steep Hill Halent: US Cannabis Testing Market Could Hit $40M by 2016 |work=Marijuana Business Daily |author=Lampach, D. |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=20 November 2013 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MartinProfit16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ |title=Profitability in the Cannabis Laboratory Industry |work=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |author=Martin, R.W. |publisher=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |date=May 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="TulsiABright16">{{cite web |url=http://www.labmanager.com/research-specific-labs/2016/10/today-s-cannabis-research-market |title=A Bright Future for Cannabis Testing Services |work=Lab Manager |author=Tulsi, B.B. |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=03 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>, causing some to believe consolidation of such labs will occur before the industry can really even take off.<ref name="LampachQA13" /><ref name="DigiPathAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Digipath-Company-Report.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |date=October 2016 |pages=36 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Advertising====<br />
Advertising of marijuana products is another area of concern, though the regulations and laws regarding it are less clear. When it comes to television and radio broadcasting and its associated advertising, a federally granted broadcasting license stands to be lost, care of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The trouble is, it's not clear if the FCC would act against broadcasters; the FCC hasn't issued guidance in the same way FinCEN has. "I don’t think anybody knows, and that’s the problem," said California Broadcasters Association President Joe Berry in an August 2016 report published by the The Sacramento Bee. "Without a clear indication [from the FCC on marijuana advertising], the vast majority of broadcasters are going to stay away from this issue."<ref name="WhiteIfCali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article96040082.html |title=If California legalizes pot, will TV ads be far behind? |author=White, J.B. |work=The Sacramento Bee |publisher=The McClatchy Company |date=17 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> California, of course, made recreational marijuana legal, and its proposed law sought to address the issue of advertising, including "a provision restricting TV and radio ads so they are not targeted to minors," while also addressing the authority of the FCC to enforce regardless.<ref name="McGreevyQA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-proposition-64-marijuana-legalization-qa-20161030-snap-20161029-story.html |title=Q&A: Proposition 64 would legalize recreational use of marijuana though it's illegal under federal law. How will that work? |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=30 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Other forms of advertising also remain problematic. In late November 2015, the United States Postal Service (USPS) out of Portland, Oregon published its interpretation of federal law regarding "mailpieces containing advertisements about marijuana," regarding it illegal to distribute certain forms of marijuana advertisement while citing 21 U.S. Code § 843(c).<ref name="ReinThePot15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/12/21/the-pot-business-may-be-legal-but-newspapers-cant-run-ads-for-it-the-u-s-postal-service-says/ |title=The pot business may be legal, but newspapers can’t run ads for it, the U.S. Postal Service says |author=Rein, L. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=21 December 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has, controversially, also gotten involved, stating that trademarking of a "brand controlled substances or related paraphernalia that are illegal to possess or sell" legally doesn't fit within a trademark's commercial viability because at the federal level marijuana is not legal for commerce.<ref name="OxenfordAccepting16">{{cite web |url=http://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2016/12/articles/accepting-advertising-for-marijuana-or-marijuana-paraphernalia-the-trademark-office-rules-on-a-related-issue-that-provides-more-reason-for-caution/ |title=Accepting Advertising for Marijuana or Marijuana Paraphernalia: The Trademark Office Rules on a Related Issue that Provides More Reason For Caution |author=Oxenford, D. |work=Broadcast Law Blog |date=13 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (Legal experts such as Dariush Adli suggest "creative ways" of getting around this, from registering trademarks in multiple states to registering "non-cannabis merchandise in order to generate some federal protection for their mark."<ref name="AdliObtain16">{{cite web |url=http://adlilaw.blogspot.com/2016/12/obtaining-trademark-protection-for_9.html |title=Obtaining Trademark Protection for Cannabis Businesses |author=Adli, D. |publisher=ADLI Law Group |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>) Even billboards are an issue, with state lawmakers proposing new regulations on billboard-based marijuana advertising weeks after the state passed its recreational legalization laws.<ref name="McGreevyPotAds16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-pot-ads-snap-20161221-story.html |title=Pot ads along highways? Lawmakers wrangle over legalization's consequences |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> And state laws, such as those found in Alaska, can create their own set of challenges in staying legal with marijuana advertising.<ref name="AndrewsGaps16">{{cite web |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-marijuana/2016/12/26/gaps-in-alaska-marijuana-advertising-rules-cause-worry/ |title=Gaps in Alaska marijuana ad rules cause worry |author=Andrews, L. |work=Alaska Dispatch News |publisher=Alaska Dispatch Publishing |date=27 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Despite all this, at least one financial consultant believes marijuana marketing will become more prevalent: GreenWave Advisors' Matthew Karnes estimates spending will jump to $75 million by 2021.<ref name="StilsonWhyMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/why-marijuana-marketing-will-be-bigger-ever-year-175246 |title=Why Marijuana Marketing Will Be Bigger Than Ever This Year |author=Stilson, J. |work=Adweek |publisher=Adweek, LLC |date=03 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Regulation and standardization==<br />
===Federal regulation of cannabis===<br />
[[File:Dea color logo.svg|right|250px]]On October 27, 1970, the Controlled Substances Act put into place five schedules or classifications of drugs that would be regulated in some fashion, and drugs were initially classified into those schedules, followed by annual reviews and updates.<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> Marijuana was initially placed under Schedule I<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> and remains there today.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/alex-grubbs/dea-declines-request-reclassify-marijuana-citiing-its-high-potential-abuse |title=DEA Declines Request to Reclassify Marijuana, Citiing Its 'High Potential for Abuse' |author=Grubbs, A. |work=CNSNews |publisher=Media Research Center |date=13 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> As a Schedule I drug, the federal government is indicating marijuana has<ref name="GPO21USC812" />:<br />
<br />
* "a high potential for abuse";<br />
* "no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States"; and<br />
* "a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision".<br />
<br />
Then came the Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973, which took existing enforcement entities such as the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and placed them into a new, unified entity called the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).<ref name="GPO5USCApp">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title5/html/USCODE-2011-title5-app-reorganiz-other-dup96.htm |title=Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973 |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="DEAHist7075">{{cite web |url=https://www.dea.gov/about/history/1970-1975.pdf |format=PDF |title=Drug Enforcement Administration: 1970–1975 |work=DEA History In Depth |publisher=U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Then President Richard Nixon said of the transition<ref name="GPO5USCApp" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The enforcement work could benefit significantly, however, from consolidation of our anti-drug forces under a single unified command. Right now the Federal Government is fighting the war on drug abuse under a distinct handicap, for its efforts are those of a loosely confederated alliance facing a resourceful, elusive, worldwide enemy.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The DEA was given numerous responsibilities, including but not limited to the development of enforcement strategy; investigation and prosecution preparation of suspects violating federal law; regulation of drugs and other controlled substances; and coordination and cooperation with state and local government drug enforcement efforts.<ref name="GPO5USCApp" /> Since then the DEA has taken various steps — with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<ref name="HamiltonTheFDA16">{{cite web |url=https://news.vice.com/article/dea-fda-marijuana-schedule-1-status-decision |title=The FDA told the DEA whether pot is medicine — but it won't tell the public |author=Hamilton, K. |work=Vice News |publisher=Vice Media, LLC |date=27 June 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> — to regulate and enforce the availability and use of controlled substances such as marijuana. As the decriminalization and legalization efforts of states have increased in past decades, this has brought federal regulation and enforcement conflicts to those states that have decriminalized and legalized, largely due to the federal government's insistence on maintaining marijuana as a Schedule I drug.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /><ref name="HudakTheCon15">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/conflict-between-federal-and-state-marijuana-laws-claims-victim-345099 |title=The Conflict Between Federal and State Marijuana Laws Claims a Victim |author=Hudak, J. |work=Newsweek |publisher=Newsweek, LLC |date=20 June 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Numerous changes in policy and controversies have occurred since the Controlled Substance Act and DEA were implemented, including a 22-year-long effort by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) to have marijuana rescheduled (1972–1994).<ref name="DPAMAPSTheDEA14">{{cite web |url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/DPA-MAPS_DEA_Science_Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=The DEA: Four Decades of Impeding And Rejecting Science |author=Drug Policy Alliance; MAPS |publisher=Drug Policy Alliance |date=June 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> However, the following talking points represent the most recent important federal-level changes and rulings that impact federal regulation of and enforcement of laws relating to cannabis.<br />
<br />
'''October 19, 2009: The Ogden Memorandum'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden issued a memorandum "intended solely as a guide to the exercise of investigative and prosecutorial discretion" in regards to state-based laws allowing medical cannabis.<ref name="OgdenMemor09">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/blog/memorandum-selected-united-state-attorneys-investigations-and-prosecutions-states |title=Memorandum for Selected United State Attorneys on Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana |author=Ogden, D.W. |work=Justice Blogs |publisher=Department of Justice |date=19 October 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The guidance essentially told U.S. attorneys to not prosecute those entities complying fully with state cannabis laws. Researchers generally agree that this memo acted "as a catalyst for expansion of [state-sanctioned and gray market] cannabis supply in states with poorly defined regulations," though the degree to which it influenced such growth remains poorly documented and requires further investigation.<ref name="CambronState16">{{cite journal |title=State and National Contexts in Evaluating Cannabis Laws: A Case Study of Washington State |journal=Journal of Drug Issues |author=Cambron, C.; Guttmannova, K.; Fleming, C.B. |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=74–90 |year=2017 |doi=10.1177/0022042616678607}}</ref> To be sure, it likely had some effect, as the number of licensed patients using medical marijuana in the state of Colorado increased from 4,800 in 2008 to 41,000 in 2009, and operating dispensaries jumped to more than 900 by mid-2010.<ref name="HIDTATheLeg13">{{cite web |url=http://www.rmhidta.org/html/final%20legalization%20of%20mj%20in%20colorado%20the%20impact.pdf |format=PDF |title=The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact |author=Rocky Mountain HIDTA |volume=1 |date=August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''June 29, 2011: The Cole Memorandum 1'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a memo as a follow-up to the Ogden Memo, muddying the waters in the process. While stating that the stance of efficiently using department resources as outlined in the Ogden Memo still stood, Cole also made it clear that large grow-ops that didn't qualify as "caregivers" had sprung up since.<ref name="ColeMemo11">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/oip/legacy/2014/07/23/dag-guidance-2011-for-medical-marijuana-use.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 June 2011 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The language of the memo essentially said "get off your butts and nail those suckers."<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13">{{cite web |url=https://blog.simplejustice.us/2013/08/30/the-cole-memo-2-0-this-changes-everything/ |title=The Cole Memo 2.0: This Changes Everything |work=Simple Justice |author=Greenfield, S.H. |date=30 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> Cambron ''et al.''<ref name="CambronState16" /> and Fairman<ref name="FairmanTrends16">{{cite journal |title=Trends in registered medical marijuana participation across 13 US states and District of Columbia |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Fairman, B.J. |volume=159 |pages=72–9 |year=2016 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.015 |pmid=26686277}}</ref> suggest this memo had some impact as evidenced by declines in cannabis patient registration from 2011–2013 in Colorado, Michigan, and Montana.<br />
<br />
'''August 29, 2013: The Cole Memorandum 2'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a follow-up memo to his original two years later, following 1. on the heels of then President Obama reiterating publicly that the Department of Justice (DoJ) was to not focus unnecessarily on states that had passed legalization laws and 2. Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational use of cannabis.<ref name="CambronState16" /> The second memorandum sought to reduce the emphasis on the size of the grow-op and increase emphasis on — by a case-by-case basis — "whether the operation is demonstrably in compliance with a strong and effective state regulatory system."<ref name="ColeMemo13">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/3052013829132756857467.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for All United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The memo also clarified specific cases where federal enforcement would be warranted, including distribution to minors, interstate transport, and preventing drugged driving (though it didn't state how). Generally speaking, states saw little federal intervention except in the case of state law being broken or requiring dispensaries to move further away from schools.<ref name="MPPFederal16">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/federal-enforcement-policy-on-state-marijuana-laws/ |title=Federal Marijuana Enforcement Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=2016 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CambronState16" /> Despite the memo, some attorneys continued to see Cole Memorandum 2 as nothing more than unclear language that had no legal weight for anxious growers and distributors in states where cannabis was legalized.<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13" /><br />
<br />
'''December 16, 2014 to current: Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment'''<br />
<br />
A tenuous truce of sorts arrived with the passage of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment in December 2014. The amendment prohibited the DoJ from spending funds to prevent or enforce against state laws that allow for medical marijuana cultivation, distribution, and use, particularly when those actions are performed consistently with those state laws.<ref name="ArmentanoPres14">{{cite web |url=http://blog.norml.org/2014/12/16/president-to-sign-federal-spending-bill-protecting-state-sanctioned-medical-marijuana-programs/ |title=President Signs Federal Spending Bill Protecting State Sanctioned Medical Marijuana Programs |author=Armentano, P. |work=NORML Blog |publisher=NORML Foundation |date=16 December 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Before being passed in December 2014, the amendment had actually been introduced and defeated six times in the previous 10 years.<ref name="BrekkeHouse14">{{cite web |url=https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/05/30/house-votes-to-block-medical-pot-prosecution/ |title=House Votes to End Medical Marijuana Prosecutions |author=Brekke, D. |work=KQED News |publisher=KQED, Inc |date=30 May 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> The DoJ later went on to challenge the amendment on several occasions, from ''U.S. v. Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana'' in 2015 to a collection of 10 different cases from California and Washington in 2016. In both cases, the courts ruled against the DoJ, setting precedent against further department action.<ref name="IngrahamFed15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/10/20/federal-court-tells-the-dea-to-stop-harassing-medical-marijuana-providers/ |title=Federal court tells the DEA to stop harassing medical marijuana providers |author=Ingraham, C. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=20 October 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FermerTheLargest16">{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/medical-marijuana-9th-circuit_us_57b36a31e4b04ff883990337 |title=The Largest Federal Appeals Court Tells DOJ To Back Off State-Legal Medical Marijuana |author=Fermer, M. |work=The Huffington Post |publisher=TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc |date=16 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
One of the downsides of Rohrabacher-Farr is that it has essentially acted as a short-term rider attached to several spending bills since December 2014. As of March 2017, it was last renewed through April 28, 2017; however, with the new Trump administration coalescing — including Trump's demonstrably anti-drug U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions — some in the industry are concerned the amendment may not be renewed, opening the door again for the DoJ to implement stronger enforcement.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /><ref name="SwerdlowApril17">{{cite web |url=http://www.marijuananews.org/afraid |title=April 28, 2017 - Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid + IRS FU |author=Swerdlow, L. |publisher=Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project |date=22 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="YakowiczThePerfect17">{{cite web |url=http://www.inc.com/will-yakowicz/perfect-storm-regulations-could-cripple-marijuana-industry.html |title=The Perfect Storm That Could Cripple the Marijuana Industry Under Trump |author=Yakowicz, W. |work=Inc |publisher=Mansueto Ventures, LLC |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RohrabacherRohr17">{{cite web |url=https://rohrabacher.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rohrabacher-praises-sessions-urges-ag-nominee-to-respect-federal |title=Rohrabacher praises Sessions, urges AG nominee to respect federal marijuana law |author=Rohrabacher, D. |publisher=State of California |date=11 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MuiTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/14/donald-trump-and-jeff-sessions-anti-legal-pot-industry.html |title=Trump and his attorney general are freaking out the $7 billion pot industry |author=Mui, Y. |work=CNBC |publisher=CNBC, LLC |date=14 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref> Alternative bills are continuing to be proposed, including a more permanent version of Rohrabacher-Farr introduced by Representative Dana Rohrabacher of California; however, Speaker Paul Ryan has implemented rules prohibiting amendments to budgetary legislation, and the fact remains that Congress remains reluctant in hearing bills that would change the country's marijuana laws.<ref name="AdamsMari17">{{cite web |url=https://thefreshtoast.com/cannabis/marijuana-bills-currently-congress-can-change-game/ |title=Marijuana Bills Currently In Congress: How They Can Change The Game |author=Adams, M. |work=The Fresh Toast |publisher=Project Coco, Inc |date=13 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="RuskinSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/news/chemtales/sessions-hints-at-a-war-on-marijuana-now-what/ |title=Sessions Hints at a War on Marijuana. Now What? |author=Ruskin, Z. |work=SF Weekly |publisher=San Francisco Media Co |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''August 11, 2016: DEA denies petition to reschedule marijuana out of Schedule I'''<br />
<br />
A request made by two governors and a psychiatric nurse practitioner to the DEA asking it to reschedule marijuana into any other schedule other than Schedule I was denied, as had been done with previous attempts in 2009 and 2011.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16" /> Reasons included known health issues such as prenatal exposure and negative impacts on several biological systems, as well as limited research data and new drug applications.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> At the same time, however, the DEA also recognized the need for further research and the lack of legal marijuana sources for researchers, publishing a policy statement stating intent "to increase the lawful supply of marijuana available to researchers."<ref name="81FR53846">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-17955/applications-to-become-registered-under-the-controlled-substances-act-to-manufacture-marijuana-to |journal=Federal Register |title=Applications To Become Registered Under the Controlled Substances Act To Manufacture Marijuana To Supply Researchers in the United States |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53846–8 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===State and local regulation===<br />
As of January 2017, 28 states have some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization laws for cannabis on the books.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /> In October 1973, Oregon became the first state to enact decriminalization laws for marijuana, imposing a $100 fine for possession of less than an ounce. Eleven other states followed a similar path within five years.<ref name="SingleTheImp81">{{cite book |chapter=The Impact of Marijuana Decriminalization |title=Research Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems |author=Single, E.W. |editor=Israel, Y.; Glaser, F.B.; Kalant, H. et al. |publisher=Springer US |year=1981 |pages=405–424 |doi=10.1007/978-1-4615-7740-9_12 |isbn=9781461577409}}</ref> The next wave of changes began with the passage of medical marijuana legislation in California — the Compassionate Use Act — in November 1996, followed by similar legislation in Oregon and Alaska in 1998, Maine in 1999, and Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada in 2000.<ref name="CambronState16" /><ref name="Alaska98Results">{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/98GENR/results.htm |title=Election Summary Report, State of Alaska 1998 General Election: Official Results |work=Election Results |publisher=State of Alaska Division of Elections |date=1 December 1998 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> Other states continued to add decriminalization and medical marijuana laws in the 2000s. But it wasn't until 2012 that Colorado and Washington became the first states to make recreational marijuana legal, followed by Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia in 2014.<ref name="CambronState16" /> Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada followed suit in 2016.<ref name="BurkeFour17">{{cite web |url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/four-more-states-pass-new-marijuana-laws-california-maine-massachusetts-nevada |title=Four More States Pass New Marijuana Laws: California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada |author=Burke, C. |work=National Law Review |publisher=National Law Forum, LLC |date=04 January 2017 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As shown by Cambron ''et al.'' in 2016 (before the November election results)<ref name="CambronState16" />, dispensaries, possession limits, and interstate ID card acceptance can vary significantly among affected states. California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington lead in number of dispensaries; Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington in maximum possession limits; and Arizona plus five others allowed ID cards from other states. Yet allowed dispensaries can number in the single digits, possession limits can be as low as one ounce, and numerous states still don't honor ID cards from other states.<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Then there's the matter of state differences in testing, enforcement, advertising allowances, etc. It helps to turn to professional associations and organizations — who often lead the charge for improved, more relevant standards — to sort through the variances. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), for example, has published its ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs'' to help sort through the confusing tangle of existing testing laws, where they exist. They exemplify this variation of law in their document<ref name="APHLGuide16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>As with most programs in the United States, every state takes a different approach. For example as of January 2016, New Jersey’s Public Health & Environmental Laboratories only test cannabis plant material. Just across the Hudson, however, New York’s Public Health Laboratory will not be testing any plant material, only cannabis extracts. In addition, the New York Department of Health will provide an oversight role for commercial cannabis laboratories that are licensed by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and approved for testing cannabis products. On the other hand, New Jersey state government does all testing in-house for the medical cannabis program.</blockquote><br />
<br />
As such, unlike their federal counterpart, it's difficult to make broad generalizations about cannabis regulations and their enforcement in the states. It becomes even more difficult when examining states that don't have clear, well-considered regulations or strong enforcement powers. Cambron ''et al.'' emphasized this issue in regards to the supply side, saying: "States without clearly defined regulations for medical cannabis supply have fostered gray markets for cannabis whereby individuals without documented medical conditions are able to easily obtain medical cannabis authorizations. This scenario has created substantial challenges for law enforcement in multiple states."<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Cole ''et al.'' argue that in the end, it will take pressure on the federal government "to set up policy guardrails to steer state regulatory systems" in a more unified and safe direction. Drugged driving, use by minors, interstate distribution, relation to crime and firearms, consumer safety, and advertising are all issues the government should be tackling towards that goal, they say. Not that states aren't addressing these regulatory concerns; they are, but not in consistent ways.<ref name="ColeAll16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thirdway.org/report/all-state-marijuana-laws-are-not-created-equal |title=All State Marijuana Laws Are Not Created Equal |work=Third Way |author=Cole, T.; Trumble, S.; Hatalsky, L.E. |date=17 February 20116 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Standardization===<br />
While federal, state, and local governments wrestle with the regulatory frameworks surrounding cannabis, scientists and government officials are carrying on, doing what they can to harmonize those regulations with emerging industry standards and guidelines. For example, state officials from Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington teamed up to give a presentation called "State Regulatory Approaches to Cannabis Testing, Operations and Product Logistics" at the July 2016 Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit. That presentation focused on the harmonization of regulatory standards and frameworks across states, as well as discussions of what scientific efforts are required to support those standards and frameworks.<ref name="CQSSS16">{{cite web |url=http://chernislaw.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NEW-Cannabis-Quality-Summit-Main-Summit-Agenda.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit - Agenda |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=July 2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, organizations such as Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), and the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) have been developing standards, methods, and certifications for analysis, extraction, labeling, and laboratory operations surrounding medical (and recreational) marijuana.<ref name="InfocastNew16">{{cite web |url=http://infocastinc.com/industries/new-certification-program-brings-quality-assurance-to-the-medical-marijuana-industry/ |title=New Certification Program Brings Quality Assurance to the Medical Marijuana Industry |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AHPARecomm16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="AHPCanna14">{{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}</ref><ref name="MarcuJahan16">{{cite web |url=https://www.projectcbd.org/article/jahan-marcu-cannabis-lab-testing-safety-protocols |title=Jahan Marcu: Cannabis Lab Testing & Safety Protocols |work=Project CBD |author=Project CBD; Marcu, J. |publisher=Project CBD |date=16 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Notable among those organizations is the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS), which has been working to produce internationally applicable voluntary consensus standards for various parts of the cannabis business chain, including cultivation, extraction, laboratory testing, and packaging. FOCUS completed its public review process and finalized its standards in July 2016, though at that time it wasn't clear how to gain access to them.<ref name="FOCUSPublic16">{{cite web |url=http://www.focusstandards.org/public-review-of-cannabis-standards/ |title=Public Review Completes Development Process |publisher=FOCUS |date=2016 |accessdate=16 February 2016}}</ref> New information came to light in March 2017, when FOCUS and ASTM International announced a collaboration between the two entities, which will, pending April 2017 ASTM board approval, see the formation of volunteer committee D37 at ASTM and the further adaptation of FOCUS' standards for a future ASTM release.<ref name="BirosASTM17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/news_article/astm-international-launches-cannabis-committee/ |title=ASTM International Launches Cannabis Committee |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ASTMD37">{{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Laboratory testing of cannabis==<br />
[[File:Juan Velez y Sebastian Cortes - Investigadores del Cannabis Medicinal.jpg|right|300px]]The overview mentioned how regulators, users, and industry are calling for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana. Without proper testing, several issues are bound to arise<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="CANORMLHow11">{{cite web |url=http://canorml.org/news/ringtest.html |title=How Accurate Is Cannabis Potency Testing? |publisher=California NORML |date=21 September 2011 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* label claims may not match actual contents;<br />
* contaminants may linger, causing illness or even death;<br />
* chemical properties and medicinal benefits of specific strains and their unique cannabinoid-turpene profiles can't be isolated; and<br />
* research on potential therapeutic qualities can't be replicated, hindering scientific progress.<br />
<br />
In 2011 — a year before any U.S. state had enacted broad legalization of recreational marijuana — California NORML reported that its assessment of analytical cannabis testing laboratories' accuracy found that while California labs broadly reached +/- 20 percent consistency from a replicate sample, three out of 10 provided unfavorable results on at least half of their tests. Similar wide-ranging discrepancies were also found among edibles, extracts, and tinctures, and NORML found that none of the labs could reach two decimal points precision of cannabinoid results despite laboratory claims stating otherwise.<ref name="CANORMLHow11" /> Another report out of Washington State in January 2015, not long after recreational marijuana sales to the public (requiring accredited lab testing prior) began<ref name="WLCBFAQ">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/mj2015/faqs_i-502 |title=FAQs on I-502 |publisher=Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>, found blind tests of recreational marijuana at dispensaries could range as much as 7.5 percent in accuracy from its corresponding label.<ref name="BushWorlds15" /> Further issues in 2016 with alleged partiality by some Washington testing laboratories prompted emergency proficiency testing rules to be enacted.<ref name="YoungSome16">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/marijuana/some-pot-labs-in-state-failed-no-pot-at-all-says-scientist/ |title=Some pot labs in state failed no pot at all, says scientist |author=Young, B. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=05 January 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/to-combat-claims-of-inconsistency-washington-testing-labs-turn-to |title=To Combat Inconsistency, Washington Testing Labs Turn to Self-Policing |work=Leafly - Politics |author=Coughlin-Bogue, T. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=11 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> (Proficiency testing essentially requires a laboratory in question to test a sample with known properties, and then those results are compared to those of a neutral third-party lab testing the same sample.)<br />
<br />
These discrepancies and deficiencies highlight the growing need for homogenization of testing methods and procedures, if not nationally at least across an entire state. Such homogenization would, in theory, not only positively affect the quality of product but also provide greater consumer confidence that label and product match. As Marketing Director Scott Kuzdzal of Shimadzu pointed out during a January 2017 webinar on analytic testing of cannabis, poor sample preparation, lack of thorough testing, and the manual process itself — which can introduce user error, particularly when good laboratory practices aren’t used — all can contribute to discrepancies between label and product.<ref name="KuzdzalOpp17">{{cite web |url= http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170119200158/http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |title=Webinar: Opportunities & Challenges in Cannabis Analytical Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.A. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=19 January 2017 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=03 February 2017 |quote=Source is actual webinar.}}</ref> When dispensaries, edible manufacturers, and supplement companies perform insufficient lab testing or overstate claims on labels, it reduces consumer confidence, and both state and federal authorities — including the FDA — have to interject.<ref name="YoungSome16" /><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16" /><ref name="FDAWarn16">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm484109.htm |title=2016 Warning Letters and Test Results for Cannabidiol-Related Products |work=Public Health Focus |publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration |date=31 August 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As was mentioned at the end of the previous section on state regulation, efforts to improve testing methods and procedures, with the goal of seeing the best of them become standards, are ongoing. Where are those efforts now, and where are they going? Before we can examine that, we first need to briefly look at what aspects of cannabis are actually being analyzed.<br />
<br />
===Analytical aspects of cannabis===<br />
====Cannabinoids====<br />
As of mid-2015, researchers have identified 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15" />, active chemical compounds that act in a similar way to compounds our body naturally produces. Many of our body's cells have cannabinoid receptors capable of modulating neurotransmitter release in the brain and other areas.<ref name="WHOTheHealth16" /> The plant's cannabinoids vary, with each bonding to specific receptors in our body, providing differing effects. From a theoretical and medical standpoint, crafting a strain of cannabis that has specific cannabinoids that can aid with a particular malady, while also carefully reproducing the grow conditions to consistently make that strain in the future, is a desirable but difficult goal to achieve.<ref name="RahnCannab14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/cannabinoids-101-what-makes-cannabis-medicine |title=Cannabinoids 101: What Makes Cannabis Medicine? |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=22 January 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabinoids is done primarily as a measure of psychoactive "potency," though cannabinoids have many other potential therapeutic uses. Current laboratory testing looks at only a handful of cannabinoids; more research and development of analytical techniques that can quickly and accurately detect and separate the the rest is required.<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> Some of the major cannabinoids tested for include<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/understanding-cannabis-testing |title=Understanding Cannabis Testing: A Guide to Cannabinoids and Terpenes |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=09 October 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''THC (∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)''': This is the most commonly known cannabinoid found in cannabis, notable for its strong psychoactive effects and ability to aid with pain, sleep, and appetite issues. Included is its analogue ∆8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (which shows notably less strong psychoactive effects than ∆9<ref name="NIHDelta8">{{cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug?cdrid=485262 |title=delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol |work=NCI Drug Dictionary |publisher=National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>) and its homologue THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), which tends to appear in trace amounts and has a more pronounced psychoactive effect, but for a shorter duration. THCV shows promise in fighting anxiety, tremors from neurological disorders, appetite issues, and special cases of bone loss. Also notable is Δ9-THCA (Δ9-Tethrahydrocannibinolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to THC. <br />
<br />
* '''CBC (Cannabichromene)''': This non-psychoactive cannabinoid is found in trace amounts; however, it tends to be markedly more effective at treating anxiety and stress than CBD (see next). It's also notable for its anti-inflamatory properties and potential use for bone deficiencies. <br />
<br />
* '''CBD (Cannabidiol)''': CBD is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, typically accounting for up to 35 to 40 percent of cannabis extracts. It acts as a counter-balance to THC, regulating its psychoactivity. It's been researched as a treatment for anxiety, sleep loss, inflammation, stress, pain, and epilepsy, among other afflictions. Included is its homologue CBDV (Cannabidivarin), which is also non-psychoactive and demonstrates promise as a treatment for epileptic seizures. Also notable is CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBD.<br />
<br />
* '''CBG (Cannabigerol)''': This cannabinoid is also non-psychoactive but only appears in trace amounts of cannabis. If has potential as a sleep aid, anti-bacterial, and cell growth stimulant. Also notable is CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid ), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBG.<br />
<br />
* '''CBN (Cannabinol)''': CBN is mildly psychoactive at best and appears only in trace amounts in ''Cannabis sativa'' and ''Cannabis indica''. It occurs largely as a metabolite of THC and tends to have one of the strongest sedative effects among cannabinoids. It shows promise as a treatment for insomnia, glaucoma, and certain types of pain.<br />
<br />
====Terpenes====<br />
Mandated lab testing of terpenes — volatile organic compounds that distinctly affect cannabis aroma and taste — is done primarily as a way to ensure proper labeling of cannabis and related products, including extracts and concentrates, so buyers have confidence in what they are purchasing.<ref name="HabibTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1c-Testing-for-Psychoactive-Agents-Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing for Psychoactive Agents |author=Habib, R.; Finighan, R.; Davenport, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=24 August 2013 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CMTLabs">{{cite web |url=http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/test-services/tests-offered/ |title=Tests Offered |publisher=CMT Laboratories |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="WercShop">{{cite web |url=http://thewercshop.com/services/terpene-profiling-services/ |title=Terpene Profiling Services |publisher=The Werc Shop |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> However, additional lab research goes into terpenes as they also show potentially useful pharmacological properties<ref name="HabibTesting13" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16">{{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}</ref>, and they demonstrate synergies (referred to at times as the "entourage effect") with cannabinoids that largely still require further exploration.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="WachsbergerTerpene16">{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomcityclub.com/terpine-testing-the-future-of-cannabis-is-here/ |title=Terpene Testing: The future of Cannabis is here |author=Wachsberger, K. |work=Bloom Blog |publisher=Bloom City Club |date=02 February 2016 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> Testing for specific terpenes (discussed later) is less of a standardized practice, though it's rapidly improving.<ref name="HabibTesting13" /> Commonly tested terpenes by third-party testing labs include<ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="CMTLabs" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14" /><ref name="SCLabs">{{cite web |url=http://sclabs.com/terpene-analysis/ |title=Terpene Analysis |publisher=SC Labs, Inc |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Bisabolol<br />
* Caryophyllene<br />
* Cymene<br />
* Humulene<br />
* Limonene<br />
* Linalool<br />
* Myrcene<br />
* Phytol<br />
* Pinene<br />
* Terpinolene<br />
<br />
====Contaminates====<br />
Generally speaking, a contaminate is an unwanted substance that may show up in the final product, be it recreational marijuana or a pharmaceutical company's therapeutic tincture. The following are examples of contaminates that laboratories may test for in cannabis products. <br />
<br />
'''Pesticides''': Pesticides represent the Wild West of not only growing cannabis but also performing analytical testing on it. One of the core issues, again, is the fact that on the federal level marijuana is illegal. Because it's illegal, government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) don't test and create standards or guidelines for what's safe when it comes to residual pesticides, let alone how to best test for them.<ref name="BorelTheWild15">{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/08/pot-marijuana-pesticide-legalization/401771/ |title=The Wild West of Marijuana Pesticides |author=Borel, B. |work=The Atlantic |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group |date=31 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ZhangNobody15">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/nobody-knows-pesticides-legal-marijuana// |title=Nobody Knows What to Do About Pesticides in Legal Marijuana |author=Zhang, S. |work=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |date=07 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, researchers face their fair share of difficulties obtaining product to test. The end result is we don't know much about how inhalation of pesticide-coated marijuana smoke affects long-term health<ref name="BorelTheWild15" /><ref name="ZhangNobody15" />, and we don't have standards for pesticide application and testing.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> With numerous pesticide products and little oversight on what growers apply to their plants, combined with the technical difficulty of testing for pesticides in the lab, pesticides remain one of the most difficult contaminates to test for.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> That said, several classes of of pesticides are commonly applied during cannabis cultivation and can be tested for by labs<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/PreventionWellness/marijuana/Documents/oha-8964-technical-report-marijuana-contaminant-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Technical Report: Oregon Health Authority’s Process to Determine Which Types of Contaminants to Test for in Cannabis Products, and Levels for Action |author=Farrer, D.G. |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |date=December 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''avermectins''': functions as an insecticide that is useful against mites, which are a common problem for cultivators<br />
* '''carbamates''': functions as an insecticide, similar to organophosphates, but with decreased dermal toxicity and higher degradation<br />
* '''organophosphates''': functions as the base of many insecticides and herbicides, valued for its easy organic bonding<br />
* '''pyrethroids''': functions as the base of most household insecticides and exhibits insect repellent properties<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': In 2003, Canadian Rick Simpson published a recipe of sorts for preparing cannabis extract via the use of solvents such as naphtha or petroleum ether. Claiming the resulting oil helped cure his skin cancer, others hoping for a cure tried it, and the solvent method of preparation grew in popularity. Dubious healing claims aside, the solvent extraction method remains viable, though it has evolved over the years to include less harmful solvents such as supercritical carbon dioxide, which has low toxicity, low environmental impact, and beneficial extraction properties.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RomanoCannabis13">{{cite journal |url=http://www.stcm.ch/en/files/hazekamp_cann-oil_2013.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis oil: Chemical evaluation of an upcoming cannabis-based medicine |journal=Cannabinoids |author=Romano, L.L.; Hazekamp, A. |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1–11 |year=2013}}</ref><ref name="PeachSuper14">{{cite journal |title=Supercritical carbon dioxide: A solvent like no other |journal=Journal of Organic Chemistry |author=Peach, J.; Eastoe, J. |volume=10 |pages=1878-95 |year=2014 |doi=10.3762/bjoc.10.196 |pmid=25246947 |pmc=PMC4168859}}</ref> However, chemical solvents are still used, and if not evaporated out properly, the remaining solvents can be particularly harmful to sick patients using the extract. As for what solvents should be tested for, it gets a bit trickier, though Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'', the Oregon Health Authority's December 2015 technical report on contaminant testing of cannabis, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's response to public comments on cannabis testing provide helpful guidance. Listed solvents include benzene, butane, cumene, dimethoxyethane, hexane, and pentane, among others.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="USPNF467">{{cite web |url=https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/USPNF/generalChapter467Current.pdf |format=PDF |title=<467> Residual Solvents |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="MDPHResponse">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/external-comment-response-020416-final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Response to Public Comments |author=Bureau of Healthcare Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |date=12 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': 2013 research on contaminant testing on the behalf of Washington State provides insights into heavy metals and why they're looked for in cannabis testing. That research, as well as other sources, tell us<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DaleyTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Heavy metals contribute to several health problems, including those of a neurological nature.<br />
* Cannabis can "hyperaccumulate metals from contaminated soils."<br />
* Research parallels can be found in tobacco research and how the FDA regulates heavy metal content in foods.<br />
* The most prominently tested heavy metals include arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni).<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': "The ideal conditions for cannabis growth are also ideal for the growth of potentially harmful bacteria and fungi, including yeast and molds," say Shimadzu's Scott Kuzdzal and William Lipps, "therefore microbial contamination poses health risks to consumers and immunocompromised individuals."<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> In truth, these concerns have already borne out; most recently the University of California, Davis reported in February 2017 one of its patients had contracted an incurable fungal infection from inhaling aerosolized marijuana. They later tested 20 marijuana samples from Northern California dispensaries — using specialized techniques — and found a wide variety of potentially hazardous microorganisms.<ref name="UCDavis17">{{cite web |url=http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/11791 |title=UC Davis study finds mold, bacterial contaminants in medical marijuana samples |publisher=UC Davis |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The degree to which such contaminates commonly appear in grown and stored cannabis material and to which microbiological contaminates should be tested is not clear, however. As mentioned previously, neither the U.S. EPA or neighboring Health Canada provide any significant guidance on cannabis testing, including microbiological contaminates.<ref name="KennardYouAre16">{{cite web |url=https://tantaluslabs.com/populace/you-are-probably-smoking-mouldy-weed-why-does-quality-assurance-matter/ |title=You are Probably Smoking Mouldy Weed - Why Does Quality Assurance Matter? |work=Populace |author=Kennard, M. |publisher=Tantalus Labs |date=02 June 2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> Like heavy metal testing, parallels are drawn from microbial testing guidelines and standards relating to tobacco and food, where they exist.<ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> As warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, maintaining stable moisture levels during cultivation and storage is essential. Regularly measuring water activity — how moist something is — is particularly useful as a front-line preventative tool to better ensure microbial growth is limited.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> Regardless, testing of some kind is still required by many U.S. states, including for organisms such as<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="UCDavis17" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="CANNAMicro14">{{cite web |url=http://www.fundacion-canna.es/en/microbiological-study-cannabis-samples |title=Microbiological study of Cannabis samples |publisher=Fundación CANNA |date=2014 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RussoCann13">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qH-2Lj9x7L4C&pg=PT457&lpg=PT457 |chapter=Chapter 30: Contaminants and Adulterants in Herbal Cannabis |title=Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential |author=McPartland, J.M. |editor=Russo, E.B. |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |pages=478 |isbn=9781136614934}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Aflatoxin<br />
* ''Alternaria''<br />
* ''Aspergillus''<br />
* ''Cryptococcus''<br />
* ''E. coli''<br />
* ''Mucor''<br />
* ''Penicillium''<br />
* ''Salmonella''<br />
<br />
===Methods and guidelines===<br />
Now that we've addressed what's being tested for, we can move on to how they're being tested and what's being done to improve testing methods and procedures, including associated guidelines and recommendations. It would be beyond the scope of this guide to include every state's laws and guidelines on cannabis testing; entities such as [https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations Leafly Holdings]<ref name="RoughLeaflysState">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}</ref> and [http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ CannaGuard Security]<ref name="CSCanna16">{{cite web |url=http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ |title=CannaBiz Resources |publisher=CannaGuard Security |date=2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> provide such online resources. Instead, this section will focus on current and promising techniques using generalizations based on information from multiple sources. If any guidelines and recommendations are known, they'll be included.<br />
<br />
====Sampling====<br />
Random, representative sampling is encouraged. When dealing with solid cannabis, BOTEC Analysis recommends a "quartering" method that divides the sample into four equal parts and takes portions from opposite sections of a square-shaped arrangement of the sample. For liquid cannabis products, remembering to stir before sample collection is advised.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> When deriving a sample from a cannabis-laden edible, the QuEChERS approach used by food safety labs for pesticide testing has practical use.<ref name="RigdonExtract16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=25790 |title=Extraction Method for Cannabinoid Analysis in Edibles: Too Much of a Good Thing |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> In fact, a variety of parallels have been drawn from the food and herbal medicine industries' sampling guidelines, including from the Codex Alimentarius Commission's ''CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling'' as well as various chapters of the ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary''.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CACGL50-2004">{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCAC%2BGL%2B50-2004%252FCXG_050e.pdf |format=PDF |author=Codex Alimentarius Commission |title=CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling |pages=69 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> As the APHL points out, "[g]ood sampling is key to improving analytical data equivalency among organizations," and it provides a solid base for any future testing and standardization efforts.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> <br />
<br />
Additional sampling insight can be found by examining other states' guidelines, e.g., Massachusetts' ''Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries''.<ref name="DPHMassProto16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Cannabinoid testing====<br />
Quantifying cannabinoids for label accuracy is a major goal of testing, though calculation and testing processes may vary slightly from state to state. Despite any differences, laboratorians generally agree that when testing for cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, as well as their respective biosynthetic precursors THCA and CBDA, the methodology used must be scrutinized. The naturally occurring THCA of cannabis isn't psychoactive; it requires decarboxylation (a chemical reaction induced by drying/heating that releases carbon dioxide) to convert itself into the psychoactive cannabinoid THC. Chemical calculations show that the process of decarboxylation results in approximately 87.7 percent of the THCA's mass converting to THC, with the other 12.3 percent bubbling off as CO<sub>2</sub> gas.<ref name="CAWhy1">{{cite web |url=http://conflabs.com/why-0-877/ |title=Why 0.877? |publisher=Confidence Analytics |date=10 February 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> The problem with this in the testing domain is gas chromatography (GC) involves heating the sample solution. If you, the lab technician, require precise numbers of both THCA and THC, then GC analysis poses the risk of under-reporting THC total values.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> As such, liquid chromatography-diode array detection (LC-DAD) may be required if a concise profile of all cannabinoids must be made, primarily because it provides environmental stability for them all during analysis. If GC is used, the analysis requires extra considerations such as sample derivatization.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RigdonAccurateJuly15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=14961 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids by GC – Is it Possible? |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 July 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RigdonAccurateSept15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=15135 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids and Neutrals by GC – Derivatives without Calculus |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=09 September 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The APHL briefly describes analysis methods of cannabinoids using both LC and GC on pages 31–32 of their May 2016 ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs''. They also point to New York Department of Health - Wadsworth Center's various guidance documents (MML-300, -301, and -303) for methodologies when testing sample types other than solids, particularly using high-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA).<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MML-300">{{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> Overall, methods used in cannabinoid testing include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="MML-300" /><ref name="SCCann16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/docs/Sigma-Aldrich/General_Information/1/cannabis-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing: Quality You Can Trust |publisher=Sigma-Aldritch Co. LLC |date=2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AdamsNear16">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/column/near-infrared-gc-and-hplc-applications-in-cannabis-testing/ |title=Near Infrared, GC and HPLC Applications in Cannabis Testing |author=Adams, T.; Bertone, M. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=30 November 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR; has limitations, such as requiring standard samples tested w/ other methods)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like 5α-cholestane, docosane, and tetracosane)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like deuterated cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA; stable for all forms of cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography UV detection (HPLC-UV)<br />
* Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
* Thin-layer chromatography (TLC; older, less common technology)<br />
* Ultra-performance chromatography (UPC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
<br />
====Terpene testing====<br />
Identifying and quantifying terpenes is one of the more difficult tasks facing laboratorians<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Terpenes present an analytical challenge because they are nonpolar and structurally similar, and many structural isomers exist. Mass spectrometry (MS) cannot distinguish terpenes that co-elute from a GC column because many have the same molecular weight and share fragment ions.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Of course, types of gas chromatography work; but like cannabinoids, terpenes can degrade with the high heat of gas chromatography.<ref name="AdamsNear16" /> Combined with the problems mentioned above, highly specialized gas chromatography processes that include additional steps — such as full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID) — can be used to produce cleaner results, particularly for volatile components.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> It's less clear if high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used frequently; some entities such as Eurofins Experchem Laboratories claim HPLC works best for them<ref name="AdamsNear16" />, while others such as Restek Corporation claim the method is problematic at best.<ref name="HerringCanHP16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=33071 |title=Can HPLC-UV Be Used For Terpenes Analysis In Cannabis? |author=Herring, T. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 December 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Overall, methods for terpene identification and analysis include<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="SCLabs" /><ref name="SCCann16" /><ref name="AdamsNear16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/life_science/shimadzu_cannabis_brochure.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Solutions |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID; tends to be semi-quantitative)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; may have limitations due to coelution of terpenes and cannabinoids at certain ranges<ref name="HerringCanHP16" />)<br />
<br />
====Contaminate testing====<br />
[[File:LC MS pic.jpg|right|400px]]'''Pesticides''': Gas and liquid chromatography methods are by and large the staple of testing methods for pesticides, which remain "the hardest analyses that are going to be done in the cannabis industry."<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Notably, high-performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) tends to be one of the most thorough methods says Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon. "Ninety-five percent of the pesticides out there can be analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS, although there are some that you would need a GC-MS/MS for," she says.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Testing methods that have been used include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Gas chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of pesticides in cannabis, the EPA's Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) or FDA's Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) provide guidance to labs.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="FDA_PAM">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': Testing for solvents is largely standardized into a couple of options, which have parallels to existing pharmaceutical testing standards outlined in Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'' (USP <467>)<ref name="USPNF467" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS)<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID)<br />
<br />
Massachusetts and Oregon — and likely other states — have used a variety of guidance documents such as USP <467>, reports from the Commission of the European Communities' Scientific Committee on Food (now the European Food Safety Authority), and the International Conference on Harmonization's (ICH) Q3C(R5)<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MDPHResponse" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /> to set their action level testing values for particular solvents.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': The methods used for quantifying levels of highly toxic metals in plants depend on ease-of-use, level of accuracy, and overall cost. The following methods are most common for testing cannabis and other plants<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DavisAnalysis15">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/aas/ssi-icp-002.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of "The Big Four" Heavy Metals in Cannabis by USN-ICP-OES |author=Davis, D.; Long, K.; Masone, J.; Firmin, P. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=August 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), sometimes called inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) (at times coupled with an ultrasonic nebulizer)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma tandem-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of metals in cannabis, the U.S. FDA's ICP-MS methodology document is often used.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': A standard method of testing for the existence of microorganisms is through the process of culturing a sample in a Petri dish, a common diagnostic method in microbiology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is also used, particularly to identify mycotoxins. However, Petri culture analysis isn't rigorous, and ELISA can be time consuming, as it's limited to one mycotoxin per test.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> The following are other, more precise techniques that are improving laboratorians' analyses, particularly using DNA snippets of microbiological contaminates<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="ThompsonAMicro16">{{cite journal |title=A microbiome assessment of medical marijuana |journal=Clinical Microbiology and Infection |author=Thompson III, G.R.; Tuscano, J.M.; Dennis, M. et al. |pages=S1198-743X(16)30605-X |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.cmi.2016.12.001 |pmid=27956269}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)<br />
* Whole metagenome shotgun (WMGS) sequencing<br />
* Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
The extent of mycotoxin testing required remains in question by several entities. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) claims "[t]here is no readily available evidence to support the contention that cannabis harbors significant levels of mycotoxins."<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> The Oregon Health Authority takes a more middle-ground approach, noting that testing for ''E. coli'' and ''Salmonella'' will "protect public health," though ''Aspergillus'' only deserves a warning for people with suppressed immune systems due to its prevalence in the environment.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> USP <561> recommendations largely limit mycotoxin testing of botanical products to those borne from root or rhizome material<ref name="USPNF561">{{cite web |url=https://hmc.usp.org/sites/default/files/documents/HMC/GCs-Pdfs/c561.pdf |format=PDF |title=<561> Articles of Botanical Origin |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>, "which THC-containing cannabis products presumably do not possess," emphasizes the APHL.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Regardless, U.S. Pharmacopeia's Chapter 561 remains a useful document for testing guidelines and limits regarding microbials.<ref name="USPNF561" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> In the less common case of dealing with powdered cannabis — a relatively new THC extract form — Chapter 2023 provides at least some testing parallels, though Dr. Tony Cundell, a microbiologist consulting for the pharmaceutical industry, suggests USP <2023> doesn't go far enough for immunocompromised patients.<ref name="CundellMicro15">{{cite web |url=http://www.americanpharmaceuticalreview.com/Featured-Articles/177487-Microbiological-Attributes-of-Powdered-Cannabis/ |title=Microbiological attributes of powdered cannabis |work=American Pharmaceutical Review |author=Cundell, T. |publisher=CompareNetworks, Inc |date=31 July 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Somewhat related and worth mentioning is moisture content testing. As previously mentioned, warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, and regularly measuring water activity is useful for the prevention of microbial growth.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> The APHL references specifications from the Dutch Office of Medical Cannabis that recommend water content be between five to ten percent in cannabis.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><br />
<br />
===Reports===<br />
There's little in the way of standardization for lab reporting of cannabis test results, though some U.S. states have outlined requirements for what must be included in such reports. The Oregon Health Authority's ''Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 333, Division 64, Section 0100: Marijuana Item Sampling Procedures and Testing'' stipulates that any report must include total THC and total CBD (by dry weight) and, if discovered, "up to five tentatively identified compounds (TICS) that have the greatest apparent concentration." It also lays out requirements for pesticides, failed tests, limits of quantification, and specimen identifiers such as test batch number.<ref name="OHA333-064-0100">{{cite web |url=http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_300/oar_333/333_064.html |title=Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, Division 64, Accreditation of Laboratories |work=Oregon Administrative Rules |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In late January 2017, Pennsylvania released its temporary regulations in support of its new medical marijuana program (28 Pa. Code Chapter 1171), which includes a section on test results and reporting (1171.31). The regulations stipulate reporting by electronic tracking system, with stipulations on using certificates of analysis which include lot/batch number and the specific compounds and contaminates tested.<ref name="28PA1171">{{cite journal |url=http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/M-P/MedicalMarijuana/Documents/Chapter%201171%20Laboratories%201-26-17.pdf |format=PDF |title=Title 28 - Health and Safety, Department of Health - 28 Pa. Code Ch. 1171 |journal=Pennsylvania Bulletin |author=Pennsylvania Department of Health |volume=46 |issue=52 |pages=8036–8041 |date=24 December 2016}}</ref> Regulations aside, it's largely up to the laboratory — and often by extension, the software they're using — to decide how a report is formatted. Some labs like Seattle-based Analytical 360 offer clean, color-based certificates of analysis, with high-magnification photographs, the chromatogram, potency, cannabinoid content, contaminate content, and explanation of limits, with the name of the approving analyst.<ref name="CC_A360">{{cite web |url=http://cannabis-chronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/Godzilla.pdf |format=PDF |title=Certificate of Analysis - Sample: Godzilla |publisher=Cannabis Chronicles |date=07 July 2014 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="C360Results">{{cite web |url=http://analytical360.com/testresults |title=Current Test Results |publisher=Analytical 360, LLC |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Others may simply generate a computer printout with the basic data and a legend.<ref name="HydrioCan16">{{cite web |url=http://beyondchronic.com/question/can-you-help-me-analyze-lab-reports-of-cannabis-oil/ |title=Can you help me analyze lab reports of cannabis oil? |author=Hydrio |work=Beyond Chronic: Ask Old Hippie |date=August 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Reports may originate from the measuring device itself (e.g., an integrator in a chromatography device), a middleware or data station attached to the instrument, or a laboratory information management system that accepted data from the instrument.<ref name="McKennaSetting15">{{cite web |url=http://www.slideshare.net/GenTechScientific/ica2015-cannabis-presentation |title=Setting Up Your Cannabis Lab for Potency Testing |author=McKenna, M. |work=SlideShare |publisher=GenTech |date=18 June 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Though not directly related to laboratory testing, it's worth noting states also have their own reporting requirements for growers, processors, and dispensaries. Both Oregon and Washington, for example, require monthly reports related to medical marijuana transfers.<ref name="OMMPReporting">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/ChronicDisease/MedicalMarijuanaProgram/Pages/reporting.aspx |title=Reporting Requirements for Tracking Medical Marijuana |author=Public Health Division |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="314-55 WAC">{{cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=314-55&full=true |title=Chapter 314-55 WAC: Marijuana Licenses, Application Process, Requirements, and Reporting |work=Washington Administrative Code |publisher=Washington State Legislature |date=16 November 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Lab equipment===<br />
As indicated in previous sections, spectrometry and chromatography have played and will continue to play an important role in cannabis laboratory testing. This should not be surprising: "mass spectrometry is superior to other spectral techniques in such features as sensitivity, selectivity, generation possibility of molecular mass/formula, and combinability with chromatography."<ref name="MilmanTech10">{{cite book |chapter=Chapter 2: Techniques and Methods of Identification |title=Chemical Identification and its Quality Assurance |author=Milman, B.L. |publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg |year=2010 |pages=23–39 |isbn=9783642153617 |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-15361-7_2}}</ref> Analyzing complex chemical compounds that have many features and which are at times difficult to differentiate from each other proves challenging, but these technologies excel in meeting that task.<ref name="MilmanTech10" /> Refer to the previous "Methods and guidelines" section to note the specific technology associated with each molecule and contaminate. Aside from spectrometry and chromatography equipment, the analysis of microorganisms in cannabis may turn to DNA analysis methods that require additional equipment such as a thermal cycler (qPCR) or sequencer (WMGS), or ELISA, which utilizes a photometer or spectrophotometer. Of course, preparing and storing samples requires equipment as well, such as microplates, centrifuges, comparison standards, capillaries, chemicals, columns, Petri dishes, scales, and disposable gloves. Software-based data management systems may also constitute equipment and are discussed in the next section.<br />
<br />
When it comes to purchasing lab equipment specifically for cannabis testing, a 2015 interview with Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon (then with Restek Corporation) provides good advice<ref name="TaylorCanna15">{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/article/2015/06/cannabis-testing-opens-whole-new-market |title=Cannabis Testing Opens Up a Whole New Market |author=Taylor, M. |work=Laboratory Equipment |publisher=Advantage Business Media |date=23 June 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Industry-specific instrumentation isn't needed in most cases as most of the techniques and equipment used in food and herbal medicine testing have strong parallels to cannabis testing.<br />
* That said, some sample preparation tools, standards, and consumables specifically marketed to the industry may very well make the job quicker and more reliable.<br />
* Appropriate sample preparation techniques are just as vital as the equipment you use.<br />
* Do your research; many instrument companies are examining methodologies usable on conventional equipment, lessening the need for more expensive devices.<br />
* If buying used equipment, make sure the original manufacturer is still in business and producing consumables and replacement parts. Make sure your planned methods match the equipment, and make sure it's not so old that it can't be serviced by a qualified technician.<br />
<br />
===Software===<br />
Laboratories increasingly depend on software to analyze, store, and share critical data from instruments and experiments.<ref name="VI11">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150425070143/http://virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |title=Laboratory Informatics |publisher=virtualinformatics.com |date=09 April 2011 |archivedate=25 April 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> This has led to the development of laboratory-specific software like the [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS), [[electronic laboratory notebook]] (ELN), and [[chromatography data management system]] (CDMS; sometimes simply CDS). These and other software systems such as "seed-to-sale" programs can also play an important role in the cannabis testing laboratory.<br />
<br />
====LIMS====<br />
Laboratories of all types use LIMS software to manage the wide variety of data, testing and analysis workflows, and other enterprise activities typical of them. This generally includes — but is not limited to — sample reception, workflow management, sample tracking and analysis, quality control, instrument data management, data storage, reporting, and document management.<ref name="SkobelevLab11">{{cite journal |title=Laboratory information management systems in the work of the analytic laboratory |journal=Measurement Techniques |author=Skobelev, D.O.; Zaytseva, T.M.; Kozlov, A.D. et al. |volume=53 |issue=10 |pages=1182–1189 |year=2011 |doi=10.1007/s11018-011-9638-7}}</ref> The cannabis testing laboratory is no exception, though its activities differ slightly from, for example, a clinical pathology laboratory. As such, a few additional features outside of what's typically found in a generic LIMS are required.<br />
<br />
Features that may be incorporated into a cannabis testing LIMS that you might not necessarily find in an all-purpose LIMS include<ref name="BirosUsing15">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/feature_article/using-lims-in-cannabis-laboratories/ |title=Using LIMS in Cannabis Laboratories |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=23 October 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PromiumELIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=https://www.promium.com/main/element-lims-cannabis |title=LIMS for Managing Cannabis Testing |publisher=Promium, LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PharmWareHome">{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmware.net/ |title=PharmWare |publisher=PharmLabs LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LLLIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynxpress.com/index.php?title=LabLynx_LIMS_-_Cannabis |title=LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* sample loading screens optimized for the industry, including differentiation between medical and recreational marijuana<br />
* pre-loaded compliant test protocols, labels, and reports optimized and readily adjustable for a rapidly changing industry<br />
* tools for creating new, compliant test protocols, labels, and reports<br />
* a web API to integrate with state-required compliance reporting systems<br />
* chain-of-custody (CoC) tracking, when necessary<br />
* support for inventory reconciliation<br />
<br />
As previously discussed, industry-specific test protocols largely focus on cannabinoids, terpenes, and a wide variety of contaminates, including excess water. However, as regulations continue to be in a state of flux and not particularly standardized, most LIMS developers are including the ability for users to adjust their protocols and even add new ones. And while CoC functionality is not entirely foreign to generic LIMS, it's particularly important in an industry where currently transporting even a cannabis test sample across state lines can create huge problems.<br />
<br />
In cases where daily sample processing is infrequent and only a couple of chromatography machines are used, laboratories may weigh a decision between a LIMS and a chromatography-specific CDMS.<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
Scientists on the research side of cannabis are certainly using CDMSs from Agilent, Thermo Scientific, Waters, and other to manage the data coming out of their chromatography equipment<ref name="PurschkeDevelop16">{{cite journal |title=Development and validation of an automated liquid-liquid extraction GC/MS method for the determination of THC, 11-OH-THC, and free THC-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) from blood serum |journal=Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry |author=Purschke, K.; Heinl, S.; Lerch, O. et al. |volume=408 |issue=16 |pages=4379-88 |year=2016 |doi=10.1007/s00216-016-9537-5 |pmid=27116418 |pmc=PMC4875941}}</ref><ref name="AlbertiniDeterm15">{{cite web |url=http://tools.thermofisher.com/content/sfs/posters/PO-GC-MS-THC-Metabolites-Triple-Quad-EN.pdf |format=PDF |title=Determination of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Its Main Metabolites Using GC Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry |author=Albertini, T.; Caruso, A. |publisher=Thermo Fisher Scientific |date=2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LaytonAnalysis17">{{cite web |url=https://www.perkinelmer.com/lab-solutions/resources/docs/APP_Analysis-of-Cannabinoids-in-Hemp-Seed-Oils-by-HPLC-012317_01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Cannabinoids in Hemp Seed Oils by HPLC Using PDA Detection |author=Layton, C.; Reuter, W.M. |publisher=PerkinElmer, Inc |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>, and slowly but surely some of those CDMSs are beginning to also support spectrometer data management in a similar way.<ref name="DaviesCentral16">{{cite web |url=http://www.spectroscopyeurope.com/articles/tony-davies-column/3676-central-spectroscopic-data-systems-why-are-chromatographers-so-much-better-equipped |title=Central spectroscopic data systems: Why are chromatographers so much better equipped? |author=Davies, A.N. |work=Spectroscopy Europe |publisher=John Wiley & Sons Ltd; IM Publications LLP |date=12 April 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, some chromatography system developers will collaborate with CDMS vendors to develop software drivers — code that essentially acts as a translator between a device and a program — so chromatography devices can interact fully with the CDMS.<ref name="ShimadzuWaters">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/product.cfm?product=gcdriver |title=Waters Empower Shimadzu GC Driver Version 2 |publisher=Shimadzu Scientific Instruments |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The CDMS likely has a place in the cannabis testing lab as well, though it may depend on the lab's data management needs and goals. In more complex labs with multiple instruments and significant daily processing workflows, a LIMS may make more practical sense.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
The use of seed-to-sale software is an emerging trend that is only tangentially related to laboratory testing of cannabis. Rather than at testing laboratories, seed-to-sale software is found at cultivation sites, production facilities, and dispensaries, and that software is typically designed to be able to integrate with testing laboratory or other software. The goal: create a complete record of transaction, from the grown plant to the lab, producer, and seller. This sort of tracking is mandated in various ways by many U.S. states with legalization laws. "It’s there to prevent the diversion of marijuana, which the federal government still lists as a Schedule I substance, the most dangerous class of drugs," wrote Daniel Rothberg of the ''Las Vegas Sun'' in December 2015. "Tracking also ensures product safety, assists with audits and helps facilitate recalls."<ref name="RothbergSoft15">{{cite web |url=http://www.govtech.com/state/Software-Firms-Benefit-from-Governments-Seed-to-Sale-Marijuana-Tracking.html |title=Software Firms Benefit from Government’s Seed-to-Sale Marijuana Tracking |author=Rothberg, D. |work=Government Technology |publisher=e.Republic, Inc |date=29 December 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref> This type of software is able to track plant yields, attempted theft or diversion, patient preferences, extraction methods, batch weights, and various financial statistics for analysis.<ref name="SmythTrack16">{{cite web |url=https://mjfreeway.com/blog/track-and-trace-vs-seed-to-sale |title=Track and Trace vs. Seed to Sale |author=Smyth, H. |work=MJ Freeway Blog |publisher=MJ Freeway, LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RothbergSoft15" /><br />
<br />
==Future of cannabis regulation, testing, and market trends==<br />
===Regulation and market===<br />
[[File:Medical cannabis demo 2.JPG|right|250px]]On February 23, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer indicated for the first time that the Trump administration would indeed be ramping up enforcement in states that have legalized recreational marijuana use, stating "I do believe that you’ll see greater enforcement," adding that "there’s a big difference between the medical use ... that’s very different than the recreational use, which is something the Department of Justice will be further looking into."<ref name="KumarTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article134608704.html |title=Trump administration plans crackdown on recreational marijuana |author=Kumar, A.; Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Five days later, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions continued to send pessimistic signals, stating he was "dubious about marijuana," and that "[w]e have a responsibility to use our best judgment ... and my view is we don’t need to be legalizing marijuana."<ref name="WheelerSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/321525-sessions-we-dont-need-to-be-legalizing-marijuana |title=Sessions: 'We don't need to be legalizing marijuana' |author=Wheeler, L. |work=The Hill |publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp |date=28 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Several days later, seemingly in response to both Spicer's and Sessions' comments, 11 U.S. senators sent a letter to Sessions asking him to keep in mind Trump's campaign promises of letting states decide their own fate on legalization efforts.<ref name="HotokainenEleven17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article135996463.html |title=11 senators call on Trump team to allow sale of recreational marijuana |author=Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Until demonstrably intrusive federal enforcement actions take place in states with legalized recreational marijuana, it won't be clear if the administration is simply making an implied, noisy threat in order to bring more in the industry to heel. More certain is mounting evidence that a growing majority of U.S. voters believe the federal government should not be enforcing its laws in such states: 64 percent agreed on this in 2012<ref name="NewportAmericans12">{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/159152/americans-federal-gov-state-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=Americans Want Federal Gov't Out of State Marijuana Laws |author=Newport, F. |publisher=Gallup, Inc |date=10 December 2012 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>, rising to 71 percent in 2017.<ref name="QuinnipiacRepublicans17">{{cite web |url=https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2432 |title=Republicans Out Of Step With U.S. Voters On Key Issues, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Most Voters Support Legalized Marijuana |publisher=Quinnipiac University |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Despite such support, it may largely be up to the states in the future to twist the arm of the federal government. Legal representatives at Thompson Coburn expressed this idea well in a blog post in November 2016<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry may have to consider forcing the federal hand by providing credible data on the safety of cannabis as it was invited to do in the DEA decision, in addition to the continuing to support the groundswell of approval at the state level. At some point, in the near future, the state regulatory position and the federal position will have to be reconciled. The industry can and should prompt that reconciliation by a clear united message to federal lawmakers. Without that, it remains unlikely that agencies, such as the FDA, will change its position on cannabis. A lack of change will inhibit market growth and prevent the cannabis industry from reaching its potential.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The obvious issue with expanding research and testing on cannabis and of its safety is acquiring the product within a legal framework and a reasonable time frame. As mentioned previously, the DEA has recognized the need for more federally approved growers than the NIDA center at the University of Mississippi (which came under fire in March 2017 for not testing its provided samples for mold and other contaminants in any standardized fashion<ref name="HellermanScientists17">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/scientists-say-governments-pot-farm-moldy-samples-no-guidelines/ |title=Scientists say the government’s only pot farm has moldy samples — and no federal testing standards |author=Hellerman, C. |work=PBS NewsHour |publisher=NewsHour Productions, LLC |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref>), and they've begun accepting applications for additional entities looking to grow marijuana for researchers.<ref name="81FR53846" /> Assuming the Trump administration doesn't force the DEA to change course — and signs point to the administration at least being on spoken record of supporting medical marijuana and associated research<ref name="MPPTrumpMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/trump-marijuana-policy/ |title=Trump on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=12 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — researchers will optimistically have more options for acquiring research-quality cannabis in the future. This should in turn allow researchers a shot at more focused studies that provide efficacy and safety data related to the medical use of cannabis.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> In fact, this has been a goal of Dr. Susan Weiss, Division Director of Extramural Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for some time. In July 2016 testimony to the U.S. Judiciary Committee<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /> and in a February 2017 research paper set to be published in ''The International Journal of Drug Policy''<ref name="WeissBuilding17">{{cite journal |title=Building smart cannabis policy from the science up |journal=International Journal of Drug Policy |author=Weiss, S.R.B.; Howlett, K.D.; Baler, R.D. |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.01.007 |pmid=28189459}}</ref>, Weiss cautiously recognizes and promotes the need for further evidence-based cannabis research, emphasizing both the healthy and detrimental effects evident so far in the plant and its constituents. She said of recent federal actions towards this goal<ref name="WeissTestimony16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Multiple agencies (NIH, ONDCP, DEA, and FDA) are working together to find ways to streamline the process to facilitate research while meeting international and legislative obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the Controlled Substances Act. In addition to actions taken by the Department of Health and Humans Services to eliminate the Public Health Services (PHS) committee review for non-federally funded marijuana research, the DEA recently streamlined the administrative process for CBD research to allow researchers to obtain a waiver of the requirement for review of changes to an approved protocol in their DEA research registrations, and is attempting to address the marijuana diversity and product development concern by licensing additional manufacturers.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Another recent and significant body of research that may have future influence on cannabis research itself is a massive January 2017 cannabis literature review published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This 440-page report detailed the National Academies' findings after reviewing more than 10,700 abstracts related to cannabis. Among its final recommendations, the authors called for<ref name="NASEMTheHealth17">{{cite web |url=http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/reports/2017/health-effects-of-cannabis-and-cannabinoids.aspx |title=The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research |author=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine |publisher=The National Academies Press |pages=440 |doi=10.17226/24625 |date=12 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* public and private entities to fund and support a national cannabis research initiative that looks to fill key knowledge gaps;<br />
* government agencies to develop research methods and standards that may act as a guide towards higher-quality cannabis research;<br />
* government agencies, non-profit associations, and state and local health departments to fund and support efforts to improve federal, state, and local public health surveillance systems and efforts; and<br />
* government, non-government, and industry entities to work together towards developing a report on existing regulatory barriers to research and how to overcome them.<br />
<br />
However, some researchers such as Mayo Clinic psychiatrist and researcher Michael Bostwick are less convinced that the barriers will fall — claiming federal entities shift too much focus on the detrimental effects and not enough on the potential benefits — and aren't optimistic about the direction the Trump administration will take.<ref name="GrantMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/48122/title/Marijuana-Research-Still-Stymied-by-Federal-Laws/ |title=Marijuana Research Still Stymied by Federal Laws |author=Grant, B. |work=The Scientist |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Despite this pessimism, predictions of substantial revenues in states where recreational marijuana is legalized or could be legalized persist.<ref name="MorrisTheNext16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/21/the-next-big-billion-dollar-cannabis-markets-investors-are-rushing-to.html |title=The next big billion-dollar cannabis markets investors are rushing to |author=Morris, C. |work=CNBC |date=21 October 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ThomasBigPot17">{{cite web |url=http://ctmirror.org/2017/02/07/big-pot-of-money-waiting-if-ct-legalizes-marijuana-analysts-say/ |title=Big pot of money waiting if CT legalizes marijuana, analysts say |author=Thomas, J.R. |work=The CT Mirror |publisher=The Connecticut News Project |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="HoughtonTown17">{{cite web |url=http://www.capenews.net/mashpee/news/town-manager-marijuana-shops-could-boost-tax-revenue/article_c27b9b71-fb63-52de-bc24-fda320f38a32.html |title=Town Manager: Marijuana Shops Could Boost Tax Revenue |author=Houghton, S. |work=The Mashpee Enterprise |publisher=Enterprise Newspapers |date=14 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> The latest national estimates by market research and analytics company New Frontier Data put the U.S. marijuana industry at $24 billion by 2025, with 255,000 total jobs by 2019.<ref name="WallaceReport17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/02/22/report-united-states-marijuana-sales-projections-2025/74059/ |title=Report: America’s marijuana industry headed for $24 billion by 2025 |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Yet entities such as the Denver-based Marijuana Policy Group and cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg LLC preach caution when dealing with tax revenue estimates and economic projections in the U.S. cannabis market<ref name="WallaceReport17" />, pointing to CIBC World Markets' grossly inflated tax revenue estimate of $142 CAD ($106 USD) per resident in January 2016, an overshot of about 300 percent.<ref name="WallaceWhat16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/12/22/marijuana-sales-pot-taxes-colorado-estimates-projections/69831/ |title=What legal states need to know about sketchy pot tax predictions |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 December 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> "This is a fast-paced, changing market with varying different dynamics that have more to do based on governmental and regulatory dynamics than they do on consumer dynamics," said Vicente Sederberg's director of economics and research Andrew Livingston.<ref name="WallaceReport17" /> <br />
<br />
Indeed, current and future regulatory dynamics seem to be the biggest wildcards in making market-based predictions, with predicted tax and associated revenue estimates capable of both being significantly too high (by inadequately taking into account local and regional cultural and economic statuses) or too low (by not anticipating new states legalization efforts, research breakthroughs, or ties to other mainstream but related industries).<ref name="WallaceReport17" /><ref name="WallaceWhat16" /> Additionally, too much regulation can put a stranglehold on a state's cannabis program development — as it has done in Minnesota<ref name="PotterBig16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/08/12/big-losses-for-minn-medical-marijuana-providers |title=Big losses for Minn. medical marijuana providers |author=Potter, K. |work=MPR News |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=12 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — causing related grow-ops and laboratories to take significant losses or even go out of business.<br />
<br />
===Lab testing===<br />
Future-looking estimates on cannabis lab testing are more difficult to find. The primary numbers being floated around originate from a June 2015 market report published by GreenWave Advisors titled ''Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays''. GreenWave suggested that if the U.S. were to quickly legalize cannabis at the federal level, lab testing revenues alone would be $553 million by 2020, $866 million including related activities such as data analysis and consulting.<ref name="DPAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DigiPath-Investor-Presentation-11.3.pdf |format=PDF |title=DigiPath, Inc.: A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |pages=28 |date=November 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SBSignal15">{{cite web |url=https://signalbay.com/company-news/signal-bay-makes-strategic-acquisition-in-the-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=Signal Bay Makes Strategic Acquisition in the $850M Cannabis Testing Market |publisher=Signal Bay, Inc |date=24 September 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="GWMari15">{{cite web |url=https://www.greenwaveadvisors.com/research/marijuana-lab-testing-an-in-depth-analysis-of-investing-in-one-of-the-industrys-most-attractive-plays/ |title=Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays |publisher=GreeenWave Advisors, LLC |date=June 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
As for advances in cannabis lab testing, Kuzdzal ''et al.'' of Shimadzu envision a future where improvements in standardization, quality control, and research will shift what is tested and how its tested<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry and cannabis testing are in their infancies. As the need for better quality control continues and standardization is introduced, it is likely that lower limits for the various cannabis contaminants will be established and regulations will be introduced. Mass spectrometry will likely play a greater role in quantitation as detection levels are lowered and confirmatory tests are required. The health benefits of terpenes present in cannabis will also provide a fertile area of scientific research. CBD, CBG and other compounds appear to have a synergistic relationship with each other as well as with various THC forms and terpenes. This field needs much more investigation to determine mechanisms of action, bioavailability and health benefits.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabis should continue to provide more exact and useful results as methods and standards continue to evolve. Disparity of results between two labs for the same sample are continuing to narrow as states increasingly add testing requirements to their cannabis legislature.<ref name="NelsonHas16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/has-lab-testing-turned-a-corner/ |title=Has Lab Testing Turned A Corner? |author=Nelson, S. |work=Cannabis Business Times |publisher=GIE Media, Inc |date=03 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Those testing requirements are increasingly based off a growing body of recommendations, guidance, and standards developed by the likes of the Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS), and the Association of Public Health Laboratories.<ref name="InfocastNew16" /><ref name="AHPARecomm16" /><ref name="AHPCanna14" /><ref name="MarcuJahan16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Proficiency tests such as the Emerald Test<ref name="EmeraldTest">{{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>, which allows multiple labs to test an anonymous sample and compare results, should also continue to drive improved performance from cannabis testing labs.<ref name="NelsonHas16" /><br />
<br />
Another potential trend to keep an eye on with these testing laboratories: consolidation. Currently there's not a lot of data on the extent consolidation has affected the number of cannabis testing labs or how they operate; the industry is arguably still in its infancy. Regardless, mentions in press and practical examples demonstrate that consolidation is a real concern for the industry, if not now in the future. Suggestion of such came from Steep Hill Halent's CEO David Lampach in late 2013, anticipating "huge consolidation in general and fewer companies as a result."<ref name="LampachQA13" /> The previously mentioned GreenWave Advisors as well as CannaSafe Analytics have also lent their voices to this idea in recent years.<ref name="TMIDigiPath15">{{cite web |url=http://marijuanaindex.com/digipath-digp-well-positioned-to-take-advantage-of-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=DigiPath (DIGP) Well Positioned To Take Advantage of $850M Cannabis Testing Market |work=The Marijuana Index |author=CannabisFN |publisher=MJIC, Inc |date=16 July 2015 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SchroyerIndustry16">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizmagazine.com/industry-snapshot-testing-labs/ |title=Industry Snapshot: Testing Labs |author=Schroyer, J. |work=Marijuana Business Magazine |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=January 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Production===<br />
Outside the lab, on the production side, resides a glimpse of technology that ties several of the previously mentioned ideas together: growing cannabis as an environmentally modified organism (EMO). A June 2016 article published in <em>Motherboard</em> references the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) in Canada and its effort to apply innovations in growing plants in closed environments (such as on spaceships) to cannabis production.<ref name="OwensHow16">{{cite web |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/how-space-technology-will-produce-the-best-weed-marijuana-cannabis-pot |title=How Space Technology Will Produce the Best Weed Ever |author=Owens, B. |work=Motherboard |publisher=Motherboard-IPTV LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref> Specifically, the researchers see promise in being able to precisely control grow conditions to produce a plant with a particular ratio of active chemicals. As such, the previously mentioned synergistic relationship of cannabis' chemicals can be more carefully studied, and the end product, once studied and methodically tested, could potentially "achieve the status of a conventional pharmaceutical commodity that a doctor can rely on and prescribe."<ref name="OwensHow16" /> CESRF isn't alone in developing grow technology that can tailor the necessary conditions for a particular strain. Several Israeli-linked start-ups (see the last section "Non-U.S. policy" for more) like Corsica Innovations (LEAF) and Flux (Eddy) have been developing similar grow technology that may transform future research.<ref name="GustafsonStartup16">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinegustafson/2016/12/07/it-just-became-incredibly-easy-to-grow-marijuana-at-home-meet-leaf/print/ |title=Startup Launches Automated System It Claims Makes It Easy To Grow Marijuana At Home |author=Gustafson, K. |work=Forbes |publisher=Forbes.com LLC |date=07 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SolomonIsreali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startup-creates-idiots-guide-to-home-grown-food/ |title=Israeli startup creates idiot’s guide to home-grown food |author=Solomon, S. |work=The Times of Israel |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="PressFive17">{{cite web |url=https://www.israel21c.org/5-reasons-israel-is-dominating-the-cannabis-industry/ |title=5 reasons Israel is dominating the cannabis industry |author=Press, V.S. |work=ISREAL21c |date=13 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
With better research, more definitive fact-based decisions can be made in the regulatory sphere, better guiding medical and recreational marijuana policy. That said, keep an eye on developments in controllable production methods; advances in this area stand to improve many of the other facets of research and testing discussed.<br />
<br />
===Big Marijuana===<br />
Both U.S. states and the federal government have a long, sometimes torturous history with regulating and controlling the production and sale of drug-containing products such as pharmaceuticals, tobacco, beer, wine, and spirits. As such, it seems intuitive to examine the successes and failures of those past efforts when considering what to do with cannabis. One aspect of that examination that raises concern among some is the likelihood of a narrow group of commercial interests taking over all aspects of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales. Taking from "Big Pharma," "Big Tobacco," and "Big Alcohol," some fear a similar "Big Marijuana" industry will develop.<ref name="HudakWorry16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana—not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These fears can be found among small private growers at the hyper-local level<ref name="SolovitchHow16">{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/marijuana-legalization-big-business-alcohol-214198 |title=How Big Alcohol Is About to Get Rich Off California Weed |author=Solovitch, S. |work=POLITICO |publisher=POLITICO, LLC |date=29 August 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>, all the way up to the state government level.<ref name="SteeringPathways15">{{cite web |url=https://www.aclunc.org/sites/default/files/20150721-brc_pathways_report.pdf |format=PDF |title=Pathways Report: Policy Options for Regulating Marijuana in California |author=Steering Committee of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |date=22 July 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In fact, in a 2015 Pathways Report, the state of California — including its Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom — expressed this very concern in regards to how best to regulate marijuana in the state. When considering the marijuana industry structure, they found that controls should be put in place to better incentivize smaller industry players, stating "[t]he goal should be to prevent the growth of a large, corporate marijuana industry dominated by a small number of players, as we see with Big Tobacco or the alcohol industry."<ref name="SteeringPathways15" /> Despite that advice, major California-based industry players such as Steve DeAngelo — who owns one of the largest medical marijuana dispensaries in the world and co-founded Steep Hill Labs — remain concerned that mandates for distribution, which mirror alcohol regulations, will only undermine small cannabis businesses in the state.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><br />
<br />
Anti-marijuana alliances such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and corporation-friendly pro-cannabis Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) act as opposing special interest groups, one fighting against Big Marijuana, the other borrowing from a libertarian approach proposing regulation of marijuana in a way similar to alcohol.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><ref name="WallachBoot16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="CRPTheMoney15">{{cite web |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/issues/marijuana/ |title=The Money in Marijuana: The political landscape |work=OpenSecrets.org |publisher=Center for Responsive Politics |date=November 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These and other special interest groups inevitably bring about the perception that, as the Brookings Institution puts it, "the marijuana industry is as self-serving as any other commercial lobby," further propelling worries of Big Marijuana.<ref name="WallachBoot16" /><br />
<br />
If worries of large corporations taking over significant portions of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales markets actually come to fruition, how will they potentially manifest? The previously mentioned concern of increased consolidation of testing labs is arguably one sign, as is DeAngelo's concern of forced distribution contracts taking away from smaller businesses. Brookings also points out concerns of large firms gaining hold over the evolving regulatory status as well as upward trends in antisocial marketing, though they also argue against undue alarmism of commercialization at the same time.<ref name="HudakWorry16" /><br />
<br />
Another manifestation of how Big Marijuana may be taking hold is through the patenting of cannabis strains and methods. PBS' ''Nova'' reported in October 2016 that a group of California growers were granted a patent for "compositions and methods for the breeding, production, processing and use of specialty cannabis,"<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/evolution/patenting-pot/ |title=The Rise of Marijuana™ (Patent Pending) |author=Arnold, C. |work=Nova Next |publisher=PBS |date=19 October 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> raising concerns about how Big Pharma could capitalize. Mowgli Holmes — founder of Phylos Biosciences, a genetics testing laboratory for cannabis — says as much: "Everyone is terrified of some big corporation with deep pockets coming in and taking over ... and they should be." To fight against the misappropriation of patents for "public domain" cannabis strains, he and others have developed Phylos Galaxy to better track relations between existing cannabis strains and the creation of new strains. From a lab testing perspective, a small but increasing number of qualified labs could test not only for potency, terpenes, and pesticides but also genetically verify in a standardized format that a unique strain is actually what it is claimed to be, providing slight competitive advantage.<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16" /> As the patenting trend continues (most recently a patent was issued to a Florida company for an "apparatus and methods for biosynthetic production of cannabinoids"<ref name="LivniTheUS17">{{cite web |url=https://qz.com/927649/the-us-government-grants-cannabis-patents-though-weed-is-illegal/ |title=The US government grants cannabis patents even though weed is illegal |author=Livni, E. |work=Quartz |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group, Inc |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>) the intellectual property war over strains and methods is bound to get more heated; as such, the development of accurate and open genetic and other laboratory testing methods may become increasing vital.<br />
<br />
===Non-U.S. policy===<br />
[[File:Treaty decades.png|right|800px]]Aside from a few mentions of Canada and European regulation, this guide has focused solely on the state of cannabis and related lab testing in the United States. However, it would be remiss to not look at how policy elsewhere may potentially impact the U.S. cannabis market, if nothing else at least indirectly. Broadly speaking, other countries like the Netherlands and Portugal have put more emphasis on decriminalization and recreational legalization of marijuana than on researching and providing marijuana for medical purposes.<ref name="JohnsonPast15">{{cite journal |title=Past 15-year trends in adolescent marijuana use: Differences by race/ethnicity and sex |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Johnson, R.M.; Fariman, B.; Gilreath, T. et al. |volume=155 |pages=8–15 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.025 |pmid=26361714 |pmc=PMC4582007}}</ref> Israel has been one of the major exceptions to this generalization, arguably "up to 10 years ahead of other countries in innovation in the cannabis industry."<ref name="PressFive17" /> The country has been involved with cannabis research since the 1960s, and today it has its hands in many medical research-based initiatives (though recreational marijuana is still illegal), including<ref name="PressFive17" /><ref name="KershnerIsrael16">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/middleeast/israel-a-medical-marijuana-pioneer-is-eager-to-capitalize.html?_r=0 |title=Israel, a Medical Marijuana Pioneer, Is Eager to Capitalize |author=Kershner, I. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=17 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* The Green Book, a set of written protocols and policy detailing how doctors should work with medical marijuana (still in draft phase as of March 2017) as well as how it would be commercialized across the country; includes training and certification of 100 doctors for prescribing it<ref name="EfratiIsraeli16">{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.747985 |title=Israeli Pharmacies Prepare to Sell Medical Cannabis |author=Efrati, I. |work=Haaretz |publisher=Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd |date=20 October 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="iCANIsrael16">{{cite web |url=http://journal.cannabislaw.report/israel-a-peek-inside-the-israeli-knessets-special-committee-on-medical-cannabis/ |title=Israel: A Peek Inside the Israeli Knesset’s Special Committee on Medical Cannabis |author=iCAN Israel |work=Cannabis Law Journal |date=01 September 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
* the creation of the Medical Cannabis Unit, a government agency that regulates medical cannabis research and use<br />
* the development of significant investment and infrastructure for clinical trials involving medical cannabis<br />
* the development of a national institute for medical marijuana research<br />
* the discussion of potentially exporting cannabis and/or cannabis-related extracts and derivatives<br />
* several higher education facilities offering courses and research opportunities on cannabis<br />
* several start-ups developing improved cultivation, pharmaceutical, and medical device technology<br />
<br />
Another major country challenging traditional cannabis regulation is Uruguay, which in December 2013 adopted the first stages of regulatory legislation that will ultimately make the cultivation, sale, and use (recreational and medical) of cannabis in the country legal and government-controlled. In part due to concerns regarding gang-related violence and a tentative but not proven connection to black-market cannabis, the country has since carefully and methodically implemented the laws and regulations with the goal of keeping in mind evidence-based research and the potential social impact.<ref name="RamseyGetting16">{{cite web |url=https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Getting-Regulation-Right-WOLA-Uruguay.pdf |format=PDF |title=Getting Regulation Right: Assessing Uruguay's Historic Cannabis Initiative |author=Ramsey, G. |publisher=WOLA |date=November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> In fact, a late February 2017 press release from Canadian company Emblem Corp. stated it and Uruguayan ICC International Cannabis Corporation would, pending finalization of regulatory processes between the two countries, begin a partnership that would have Emblem import CBD (cannabidiol) from ICC "to help fulfill the demand in the Canadian market."<ref name="NCVEmblem17">{{cite web |url=https://www.newcannabisventures.com/emblem-to-import-cbd-from-uruguay-into-canada/ |title=Emblem to Import CBD from Uruguay into Canada |work=New Cannabis Ventures |publisher=NCV Media, LLC |date=27 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The reality of all this — combined with the legalization momentum in the U.S. and other countries — means that new pressures are being applied to organizers of international treaties and policy, and any future changes to those treaties and policy may inversely apply pressure back on the U.S. government to update its stance on cannabis. An October 2014 Brookings Institution interview revealed some of the issues "straining the limits of an international drug control regime that most participants, including the United States, have long understood to be quite strict."<ref name="RauchMari14">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2014/10/16/marijuana-legalization-poses-a-dilemma-for-international-drug-treaties/ |title=Marijuana Legalization Poses a Dilemma for International Drug Treaties |author=Rauch, J. |work=Brookings FIXGOV: Making Government Work |publisher=The Brookings Institution |date=16 October 2014 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> Drug treaties such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988) represent hard policy that the U.S. government (as well as other federal governments) has followed steadfastly for years. However, a dichotomy begins to form when federal governments bend those treaties either through outright legalization or, as is the case in the U.S., by allowing the states power to determine their own laws.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><br />
<br />
As a result of these stresses, policy experts around the world are shining light on the need for not only federal governments but also international agencies such as the United Nations' World Health Organisation (WHO) to move forward with critical reviews of existing cannabis research in the social and medical domains and determine if revising cannabis' scheduling is appropriate. Additionally, policy experts urge United Nations members to discuss and amend existing treaties, even if such amendments only provide greater flexibility in regards to marijuana.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><ref name="HamiltonWhyWHO16">{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/why-who-needs-a-radical-rethink-of-its-draconian-approach-to-cannabis-68209 |title=Why WHO needs a radical rethink of its draconian approach to cannabis |author=Hamilton, I.; Monaghan, M.; Rolles, S. et al. |work=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation US, Inc |date=23 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Whether or not the decriminalization and legalization efforts of Israel, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and other foreign governments has a noticeable impact on international and U.S. federal law remains to be seen. However, it would be foolish to entirely ignore foreign policy when considering the future of cannabis — and by extension its laboratory testing — in the United States.<br />
<br />
==Final thoughts==<br />
This guide has attempted to provide insight into various aspects of the current status of laboratory testing of cannabis in the U.S. By extension, it has required a closer look at many non-testing or tangentially related aspects of cannabis, including history, regulations, standards, methods, equipment, and software. The guide has also attempted to look at the potential future of testing, a more difficult feat that has required inspection of — and speculation on — a mix of statistics and politics, as well as government and social policy and how they may all affect the future of cannabis testing. We learned that many point fingers at the U.S. federal government for being responsible for several cannabis-related issues, including lack of clear government support for cannabis research, lack of standardization of testing and analysis methods for said research, and wavering policy that remains inconsistent at best. At root is the fact that the federal government maintains cannabis (and its constituents) as a Schedule I drug, by extension declaring that it has no respectable medical use. This and related decisions have slowed down the academic study of cannabis, including its analysis, quality testing, and research and use as a medical treatment. The development, implementation, and reassessment of cultivation and testing standards and methods have largely been piecemeal; additionally, those efforts have been enacted in an environment where, despite the legal status in a state, fear that the federal government will inevitably intervene slows progress even further.<br />
<br />
Despite these barriers, the speed at which U.S. states have adopted some form of legalization of cannabis has pushed scientists and researchers to collaborate and improve standards and methods. Necessity continues to be the mother of invention, driving those in the industry to adapt or perish in a difficult, inconsistent market. State officials are teaming up at industry conferences and sharing ideas. Non-profit organizations are joining forces with major standards agencies to expand and improve good laboratory practices. Researchers — whether on their own or with the help of others internationally — are learning more about the cannabinoid and its interaction with terpenes, driving new insight into potential therapeutic remedies. Overall public perception about marijuana consumption and use is gradually shifting towards a positive light, even when so little is still understood about the long-term ramifications of its use. Commercial interests are taking notice, and so are international treaty makers. All of this adds up to forward momentum in the cannabis industry, with warts and all.<br />
<br />
Many factors will affect the future of cannabis regulation, testing, and research in the future; in the process, we're certain to see both ups and downs as political and social climates continue to change. However, as marijuana consumption and hemp-based manufacturing methods continue to see expanded support, consumers and manufacturers, as well as all those involved in between, will always clamor for a safer product that is "as advertised." Laboratory analysis will play an important role in that effort, whether it's in the medical research lab, the quality control lab, or the manufacturer's lab. It will be imperative for all interested parties to further work together to ensure methods are sound and standardized in a realistic and beneficial way to ensure that in the end consumers will get the best possible product available.<br />
<br />
==Resources==<br />
===Key reading===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana — not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Reference material===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/bookstore/state-legislatures-magazine/marijuana-deep-dive.aspx |title=Marijuana Deep Dive |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170117133745/https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |title=Marijuana Resource Center |author=Office of National Drug Control Policy |archivedate=17 January 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Law and regulation====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=State Medical Marijuana Laws |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=09 November 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Publications and blogs====<br />
<br />
* ''[http://www.liebertpub.com/overview/cannabis-and-cannabinoid-research/633/ Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research]''<br />
* ''[https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/ Cannabis Industry Journal]''<br />
* ''[http://mjbizdaily.com/ Marijuana Business Daily]''<br />
* ''[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7570_supp/index.html Nature Outlook: Cannabis]''<br />
* ''[http://www.beyondthc.com/ O’Shaughnessy’s]''<br />
* ''[http://terpenesandtesting.com/ Terpenes and Testing Magazine]''<br />
* ''[http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis Tracking Cannabis]'' - Thomas Coburn LLP<br />
<br />
<br />
====Standards and guidance====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Accreditation and certification====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientfocusedcertification.org/ |title=Patient Focused Certification |author=Americans for Safe Access Foundation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://certified-kind.com/ |title=Certified Kind: Certification for Responsibly Grown Cannabis |author=Certified Kind, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cleangreencert.org/ |title=Clean Green Certified |author=Clean Green Certified}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |author=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.pjlabs.com/accreditation-programs/medical-marijuana-testing |title=Accreditation Programs: Medical Marijuana Testing |author=Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Testing====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.a2la.org/appsweb/cannabis_testing.cfm |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Accreditation |author=American Association of Laboratory Accreditation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/ST-NAR-40-Ebook.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of cannabis and cannabis products |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=September 2009}} (Note year; still provides historical perspective)<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/STNAR48_Synthetic_Cannabinoids_ENG.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in seized materials |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=June 2013}}<br />
<br />
'''New York State Department of Health''':<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/359205661/MML-303-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Mycotoxins by LC-MS/MS, NYS DOH MML-303 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=43 |date=18 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/1495494332/MML-301-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medical marijuana sample preparation protocols for potency analysis, NYS DOH MML-301 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=13 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* For all other methods documents, see [https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana].<br />
<br />
<br />
===Scientific conferences and trade shows===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://2017.canntencon.com/ |title=Cann10 |publisher=Paragon Israel}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesssummit.com/oakland-2017/ |title=Cannabis Business Summit and Expo |publisher=National Cannabis Industry Association}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.canna-tech.co/ |title=CannaTech |publisher=iCAN Israel Cannabis}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldconference.com/ |title=Emerald Conference |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.csupueblo.edu/institute-of-cannabis-research/2017-conference/ |title=Institute of Cannabis Research Conference |publisher=Colorado State University - Pueblo}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://internationalcbc.com/ |title=International Cannabis Business Conference |publisher=International Conferences Group, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://mjbizconference.com/ |title=Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientsoutoftime.org/2017-national-clinical-conference-on-cannabis-therapeutics/ |title=National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics |publisher=Patients Out of Time}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.compassionatecertificationcenters.com/conference-overview/ |title=World Medical Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Present Syndikos LLC}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Associations, organizations, and interest groups===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agriculturalgenomics.org/ Agricultural Genomics Foundation]<br />
* [http://americancannabisnursesassociation.org/ American Cannabis Nurses Association]<br />
* [https://www.aocs.org/ American Oil Chemists Society]<br />
* [http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ Americans for Safe Access]<br />
* [http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories]<br />
* [http://www.australiancannabisindustry.org/ Australian Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.chascience.com/ Cannabis Horticultural Association]<br />
* [http://cannabissafetyinstitute.org/ Cannabis Safety Institute]<br />
* [https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/organization/workgroups-interest-groups-consortia/cannabis-science-interest-csi-group Cannabis Science Interest (CSI) Group], part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse<br />
* [http://cannabisandsocialpolicy.org/ Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy]<br />
* [http://www.cocannabischamber.com/ Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce]<br />
* [http://dfcr.org/ Doctors for Cannabis Regulation]<br />
* [https://www.cannabis-med.org/ International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines]<br />
* [http://icrs.co/ International Cannabinoid Research Society]<br />
* [http://thecannabisindustry.org/ National Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.nvcla.org/ Nevada Coalition Laboratory Association for Public Safety]<br />
* [http://norml.org/ NORML]<br />
* [http://patientsoutoftime.org/ Patients Out of Time]<br />
* [https://www.projectcbd.org/ Project CBD]<br />
* [https://learnaboutsam.org/ Smart Approaches to Marijuana]<br />
* [http://cannabisclinicians.org/ Society of Cannabis Clinicians]<br />
* [https://themedicalcannabisinstitute.org/ The Medical Cannabis Institute]<br />
* [http://www.vetscp.org/ Veterans Cannabis Project]<br />
* [http://womengrow.com/ Women Grow]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Testing labs and pricing info===<br />
<br />
The prevalence of testing laboratories in any given state depends on a few factors: legalization status, state laws regarding testing, and strictness of regulations. Labs typically appear as stand-alone, third-party entities. Though not common, some testing laboratories are located within dispensaries (e.g., Champlain Valley Dispensary in Vermont<ref name="CVDOurQuality">{{cite web |url=http://www.cvdvt.org/products/quality-commitment/ |title=Our Quality Commitment |publisher=Champlain Valley Dispensary, Inc |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>) and treatment centers (e.g., Sanctuary ATC in New Hampshire.<ref name="SATCAnalysis">{{cite web |url=http://www.sanctuaryatc.org/laboratory-analysis-nh.php |title=New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Laboratory Analysis — Therapeutic Uses |publisher=Sanctuary ATC |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>).<br />
<br />
The following are known active cannabis testing labs (those currently in the licensing process are not included):<br />
<br />
'''Alaska'''<br />
<br />
* [http://www.canntest.com/ Canntest] ($70–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/alaska Steep Hill Alaska] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arizona''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.arizonaanalytical.com/ Arizona Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.c4lab.com/ C4 Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.deltaverdelaboratory.com/ Delta Verde Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://desertvalleytesting.com/ Desert Valley Testing] ($15–$360, single and package tests)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arkansas''':<br />
<br />
* Laboratory testing requirements being drafted<br />
<br />
<br />
'''California''':<br />
<br />
* [http://anresco.com/ Anresco Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://budgenius.com Bud Genius] ($50/sample)<br />
* [https://www.cannalysislabs.com/ Cannalysis] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [https://coastalanalytical.com/ Coastal Analytical] ($77–$249, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.cblabstesting.com/ CS Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cwanalytical.com/ CW Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.flowertesting.com/ Flower Potency Testing] ($65–80/test type)<br />
* [http://greenherbanalytics.com/ GreenHerb Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenstyleconsulting.com/ Green Style Analytics] ($55–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.harrenslab.com/ Harrens Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.sdpharmlabs.com PharmLabs] ($40–$569, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://pureanalytics.net/ Pure Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.sequoia-labs.com Sequoia Analytical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/california Steep Hill California] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Colorado''':<br />
<br />
* [http://agricorlabs.com/ Agricor Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.aurum-labs.com/ Aurum Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://bonafideslab.com/ Bonafides Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/ CMT Laboratories] ($15–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://gobianalytical.net/ Gobi Labs] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [https://greenlabsolutionscompany.com/ Green Lab Solutions Company] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenhilllab.com/ GreenHill Laboratories] ($45–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://www.nordicanalytic.com Nordic Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phytatech.com/ PhytaTech CO] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rm3.us/ Rm3 Labs] ($35–$237, single and package tests)<br />
* Shilo Labs (Licensed<ref name="COLGovMLab16">{{cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/MLab%2007012016%20%20%20this%20one%20.pdf |format=PDF |title=MLab 07012016 this one |publisher=State of Colorado |date=01 July 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://www.teqanalyticallabs.com/ TEQ Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://goodlabcolorado.com/ The Good Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Connecticut''':<br />
<br />
* [http://altascilabs.com/ AltaSci Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Delaware''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agrolab.us/ Agrolab Organics] (State-contracted<ref name="FloodState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.capegazette.com/article/state-contracts-medical-marijuana-tester/120159 |title=State contracts medical marijuana tester |author=Flood, C. |work=Cape Gazette |date=15 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''District of Columbia''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Florida''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis Testing Lab Florida, LLC (Active but no website?)<br />
* [http://www.marijinc.com/ MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] (Mobile lab; pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.moderncanna.com/ Modern Canna Science (MCS)] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Hawaii''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hitestmedicallabs.com/ HI Test Medical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.hipharmlabs.com/ PharmLabs Hawaii] ($50–$775, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/hawaii Steep Hill Hawaii] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Illinois''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.gracelabinc.com/ Grace Analytical Laboratory, Inc.] ([https://www.agr.state.il.us/medical-cannabis-pilot-program/ Approved by state], but not advertised on website)<br />
* [http://www.lkpurelabs.com/ LK Pure Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maine''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.testedlabs.com/ Tested Labs] ($25–35/sample)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maryland''':<br />
<br />
* [http://steephill.com/maryland Steep Hill Maryland] (Pricing not public; plans on expanding here)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Massachusetts''':<br />
<br />
* [http://mcrlabs.com/ MCR Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Michigan''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.greatlakeslabservices.com/ Great Lakes Lab Services] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–$430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://micannalabs.com/ MI Canna Labs] ($60–$100/test package)<br />
* [https://www.psilabs.org/ PSI Labs] ($30–$85, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.steadfastlab.com/ Steadfast] ($25–$90/test)<br />
* [http://mispott.com/ The Spott] ($40–$90/test w/o membership; cheaper with, and can access package test prices)<br />
* [http://www.truenorthlaboratory.com/ True North Laboratory] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://upgclabs.com/ UPGC Labs] ($35/sample for potency testing)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Minnesota''':<br />
<br />
* Not clear; independent labs must be approved by Commissioner of Health.<ref name="KlarqvistMinnesota16">{{cite web |url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/MCTRA.pdf |format=PDF |title=Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research Act |author=Klarqvist, E. |publisher=Minnesota House of Representatives |date=August 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Two labs — Aspen Research and Legend Technical Services — were approved to do testing in 2015, but neither lists those services on their website.<ref name="MDHPublic16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2016/other/160894.pdf |format=PDF |title=Public Health Laboratory Annual Report: Fiscal Year 2015 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory |date=2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Montana''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buboanalytics.com/ Bubo Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://cannabanalysis.com/ Cannabanalysis Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://fidimt.com/ Fidelity Diagnostics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://montanabiotech.com/ Montana BioTech] (From $60)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Nevada''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.374labs.com/ 374 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://certifiedaglab.com/ Certified AgLab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://dblabslv.com/ DB Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://digipath.com/ Digipath] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://g3labsllc.com/ G3 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mmlabtesting.com/ MM Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.newheightslaboratory.com/ New Heights Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.nvcann.com/ NV Cann Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rsrlabs.com/ RSR Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.testlablasvegas.com/ Test Lab Las Vegas] (Pricing not public]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Hampshire''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates testing, but it's not clear which independent laboratories are approved to do so.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Jersey''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis testing is performed by the Department of Health and Senior Services.<ref name="HSS_NJAC8-64">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/documents/final_rules.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medicinal Marijuana Program Rules |publisher=New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services |date=23 November 2011 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Mexico''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.scientificbasesolutions.com/ Scientific Base Solutions] (Pricing not public]<br />
* [http://steephill.com/new-mexico Steep Hill New Mexico] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New York''':<br />
<br />
* "The Department's Wadsworth Center Laboratory will perform initial testing and analysis of final medical marijuana products until independent laboratories receive certification from the New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP)."<ref name="NYSFAQ">{{cite web |url=https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/faq.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |work=New York State Medical Marijuana Program |publisher=New York State Department of Health |date=March 2016 |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''North Dakota''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates that its compassion centers must test cannabis in-house or have it done by a contracted facility, though it's not clear what labs are performing such testing.<ref name="NDPetitionMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Measures%20Info/2016%20General/Measure%205.pdf |format=PDF |title=Initiated Constitutional Amendment No. 5 |publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State |date=2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Ohio''':<br />
<br />
* Licensing requirements for testing labs will become clearer in September 2017.<ref name="OMMCPTesting">{{cite web |url=http://www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/testing |title=Testing: Frequently Asked Questions |work=Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program |publisher=State of Ohio |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Oregon'''<br />
<br />
* Anova Laboratory (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ktvz.com/news/olcc-oks-26-recreational-pot-licenses-3-are-in-bend/101328364 |title=OLCC OKs 26 recreational pot licenses, 4 in Bend |work=News Channel 21 KTVZ |publisher=NPG of Oregon, Inc |date=30 September 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://cascadia-labs.com/ Cascadia Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://chemhistory.com/ ChemHistory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.easternoregonanalytical.com/ Eastern Oregon Analytical] ($50–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public; also see [http://www.kenevirresearch.com/ Kenevir Research], [http://oregonanalyticalservices.com/ Oregon Analytical Services], and [http://www.ghalabs.com/ GreenHaus Analytical Labs])<br />
* [http://www.greenleaflab.org/ Green Leaf Lab] ($50–$355, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://www.juniperanalyticsllc.com/ Juniper Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://lightscale.com/ Lightscale Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mrxlabs.com/ MRX Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://oganalytical.com/ Oregon Growers Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phlabsoregon.com/ pH Labs] (($60–$375, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.phylosbioscience.com/ Phylos Bioscience] ($15–$295; sexing and genotyping only)<br />
* [http://pixislabs.com/ Pixis Labs] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
* [http://www.rosecitylabs.com Rose City Laboratories] ($25–$360, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://spartananalytics.com/ Spartan Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.synpestlab.com/ Synergistic Pesticide Lab] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Pennsylvania''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here. Laboratory testing rules will become clearer later in 2017.<ref name="SchmittPA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.pamcs.org/pa-health-department-asks-public-input-medical-pot-rules/ |title=Pa. Health Department asks public for input on medical pot rules |author=Schmitt, B. |publisher=Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Rhode Island''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.bpanalytical.com/ Baseline Precision Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.ecltesting.com/ East Coast Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Vermont''':<br />
<br />
* The Department of Public Safety "may require laboratory testing of cannabis produced by a registered dispensary. The Department may specify the testing methodology. The registered dispensary shall bear the costs of any testing required by the Department."<ref name="DPSRulesReg15">{{cite web |url=http://vcic.vermont.gov/sites/vcic/files/files/marijuana-registry/MR-Rules-Regulating-Cannabis-for-Symptom-Relief.pdf |format=PDF |title=Rules Regulating Cannabis for Symptom Relief |publisher=Vermont Department of Public Safety |date=30 November 2015 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Washington''':<br />
<br />
* [http://analytical360.com/ Analytical 360] ($70–$120, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.anateklabs.com/ Anatek Labs] (Pricing for cannabis QA testing not clear)<br />
* [http://www.cannalyticsqc.com/ Cannalytics QC] ($35–$70/test)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://conflabs.com/ Confidence Analytics] ($40–$250, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.dragonlaboratory.com/ Dragon Analytical Laboratory] ($25–$1600, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.greengrowerlabs.com/ Green Grower Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.herbalanalytics.com/ Herbal Analytics] ($15–$70/test; contact for test package pricing)<br />
* [http://integritylabsolympia.com/ Integrity Labs] ($40–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.medicinecreekanalytics.com/ Medicine Creek Analytics] ($20–$100, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.peakanalyticslab.com/ Peak Analytics] ($50–$75/test)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/washington Steep Hill Washington] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://traceanalytics.com/ Trace Analytics] ($40–$350, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://tnwlab.com/ True Northwest] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
====Support services====<br />
The following entities are known to provide consulting and support services of various types to cannabis testing labs (as well as cultivators, dispensaries, etc.):<br />
<br />
* [http://www.3ccannabis.com/ 3C Consulting]<br />
* [http://www.americancannabisconsulting.com/ American Cannabis Company]<br />
* [http://c3analytical.com/ C3 Labs]<br />
* [http://cannabisconsultantsfl.com/ Cannabis Business Services (of Florida)]<br />
* [http://michigan-marijuana-lawyer.com/ Cannabis Legal Group]<br />
* [http://www.carbonblueconsulting.com/ Carbon Blue Consulting]<br />
* [https://www.hypur.com/ Hypur]<br />
* [http://www.phytoscienceinstitute.com/ Phytoscience Institute]<br />
* [http://www.phytosciences.com/ PhytoSciences Consultants]<br />
* [http://signoto.com/ Signoto] (Canada)<br />
* [http://steephilllab.com/consulting/ Steep Hill Halent]<br />
* [http://www.vitalescientific.com/services/cannabis/ Vitale Scientific Associates]<br />
<br />
===Testing hardware and supplies vendors===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buchi.com/en/ BÜCHI Labortechnik AG]<br />
* [http://www.emeraldscientific.com/ Emerald Scientific, LLC]<br />
* [http://www.fritsch-international.com/ Fritsch GmbH]<br />
* [http://gentechscientific.com/cannabis-testing/index.php GenTech Scientific]<br />
* [https://us.lgcstandards.com/US/en LGC Standards]<br />
* [http://www.orangephotonics.com/ Orange Photonics, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.restek.com/Landing-Pages/Medical-Marijuana Restek Corporation]<br />
* [http://sageanalytics.com/ Sage Analytics]<br />
* [http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/industry/industry_cannabistesting.cfm Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.spexcertiprep.com/products/cannabis SPEX CertiPrep]<br />
* [http://www.srigc.com/ SRI Instruments]<br />
* [http://vicam.com/ VICAM]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Software vendors===<br />
====Cannabis-oriented LIMS====<br />
<br />
* [http://www.atlab.com/industries/medical-marijuana Accelerated Technology Laboratories, Inc. - Various]<br />
* [[Bika LIMS|Bika Lab Systems (Pty) Ltd. - Bika LIMS]]<br />
* [[CannaSys, Inc.|CannaSys, Inc. - CannaLIMS]] <br />
* [[Guardian Data Systems, LLC|Guardian Data Systems, LLC - ROAR Cannabis Lab Software]]<br />
* [[lablynxwiki:LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis|LabLynx, Inc. - LabLynx LIMS]]<br />
* [[PharmLabs, LLC|PharmLabs, LLC - PharmWare]]<br />
* [[TheraCann International Benchmark Corporation|TheraCann International Corporation - TheraCannSYSTEM]]<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
<br />
See the [[CDMS vendor]] page.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
<br />
This is a representative sample of solutions and not a directory of all available solutions:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.biotrack.com/government-seed-to-sale-tracking/ Bio-Tech Medical Software, Inc. - BioTrackTHC]<br />
* [http://www.chetu.com/agriculture/seed-to-sale.php Chetu, Inc. - Custom software solutions]<br />
* [http://www.traceweed.com/ Dauntless Software, Inc. - TraceWeed]<br />
* [http://viridiansciences.com/ Far-From-Groove'N, Inc. dba Viridian Sciences - Viridian Sciences]<br />
* [https://www.metrc.com/the-system Franwell, Inc. - Metrc]<br />
* [https://mmjmenu.com/ Ghost Management Group, LLC - MMJMenu]<br />
* [https://www.greenbits.com/ Green Bits, Inc. - Green Bits]<br />
* [http://growone.com/ Grow One Software (US), LLC - Grow One]<br />
* [http://kind.financial/agrisoft-seed-to-sale-software/ KindManage, LLC - Agrisoft]<br />
* [https://www.motagistics.com/ Motagistics, LLC - 4S]<br />
* [https://www.proteus420.com/ Proteus Business Solutions, Inc. - PROTEUS420]<br />
* [http://www.webjoint.com/ Pyrotree, Inc. - WebJoint]<br />
* [http://theracanncorp.com/our-products-2/theracannsystem/ TheraCann International Corporation – TheraCannSYSTEM]<br />
* [https://weedtraqr.com/ WeedTraQR, LLC - WeedTraQR]<br />
<br />
===LIMSpec===<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel4&diff=29692User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel42017-03-30T16:28:10Z<p>Avaughan: /* Federal regulation of cannabis */</p>
<hr />
<div><br />
<br />
==Overview of the cannabis industry in the United States==<br />
'''Author, for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas<br />
<br />
The following is a brief overview of the cannabis industry in the United States. It's meant to give a quick and concise review of where cannabis use, regulation, testing, and research have been and where they are now. Many of the topics touched upon here will be expanded upon later in this guide.<br />
<br />
===Brief history of cannabis in the U.S.===<br />
[[File:Drug bottle containing cannabis.jpg|right|140px]]''Cannabis'' is a rapid-growing, flowering plant that has been used for centuries for industrial, medicinal, and recreational purposes. The plant includes three species or subspecies: ''indica'', ''ruderalis'', and ''sativa''.<ref name="GRINCannabis11">{{cite web |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomygenus.aspx?id=2034 |title=Genus: Cannabis L. |work=U.S. National Plant Germplasm System |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture |date=01 January 2011 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Both industrial hemp and recreational marijuana are derived from cannabis plants, but with important differences in biochemical composition. Hemp — which has historically been used to create clothing, food and feed, paper, textiles, and other industrial items — tends to have lower levels of the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and higher levels of the non-psychoactive component cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="SwansonControlled15">{{cite journal |title=Controlled Substances Chaos: The Department of Justice's New Policy Position on Marijuana and What It Means for Industrial Hemp Farming in North Dakota |journal=North Dakota Law Review |author=Swanson, T.E. |volume=90 |issue=3 |pages=599–622 |year=2015 |url=https://law.und.edu/_files/docs/ndlr/pdf/issues/90/3/90ndlr599.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="DeitchHemp03">{{cite book |title=Hemp – American History Revisited |author=Deitch, R. |publisher=Algora Publishing |location=New York City |year=2003 |pages=232 |isbn=9780875862262}}</ref> Some cannabis strains have intentionally been bred to produce low levels of THC, while others have been bred with the intent to maximize the psychoactive component. <br />
<br />
Cannabis cultivation began in England's Jamestown colony of America in earnest around 1611, via formal orders. Several years later those orders turned into a royal decree, enacted by the Virginia Company, asking colonists to each grow 100 hemp plants for export to England.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Colonial America continued its growth, use, and exportation of hemp, even beyond the formal founding of the United States. During that time, growers undoubtedly were using the female plant (which flowers and has higher levels of THC) to treat aches and pains as well as enjoy it recreationally. By the time the U.S. Civil War arrived in the 1860s, however, the growth and use of industrial hemp declined as increased cotton and wood use took away much of the profitability of hemp.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Around the same time, local governments began recognizing tonics, tinctures, and extracts from cannabis plants as potentially dangerous substances, labeling them as hypnotics, narcotics, or even poisons.<ref name="Senate1860">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1860/02/16/news/senate-88150825.html |title=Senate |author=U.S. Senate |work=The New York Times |date=15 February 1860 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> In the early twentieth century, U.S. labeling and prescription laws — such as the the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 at the federal level as well as various state laws — saw further restrictions put on cannabis, effectively culminating in the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. With the passage of those acts, hemp and marijuana essentially became illegal, controlled substances.<ref name="WaltonMari38">{{cite book |author=Walton, R.F. |title=Marijuana, America’s New Drug Problem |location=Philadelphia |publisher=B. Lippincott |year=1938 |page=37}}</ref><ref name="WoodwardTax37">{{cite web |url=http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/woodward.htm |title=Taxation of Marihuana |author=Woodward, W.C.; House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means |work=Schaffer Library of Drug Policy |date=04 May 1937 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CaversTheFood39">{{cite journal |title=The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938: Its Legislative History and its Substantive Provisions |journal=Law and Contemporary Problems |author=Cavers, D.F. |volume=6 |pages=2–42 |year=1939 |url=http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/lcp/vol6/iss1/2/}}</ref><br />
<br />
State efforts to decriminalize marijuana were somewhat successful in the early 1970s, though progress towards that goal slowed again with the Reagan Administration's war on drugs.<ref name="MeierPolitics16">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4wYDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT58 |title=The Politics of Sin: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy |author=Meier, K.J. |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2016 |page=58 |isbn=9781315287270}}</ref> Progress picked up steam again in the late 1990s into the 2000s, particularly in states such as California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, and Colorado.<br />
<br />
As of March 2017, twenty-eight U.S. states have approved some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization of medicinal and/or recreational marijuana.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16">{{cite web |url=http://time.com/4559278/marijuana-election-results-2016/ |title=These States Just Legalized Marijuana |author=Steinmetz, K. |work=Time |publisher=Time, Inc |date=08 November 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Industrial hemp has also been addressed in some regard, with 16 states having legalized commercialized industrial hemp production and the federal government making certain concessions on it (''Cannabis sativa'' containing no more than 0.3 percent THC, grown under a state-sanctioned agricultural pilot program).<ref name="NCSLState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/agriculture-and-rural-development/state-industrial-hemp-statutes.aspx |title=State Industrial Hemp Statuses |publisher=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=19 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="81FR53395">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-19146/statement-of-principles-on-industrial-hemp |journal=Federal Register |title=Statement of Principles on Industrial Hemp |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53395–6 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> However, cannabis, including industrial hemp, remains a Schedule I controlled substance, as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<ref name="LegerMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/11/dea-marijuana-remains-illegal-under-federal-law/88550804/ |title=Marijuana to remain illegal under federal law, DEA says |author=Leger, D.L. |work=USA. Today |publisher=Gannett Company |date=11 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref>, including extracts and other derivatives such as cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="WallaceLegal17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/01/13/hemp-dea-extracts-marijuana-cbd-judicial-review/71387/ |title=Legal challenge filed against DEA’s new marijuana extract rule |work=The Cannabist |author=Wallace, A. |publisher=The Denver Post |date=13 January 2017 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> This federal classification continues to clash with changing state laws and regulations at an increasing pace, creating both opportunities and difficulties for involved citizens at all points along the industrial, economic, and social chain.<br />
<br />
===Medical and recreational use===<br />
In its 2016 World Drug Report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that 3.8 percent of the global population — roughly 183 million people — used cannabis in 2014.<ref name="UNODCWorld16">{{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/doc/wdr2016/WORLD_DRUG_REPORT_2016_web.pdf |format=PDF |title=World Drug Report 2016 |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |publisher=United Nations |isbn=9789210578622 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Focusing in on the United States, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that in 2014 the country had 35.1 million past-year marijuana users.<ref name="SAMHSAResults16">{{cite web |url=https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.pdf |format=PDF |title=Results from The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use And Health: Detailed Tables |author=Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |editor=RTI International |page=178 |date=08 September 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> It's not clear if that total includes legal medical marijuana users, which numbered roughly 2.4 million that year according to non-profit ProCon.org.<ref name="ProConNumber14">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=006445 |title=Number of Legal Medical Marijuana Patients (as of Oct. 27, 2014) |publisher=ProCon.org |date=27 October 2014 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref> When compared to SAMHSA's estimate of 11.1 million users in 1997<ref name="RabkinDrug99">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvzBdlolKrQC&pg=PA16 |title=Drug Control: DEA's Strategies and Operations in the 1990s |author=Rabkin, N.J. |publisher=U.S. General Accounting Office |year=July 1999 |pages=172 |isbn=9780788184833}}</ref>, it becomes clear that reported marijuana use has increased in the United States over the past few decades, whether it's through legalization efforts or otherwise. Some have pointed to the expansion of medical marijuana laws acting as gateways for increased adolescent use; however, multiple studies have tried but failed to find such a cause and effect relationship.<ref name="HasinMedical15">{{cite journal |title=Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the USA from 1991 to 2014: Results from annual, repeated cross-sectional surveys |journal=The Lancet Psychiatry |author=Hasin, D.S.; Wall, M.; Keyes, K.M. et al. |volume=2 |issue=7 |pages=601–608 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00217-5}}</ref><ref name="WallAdol11">{{cite journal |title=Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008: Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Wall, M.M.; Poh, E.; Cerdá, M. |volume=21 |issue=9 |pages=714–716 |year=2011 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.06.001 |pmid=21820632 |pmc=PMC3358137}}</ref><ref name="HarperDoMed12">{{cite journal |title=Do Medical Marijuana Laws Increase Marijuana Use? Replication Study and Extension |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Harper, S.; Strumpf, E.C.; Kaufman, J.S. |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=207–212 |year=2012 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.12.002 |pmid=22285867}}</ref> Regardless, with 28 U.S. states now having some type of legalization law on the books<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" />, the number of marijuana users isn't likely to decrease any time soon in the U.S.<br />
<br />
===Cultivation and distribution===<br />
At the federal level, marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug and remains illegal.<ref name="GPO21USC812">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title21/html/USCODE-2011-title21-chap13-subchapI-partB-sec812.htm |title=§812. Schedules of controlled substances |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LegerMari16" /> (Federal regulation of cannabis is discussed in detail later under "Regulation and standardization.") This doesn't leave a lot of options for researchers and the like. In fact, the only federally-granted grow operation (grow-op) as of this writing is the University of Mississippi, contracted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to grow marijuana for approved research studies.<ref name="BajajHowThe14">{{cite web |url=https://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/how-the-federal-government-slows-marijuana-research/ |title=How the Federal Government Slows Marijuana Research |author=Bajaj, V. |work=Taking Note: The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=30 July 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CheslerGov15">{{cite web |url=http://weedrush.news21.com/government-restrictions-lack-of-funding-slow-progress-on-medical-marijuana-research/ |title=Government restrictions, lack of funding slow progress on medical marijuana research |author=Chesler, J.; Ard, A. |work=News21: America's Weed Rush |publisher=Carnegie Corporation of New York; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation |date=15 August 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/10/marijuana-medical-research-dea/ |title=DEA decision keeps major restrictions in place on marijuana research |author=Joseph, A. |work=STAT |publisher=Boston Globe Media |date=10 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RudroffMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/marijuana-regulation-blocks-vital-ms-research-544886 |title=Marijuana Regulation Blocks Vital Multiple Sclerosis Research |author=Rudroff, T. |work=Newsweek |publisher=IBT Media, Inc |date=21 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (That may change for the better in 2017; see the next section on testing and research for more.)<br />
<br />
On the state level, the growth, testing, and distribution of cannabis depends on state law, which can vary from state to state. This topic is discussed further in the "Regulation and standardization" section, but here are the key points:<br />
<br />
* Federal law makes it illegal to cultivate and distribute marijuana, even in a state that has legalized such activity. However, while there's no legally binding guarantee cultivators and distributors won't be pursued by federal law enforcement, they can limit their chances of such federal enforcement by following to the letter state and local law.<br />
<br />
* Despite some of the variances among state laws, one aspect largely remains consistent: it's illegal to distribute marijuana over state lines, even when distributing between two states with similar laws.<ref name="BelvilleCanI16">{{cite web |url=http://www.weednews.co/can-i-take-marijuana-from-one-legal-state-to-another/ |title=Can I Take Marijuana From One Legal State To Another? |work=Weed News |author=Belville, R. |publisher=WN Media, LLC |date=28 November 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
* Regulations on the personal and commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana vary significantly from state to state. Some states make a limited pool of available licenses available; others don't offer them or instead have specific alternative treatment or non-profit centers that handle growth and distribution.<ref name="FindLawMari">{{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LeaflyHome">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="ProCon28Legal16">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Testing and research===<br />
[[File:Juan Velez- Planta Cannabis.jpg|left|250px]]One area that continues to expand — while taking advantage of new scientific research and techniques — is the laboratory sphere, particularly in research, regulation, and standardization activities. According to July 2016 testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Division Director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) alone supported 281 cannabinoid research projects totaling more than $111 million in 2015.<ref name="WeissTestimony16">{{cite web |url=https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/asl/testimony/2016-09/the-state-of-the-science-on-the-therapeutic-potential-of-marijuana-and-cannabinoids/index.html |title=Testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Ph.D. on The State of the Science on the Therapeutic Potential of Marijuana and Cannabinoids before Judiciary Committee |author=Weiss, S.R.B. |work=ASL Testimony |publisher=U.S. Department of Health & Human Services |date=13 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
While the research, analysis, and processing of cannabis has been ongoing for centuries<ref name="DeitchHemp03" />, it wasn't until 1896 that Wood ''et al.'' conducted one of the first documented chemical experiments to determine the constituents of cannabis. Several years later, the researchers were able to correctly identify the extracted and isolated cannabinol from the exuded resin of Indian hemp as C<sub>21</sub>H<sub>26</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.<ref name="WoodCann1899">{{cite journal |title=III.—Cannabinol. Part I |journal=Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions |author=Wood, T.B.; Newton Spivey, W.T.; Easterfield, T.H. |volume=75 |pages=30–36 |year=1899 |doi=10.1039/CT8997500020}}</ref> As of mid-2015, 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' have been identified as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15">{{cite journal |title=Isolation and pharmacological evaluation of minor cannabinoids from high-potency ''Cannabis sativa'' |journal=Journal of Natural Products |author=Radwan, M.M.; ElSohly, M.A.; El-Alfy, A.T. et al. |volume=78 |issue=6 |pages=1271-6 |year=2015 |doi=10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00065 |pmid=26000707 |pmc=PMC4880513}}</ref>, "a class of diverse chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in cells that modulate neurotransmitter release in the brain."<ref name="WHOTheHealth16">{{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}</ref><br />
<br />
Yet in the United States, when it comes to 1. enacting the broad level of testing required to ensure public safety — whether it be medical, recreational, or industrial use of cannabis — and 2. researching and better understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (medical use and benefit) of cannabinoids in the human population, many have argued that laboratory testing of cannabis is still in its infancy<ref name="HazekampCanna12">{{cite journal |title=Cannabis - from cultivar to chemovar |journal=Drug Testing and Analysis |author=Hazekamp, A.; Fischedick, J.T. |volume=4 |issue=7–8 |pages=660–7 |year=2012 |doi=10.1002/dta.407 |pmid=22362625}}</ref><ref name="BushWorlds15">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/worldrsquos-strongest-weed-potency-testing-challenged/ |title=World’s strongest weed? Potency testing challenged |author=Bush, E. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=18 February 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RutschQuality15">{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/24/395065699/quality-testing-legal-marijuana-strong-but-not-always-clean |title=Quality-Testing Legal Marijuana: Strong But Not Always Clean |author=Rutsch, P. |work=Shots |publisher=National Public Radio |date=24 March 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15">{{cite journal |title=Unraveling the Cannabinome |journal=The Analytical Scientist |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Lipps, W. |issue=0915 |year=2015 |url=https://theanalyticalscientist.com/issues/0915/unraveling-the-cannabinome/ |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CrombieMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2016/07/marijuana_labs_prepping_for_st.html |title=Marijuana labs prepping for regulation and oversight; no lab licenses issued yet |author=Crombie, N. |work=The Oregonian |publisher=Oregon Live LLC |date=25 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16">{{cite web |url=http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170210234439/http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Closer Look at Cannabis Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Clifford, R.; Winkler, P.; Bankert, W. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=December 2016 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref> and evidence-based research of marijuana continues to be slow and bogged down in regulation.<ref name="BajajHowThe14" /><ref name="CheslerGov15" /><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="RudroffMari17" /> In regards to the first issue, as some form of legalization continues to sweep across states, regulators, users, and industry are recognizing the need for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana; the current state of improper labeling and potentially harmful contaminants<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /> will only serve to hinder the industry. To the second issue, some within the federal government seem to recognize the roadblocks to improved evidence-based research and are working to slowly improve how researchers can legally acquire and test marijuana in the U.S.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis/post/2016-08-15/the-silver-lining-in-the-dea-s-refusal-to-reclassify-cannabis |title=The silver lining in the DEA’s refusal to reclassify cannabis |work=Tracking Cannabis |author=Romza-Kutz, D.; Roth V., F. |publisher=Thompson Coburn LLP |date=15 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
An excerpt from the previously mentioned testimony of NIDA's Dr. Weiss summates this well:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The current state of the research on marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids suggests the potential for therapeutic value for a number of conditions; however, more evidence is needed before marijuana or cannabinoid products (beyond those already approved through the Food and Drug Administration [FDA]) are ready for medical use. Promising preclinical findings do not always prove to be clinically relevant, and even fewer lead to new treatments. Moreover, clinical studies of sufficient quality to meet FDA standards for drug approval are currently lacking for most conditions. Among the factors that impact this research are the specific statutory requirements and treaty obligations that govern research on marijuana. NIH is working closely with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and FDA to explore ways to streamline these processes to facilitate research.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /></blockquote> <br />
<br />
In the meantime, government entities such as the National Institutes of Health and non-profits such as jCanna push forward with scientific conferences, summits, and roundtables that bring scientists and interested parties together to share existing knowledge and testing techniques.<ref name="NIHMari16">{{cite web |url=http://apps1.seiservices.com/nih/mj/2016/ |title=The Marijuana and Cannabinoids: A Neuroscience Research Summit |publisher=National Institutes of Health |date=23 March 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="jCannaCSC17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Other areas of concern===<br />
When examining the current state of the U.S. cannabis industry, it's important to note a few additional areas of concern that impact it, again tightly linked to federal regulations (which are discussed extensively in the next section): banking and advertising. Issues related to both of these topics continue to limit how state-based grow-ops, dispensaries, and testing laboratories are funded and operated. <br />
<br />
====Banking====<br />
Since the U.S. federal government still considers marijuana to be illegal, by extension banks and credit unions — which are regulated by a patchwork collection of federal (and state) laws — put themselves into potentially dangerous territory by accepting money from depositors engaging in federally illegal activities; the bank can be punished by federal institutions such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).<ref name="HillBanks15">{{cite journal |title=Banks, Marijuana, and Federalism |journal=Case Western Reserve Federal Law Review |author=Hill, J.A. |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=597–647 |year=2015 |url=http://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrev/vol65/iss3/7}}</ref> In an attempt to ease the concerns of industry players as well as banks in states that had implemented legalization efforts, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released a guidance document in February 2014 that "does not grant immunity from prosecution or civil penalties to banks that serve legal marijuana businesses" but rather "directs prosecutors and regulators to give priority to cases only where financial institutions have failed to adhere to the guidance."<ref name="KovaleskiUS14">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/us/us-issues-marijuana-guidelines-for-banks.html |title=U.S. Issues Marijuana Guidelines for Banks |author=Kovaleski, S.F. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Corporation |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FinCEN_BSA14">{{cite web |url=https://www.fincen.gov/resources/statutes-regulations/guidance/bsa-expectations-regarding-marijuana-related-businesses |title=BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses |author=Financial Crimes Enforcement Network |publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, the guidance has remained just that: guidance; it doesn't prevent federal law enforcement or regulating agencies from taking action. An August 2016 attempt to reclassify marijuana into a lower classification than Schedule I failed<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" />, keeping the FinCEN guidance in place as a recommendation for how federal authorities should enforce existing law. <br />
<br />
According to an Associated Press report in April 2016, the guidance has had some sort of impact, with banks and credit unions willing to handle any money associated with marijuana increasing from 51 in March 2014 to 301 in March 2016.<ref name="HansenBanking16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/804ae396daab4ba98f814b186f872ef6/banking-woes-easing-some-legal-pot-businesses |title=Banking woes easing for some legal pot businesses |author=Hansen, K.; Johnson, G. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=20 April 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, this hasn't prevented those in states with newly minted medical and recreational marijuana legalization laws from being worried about how cannabis money will be handled, particularly with the new Trump administration taking the reigns of government. California, which in November 2016 legalized recreational use of marijuana beginning in 2018, has already petitioned that administration to clarify its policy early on. "We have a year to develop a system that works in California and which addresses the many issues that exist as a result of the federal-state legal conflict," wrote California Treasurer John Chiang to Trump. "Uncertainty about the position of your administration creates even more of a challenge."<ref name="BloodCali16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d54ea614db274238986a8e0d77dbb147/california-treasurer-asks-trump-guidance-pot-banking |title=California treasurer asks Trump for guidance on pot, banking |author=Blood, M.R. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=02 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Similar legalization changes in Massachusetts prompted its senator, Elizabeth Warren, along with nine other senators, to write to FinCEN in early 2017 requesting even clearer, more friendly guidance for marijuana vendors.<ref name="LeBlancUSSen17">{{cite web |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/jan/02/us-sen-warren-seeks-to-pull-pot-shops-out-of-banki/ |title=US Sen. Warren seeks to pull pot shops out of banking limbo |author=LeBlanc, S. |work=Las Vegas Sun |publisher=Greenspun Media Group |date=02 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> Yet it remains to be seen if entities outside of grow-ops and dispensaries will see banking relief. In particular, testing laboratories continue to struggle with managing cash flow and acquiring bank lending for their operations<ref name="LampachQA13">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/qa-with-steep-hill-lab-ceo-david-lampach-cannabis-testing-market-could-hit-40m-in-2-years/ |title=Q&A With CEO of Steep Hill Halent: US Cannabis Testing Market Could Hit $40M by 2016 |work=Marijuana Business Daily |author=Lampach, D. |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=20 November 2013 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MartinProfit16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ |title=Profitability in the Cannabis Laboratory Industry |work=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |author=Martin, R.W. |publisher=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |date=May 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="TulsiABright16">{{cite web |url=http://www.labmanager.com/research-specific-labs/2016/10/today-s-cannabis-research-market |title=A Bright Future for Cannabis Testing Services |work=Lab Manager |author=Tulsi, B.B. |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=03 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>, causing some to believe consolidation of such labs will occur before the industry can really even take off.<ref name="LampachQA13" /><ref name="DigiPathAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Digipath-Company-Report.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |date=October 2016 |pages=36 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Advertising====<br />
Advertising of marijuana products is another area of concern, though the regulations and laws regarding it are less clear. When it comes to television and radio broadcasting and its associated advertising, a federally granted broadcasting license stands to be lost, care of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The trouble is, it's not clear if the FCC would act against broadcasters; the FCC hasn't issued guidance in the same way FinCEN has. "I don’t think anybody knows, and that’s the problem," said California Broadcasters Association President Joe Berry in an August 2016 report published by the The Sacramento Bee. "Without a clear indication [from the FCC on marijuana advertising], the vast majority of broadcasters are going to stay away from this issue."<ref name="WhiteIfCali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article96040082.html |title=If California legalizes pot, will TV ads be far behind? |author=White, J.B. |work=The Sacramento Bee |publisher=The McClatchy Company |date=17 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> California, of course, made recreational marijuana legal, and its proposed law sought to address the issue of advertising, including "a provision restricting TV and radio ads so they are not targeted to minors," while also addressing the authority of the FCC to enforce regardless.<ref name="McGreevyQA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-proposition-64-marijuana-legalization-qa-20161030-snap-20161029-story.html |title=Q&A: Proposition 64 would legalize recreational use of marijuana though it's illegal under federal law. How will that work? |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=30 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Other forms of advertising also remain problematic. In late November 2015, the United States Postal Service (USPS) out of Portland, Oregon published its interpretation of federal law regarding "mailpieces containing advertisements about marijuana," regarding it illegal to distribute certain forms of marijuana advertisement while citing 21 U.S. Code § 843(c).<ref name="ReinThePot15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/12/21/the-pot-business-may-be-legal-but-newspapers-cant-run-ads-for-it-the-u-s-postal-service-says/ |title=The pot business may be legal, but newspapers can’t run ads for it, the U.S. Postal Service says |author=Rein, L. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=21 December 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has, controversially, also gotten involved, stating that trademarking of a "brand controlled substances or related paraphernalia that are illegal to possess or sell" legally doesn't fit within a trademark's commercial viability because at the federal level marijuana is not legal for commerce.<ref name="OxenfordAccepting16">{{cite web |url=http://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2016/12/articles/accepting-advertising-for-marijuana-or-marijuana-paraphernalia-the-trademark-office-rules-on-a-related-issue-that-provides-more-reason-for-caution/ |title=Accepting Advertising for Marijuana or Marijuana Paraphernalia: The Trademark Office Rules on a Related Issue that Provides More Reason For Caution |author=Oxenford, D. |work=Broadcast Law Blog |date=13 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (Legal experts such as Dariush Adli suggest "creative ways" of getting around this, from registering trademarks in multiple states to registering "non-cannabis merchandise in order to generate some federal protection for their mark."<ref name="AdliObtain16">{{cite web |url=http://adlilaw.blogspot.com/2016/12/obtaining-trademark-protection-for_9.html |title=Obtaining Trademark Protection for Cannabis Businesses |author=Adli, D. |publisher=ADLI Law Group |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>) Even billboards are an issue, with state lawmakers proposing new regulations on billboard-based marijuana advertising weeks after the state passed its recreational legalization laws.<ref name="McGreevyPotAds16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-pot-ads-snap-20161221-story.html |title=Pot ads along highways? Lawmakers wrangle over legalization's consequences |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> And state laws, such as those found in Alaska, can create their own set of challenges in staying legal with marijuana advertising.<ref name="AndrewsGaps16">{{cite web |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-marijuana/2016/12/26/gaps-in-alaska-marijuana-advertising-rules-cause-worry/ |title=Gaps in Alaska marijuana ad rules cause worry |author=Andrews, L. |work=Alaska Dispatch News |publisher=Alaska Dispatch Publishing |date=27 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Despite all this, at least one financial consultant believes marijuana marketing will become more prevalent: GreenWave Advisors' Matthew Karnes estimates spending will jump to $75 million by 2021.<ref name="StilsonWhyMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/why-marijuana-marketing-will-be-bigger-ever-year-175246 |title=Why Marijuana Marketing Will Be Bigger Than Ever This Year |author=Stilson, J. |work=Adweek |publisher=Adweek, LLC |date=03 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Regulation and standardization==<br />
===Federal regulation of cannabis===<br />
[[File:Dea color logo.svg|right|250px]]On October 27, 1970, the Controlled Substances Act put into place five schedules or classifications of drugs that would be regulated in some fashion, and drugs were initially classified into those schedules, followed by annual reviews and updates.<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> Marijuana was initially placed under Schedule I<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> and remains there today.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/alex-grubbs/dea-declines-request-reclassify-marijuana-citiing-its-high-potential-abuse |title=DEA Declines Request to Reclassify Marijuana, Citiing Its 'High Potential for Abuse' |author=Grubbs, A. |work=CNSNews |publisher=Media Research Center |date=13 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> As a Schedule I drug, the federal government is indicating marijuana has<ref name="GPO21USC812" />:<br />
<br />
* "a high potential for abuse";<br />
* "no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States"; and<br />
* "a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision".<br />
<br />
Then came the Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973, which took existing enforcement entities such as the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and placed them into a new, unified entity called the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).<ref name="GPO5USCApp">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title5/html/USCODE-2011-title5-app-reorganiz-other-dup96.htm |title=Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973 |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="DEAHist7075">{{cite web |url=https://www.dea.gov/about/history/1970-1975.pdf |format=PDF |title=Drug Enforcement Administration: 1970–1975 |work=DEA History In Depth |publisher=U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Then President Richard Nixon said of the transition<ref name="GPO5USCApp" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The enforcement work could benefit significantly, however, from consolidation of our anti-drug forces under a single unified command. Right now the Federal Government is fighting the war on drug abuse under a distinct handicap, for its efforts are those of a loosely confederated alliance facing a resourceful, elusive, worldwide enemy.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The DEA was given numerous responsibilities, including but not limited to the development of enforcement strategy; investigation and prosecution preparation of suspects violating federal law; regulation of drugs and other controlled substances; and coordination and cooperation with state and local government drug enforcement efforts.<ref name="GPO5USCApp" /> Since then the DEA has taken various steps — with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<ref name="HamiltonTheFDA16">{{cite web |url=https://news.vice.com/article/dea-fda-marijuana-schedule-1-status-decision |title=The FDA told the DEA whether pot is medicine — but it won't tell the public |author=Hamilton, K. |work=Vice News |publisher=Vice Media, LLC |date=27 June 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> — to regulate and enforce the availability and use of controlled substances such as marijuana. As the decriminalization and legalization efforts of states have increased in past decades, this has brought federal regulation and enforcement conflicts to those states that have decriminalized and legalized, largely due to the federal government's insistence on maintaining marijuana as a Schedule I drug.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /><ref name="HudakTheCon15">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/conflict-between-federal-and-state-marijuana-laws-claims-victim-345099 |title=The Conflict Between Federal and State Marijuana Laws Claims a Victim |author=Hudak, J. |work=Newsweek |publisher=Newsweek, LLC |date=20 June 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Numerous changes in policy and controversies have occurred since the Controlled Substance Act and DEA were implemented, including a 22-year-long effort by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) to have marijuana rescheduled (1972–1994).<ref name="DPAMAPSTheDEA14">{{cite web |url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/DPA-MAPS_DEA_Science_Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=The DEA: Four Decades of Impeding And Rejecting Science |author=Drug Policy Alliance; MAPS |publisher=Drug Policy Alliance |date=June 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> However, the following talking points represent the most recent important federal-level changes and rulings that impact federal regulation of and enforcement of laws relating to cannabis.<br />
<br />
'''October 19, 2009: The Ogden Memorandum'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden issued a memorandum "intended solely as a guide to the exercise of investigative and prosecutorial discretion" in regards to state-based laws allowing medical cannabis.<ref name="OgdenMemor09">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/blog/memorandum-selected-united-state-attorneys-investigations-and-prosecutions-states |title=Memorandum for Selected United State Attorneys on Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana |author=Ogden, D.W. |work=Justice Blogs |publisher=Department of Justice |date=19 October 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The guidance essentially told U.S. attorneys to not prosecute those entities complying fully with state cannabis laws. Researchers generally agree that this memo acted "as a catalyst for expansion of [state-sanctioned and gray market] cannabis supply in states with poorly defined regulations," though the degree to which it influenced such growth remains poorly documented and requires further investigation.<ref name="CambronState16">{{cite journal |title=State and National Contexts in Evaluating Cannabis Laws: A Case Study of Washington State |journal=Journal of Drug Issues |author=Cambron, C.; Guttmannova, K.; Fleming, C.B. |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=74–90 |year=2017 |doi=10.1177/0022042616678607}}</ref> To be sure, it likely had some effect, as the number of licensed patients using medical marijuana in the state of Colorado increased from 4,800 in 2008 to 41,000 in 2009, and operating dispensaries jumped to more than 900 by mid-2010.<ref name="HIDTATheLeg13">{{cite web |url=http://www.rmhidta.org/html/final%20legalization%20of%20mj%20in%20colorado%20the%20impact.pdf |format=PDF |title=The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact |author=Rocky Mountain HIDTA |volume=1 |date=August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''June 29, 2011: The Cole Memorandum 1'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a memo as a follow-up to the Ogden Memo, muddying the waters in the process. While stating that the stance of efficiently using department resources as outlined in the Ogden Memo still stood, Cole also made it clear that large grow-ops that didn't qualify as "caregivers" had sprung up since.<ref name="ColeMemo11">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/oip/legacy/2014/07/23/dag-guidance-2011-for-medical-marijuana-use.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 June 2011 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The language of the memo essentially said "get off your butts and nail those suckers."<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13">{{cite web |url=https://blog.simplejustice.us/2013/08/30/the-cole-memo-2-0-this-changes-everything/ |title=The Cole Memo 2.0: This Changes Everything |work=Simple Justice |author=Greenfield, S.H. |date=30 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> Cambron ''et al.''<ref name="CambronState16" /> and Fairman<ref name="FairmanTrends16">{{cite journal |title=Trends in registered medical marijuana participation across 13 US states and District of Columbia |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Fairman, B.J. |volume=159 |pages=72–9 |year=2016 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.015 |pmid=26686277}}</ref> suggest this memo had some impact as evidenced by declines in cannabis patient registration from 2011–2013 in Colorado, Michigan, and Montana.<br />
<br />
'''August 29, 2013: The Cole Memorandum 2'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a follow-up memo to his original two years later, following 1. on the heels of then President Obama reiterating publicly that the Department of Justice (DoJ) was to not focus unnecessarily on states that had passed legalization laws and 2. Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational use of cannabis.<ref name="CambronState16" /> The second memorandum sought to reduce the emphasis on the size of the grow-op and increase emphasis on — by a case-by-case basis — "whether the operation is demonstrably in compliance with a strong and effective state regulatory system."<ref name="ColeMemo13">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/3052013829132756857467.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for All United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The memo also clarified specific cases where federal enforcement would be warranted, including distribution to minors, interstate transport, and preventing drugged driving (though it didn't state how). Generally speaking, states saw little federal intervention except in the case of state law being broken or requiring dispensaries to move further away from schools.<ref name="MPPFederal16">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/federal-enforcement-policy-on-state-marijuana-laws/ |title=Federal Marijuana Enforcement Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=2016 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CambronState16" /> Despite the memo, some attorneys continued to see Cole Memorandum 2 as nothing more than unclear language that had no legal weight for anxious growers and distributors in states where cannabis was legalized.<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13" /><br />
<br />
'''December 16, 2014 to current: Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment'''<br />
<br />
A tenuous truce of sorts arrived with the passage of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment in December 2014. The amendment prohibited the DoJ from spending funds to prevent or enforce against state laws that allow for medical marijuana cultivation, distribution, and use, particularly when those actions are performed consistently with those state laws.<ref name="ArmentanoPres14">{{cite web |url=http://blog.norml.org/2014/12/16/president-to-sign-federal-spending-bill-protecting-state-sanctioned-medical-marijuana-programs/ |title=President Signs Federal Spending Bill Protecting State Sanctioned Medical Marijuana Programs |author=Armentano, P. |work=NORML Blog |publisher=NORML Foundation |date=16 December 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Before being passed in December 2014, the amendment had actually been introduced and defeated six times in the previous 10 years.<ref name="BrekkeHouse14">{{cite web |url=https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/05/30/house-votes-to-block-medical-pot-prosecution/ |title=House Votes to End Medical Marijuana Prosecutions |author=Brekke, D. |work=KQED News |publisher=KQED, Inc |date=30 May 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> The DoJ later went on to challenge the amendment on several occasions, from ''U.S. v. Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana'' in 2015 to a collection of 10 different cases from California and Washington in 2016. In both cases, the courts ruled against the DoJ, setting precedent against further department action.<ref name="IngrahamFed15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/10/20/federal-court-tells-the-dea-to-stop-harassing-medical-marijuana-providers/ |title=Federal court tells the DEA to stop harassing medical marijuana providers |author=Ingraham, C. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=20 October 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FermerTheLargest16">{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/medical-marijuana-9th-circuit_us_57b36a31e4b04ff883990337 |title=The Largest Federal Appeals Court Tells DOJ To Back Off State-Legal Medical Marijuana |author=Fermer, M. |work=The Huffington Post |publisher=TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc |date=16 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
One of the downsides of Rohrabacher-Farr is that it has essentially acted as a short-term rider attached to several spending bills since December 2014. As of March 2017, it was last renewed through April 28, 2017; however, with the new Trump administration coalescing — including Trump's demonstrably anti-drug U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions — some in the industry are concerned the amendment may not be renewed, opening the door again for the DoJ to implement stronger enforcement.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /><ref name="SwerdlowApril17">{{cite web |url=http://www.marijuananews.org/afraid |title=April 28, 2017 - Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid + IRS FU |author=Swerdlow, L. |publisher=Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project |date=22 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="YakowiczThePerfect17">{{cite web |url=http://www.inc.com/will-yakowicz/perfect-storm-regulations-could-cripple-marijuana-industry.html |title=The Perfect Storm That Could Cripple the Marijuana Industry Under Trump |author=Yakowicz, W. |work=Inc |publisher=Mansueto Ventures, LLC |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RohrabacherRohr17">{{cite web |url=https://rohrabacher.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rohrabacher-praises-sessions-urges-ag-nominee-to-respect-federal |title=Rohrabacher praises Sessions, urges AG nominee to respect federal marijuana law |author=Rohrabacher, D. |publisher=State of California |date=11 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MuiTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/14/donald-trump-and-jeff-sessions-anti-legal-pot-industry.html |title=Trump and his attorney general are freaking out the $7 billion pot industry |author=Mui, Y. |work=CNBC |publisher=CNBC, LLC |date=14 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref> Alternative bills are continuing to be proposed, including a more permanent version of Rohrabacher-Farr introduced by Representative Dana Rohrabacher of California; however, Speaker Paul Ryan has implemented rules prohibiting amendments to budgetary legislation, and the fact remains that Congress remains reluctant in hearing bills that would change the country's marijuana laws.<ref name="AdamsMari17">{{cite web |url=https://thefreshtoast.com/cannabis/marijuana-bills-currently-congress-can-change-game/ |title=Marijuana Bills Currently In Congress: How They Can Change The Game |author=Adams, M. |work=The Fresh Toast |publisher=Project Coco, Inc |date=13 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="RuskinSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/news/chemtales/sessions-hints-at-a-war-on-marijuana-now-what/ |title=Sessions Hints at a War on Marijuana. Now What? |author=Ruskin, Z. |work=SF Weekly |publisher=San Francisco Media Co |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''August 11, 2016: DEA denies petition to reschedule marijuana out of Schedule I'''<br />
<br />
A request made by two governors and a psychiatric nurse practitioner to the DEA asking it to reschedule marijuana into any other schedule other than Schedule I was denied, as had been done with previous attempts in 2009 and 2011.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16" /> Reasons included known health issues such as prenatal exposure and negative impacts on several biological systems, as well as limited research data and new drug applications.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> At the same time, however, the DEA also recognized the need for further research and the lack of legal marijuana sources for researchers, publishing a policy statement stating intent "to increase the lawful supply of marijuana available to researchers."<ref name="81FR53846">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-17955/applications-to-become-registered-under-the-controlled-substances-act-to-manufacture-marijuana-to |journal=Federal Register |title=Applications To Become Registered Under the Controlled Substances Act To Manufacture Marijuana To Supply Researchers in the United States |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53846–8 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===State and local regulation===<br />
As of January 2017, 28 states have some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization laws for cannabis on the books.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /> In October 1973, Oregon became the first state to enact decriminalization laws for marijuana, imposing a $100 fine for possession of less than an ounce. Eleven other states followed a similar path within five years.<ref name="SingleTheImp81">{{cite book |chapter=The Impact of Marijuana Decriminalization |title=Research Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems |author=Single, E.W. |editor=Israel, Y.; Glaser, F.B.; Kalant, H. et al. |publisher=Springer US |year=1981 |pages=405–424 |doi=10.1007/978-1-4615-7740-9_12 |isbn=9781461577409}}</ref> The next wave of changes began with the passage of medical marijuana legislation in California — the Compassionate Use Act — in November 1996, followed by similar legislation in Oregon and Alaska in 1998, Maine in 1999, and Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada in 2000.<ref name="CambronState16" /><ref name="Alaska98Results">{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/98GENR/results.htm |title=Election Summary Report, State of Alaska 1998 General Election: Official Results |work=Election Results |publisher=State of Alaska Division of Elections |date=1 December 1998 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> Other states continued to add decriminalization and medical marijuana laws in the 2000s. But it wasn't until 2012 that Colorado and Washington became the first states to make recreational marijuana legal, followed by Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia in 2014.<ref name="CambronState16" /> Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada followed suit in 2016.<ref name="BurkeFour17">{{cite web |url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/four-more-states-pass-new-marijuana-laws-california-maine-massachusetts-nevada |title=Four More States Pass New Marijuana Laws: California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada |author=Burke, C. |work=National Law Review |publisher=National Law Forum, LLC |date=04 January 2017 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As shown by Cambron ''et al.'' in 2016 (before the November election results)<ref name="CambronState16" />, dispensaries, possession limits, and interstate ID card acceptance can vary significantly among affected states. California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington lead in number of dispensaries; Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington in maximum possession limits; and Arizona plus five others allowed ID cards from other states. Yet allowed dispensaries can number in the single digits, possession limits can be as low as one ounce, and numerous states still don't honor ID cards from other states.<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Then there's the matter of state differences in testing, enforcement, advertising allowances, etc. It helps to turn to professional associations and organizations — who often lead the charge for improved, more relevant standards — to sort through the variances. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), for example, has published its ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs'' to help sort through the confusing tangle of existing testing laws, where they exist. They exemplify this variation of law in their document<ref name="APHLGuide16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>As with most programs in the United States, every state takes a different approach. For example as of January 2016, New Jersey’s Public Health & Environmental Laboratories only test cannabis plant material. Just across the Hudson, however, New York’s Public Health Laboratory will not be testing any plant material, only cannabis extracts. In addition, the New York Department of Health will provide an oversight role for commercial cannabis laboratories that are licensed by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and approved for testing cannabis products. On the other hand, New Jersey state government does all testing in-house for the medical cannabis program.</blockquote><br />
<br />
As such, unlike their federal counterpart, it's difficult to make broad generalizations about cannabis regulations and their enforcement in the states. It becomes even more difficult when examining states that don't have clear, well-considered regulations or strong enforcement powers. Cambron ''et al.'' emphasized this issue in regards to the supply side, saying: "States without clearly defined regulations for medical cannabis supply have fostered gray markets for cannabis whereby individuals without documented medical conditions are able to easily obtain medical cannabis authorizations. This scenario has created substantial challenges for law enforcement in multiple states."<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Cole ''et al.'' argue that in the end, it will take pressure on the federal government "to set up policy guardrails to steer state regulatory systems" in a more unified and safe direction. Drugged driving, use by minors, interstate distribution, relation to crime and firearms, consumer safety, and advertising are all issues the government should be tackling towards that goal, they say. Not that states aren't addressing these regulatory concerns; they are, but not in consistent ways.<ref name="ColeAll16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thirdway.org/report/all-state-marijuana-laws-are-not-created-equal |title=All State Marijuana Laws Are Not Created Equal |work=Third Way |author=Cole, T.; Trumble, S.; Hatalsky, L.E. |date=17 February 20116 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Standardization===<br />
While federal, state, and local governments wrestle with the regulatory frameworks surrounding cannabis, scientists and government officials are carrying on, doing what they can to harmonize those regulations with emerging industry standards and guidelines. For example, state officials from Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington teamed up to give a presentation called "State Regulatory Approaches to Cannabis Testing, Operations and Product Logistics" at the July 2016 Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit. That presentation focused on the harmonization of regulatory standards and frameworks across states, as well as discussions of what scientific efforts are required to support those standards and frameworks.<ref name="CQSSS16">{{cite web |url=http://chernislaw.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NEW-Cannabis-Quality-Summit-Main-Summit-Agenda.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit - Agenda |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=July 2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, organizations such as Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), and the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) have been developing standards, methods, and certifications for analysis, extraction, labeling, and laboratory operations surrounding medical (and recreational) marijuana.<ref name="InfocastNew16">{{cite web |url=http://infocastinc.com/industries/new-certification-program-brings-quality-assurance-to-the-medical-marijuana-industry/ |title=New Certification Program Brings Quality Assurance to the Medical Marijuana Industry |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AHPARecomm16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="AHPCanna14">{{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}</ref><ref name="MarcuJahan16">{{cite web |url=https://www.projectcbd.org/article/jahan-marcu-cannabis-lab-testing-safety-protocols |title=Jahan Marcu: Cannabis Lab Testing & Safety Protocols |work=Project CBD |author=Project CBD; Marcu, J. |publisher=Project CBD |date=16 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Notable among those organizations is the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS), which has been working to produce internationally applicable voluntary consensus standards for various parts of the cannabis business chain, including cultivation, extraction, laboratory testing, and packaging. FOCUS completed its public review process and finalized its standards in July 2016, though at that time it wasn't clear how to gain access to them.<ref name="FOCUSPublic16">{{cite web |url=http://www.focusstandards.org/public-review-of-cannabis-standards/ |title=Public Review Completes Development Process |publisher=FOCUS |date=2016 |accessdate=16 February 2016}}</ref> New information came to light in March 2017, when FOCUS and ASTM International announced a collaboration between the two entities, which will, pending April 2017 ASTM board approval, see the formation of volunteer committee D37 at ASTM and the further adaptation of FOCUS' standards for a future ASTM release.<ref name="BirosASTM17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/news_article/astm-international-launches-cannabis-committee/ |title=ASTM International Launches Cannabis Committee |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ASTMD37">{{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Laboratory testing of cannabis==<br />
[[File:Juan Velez y Sebastian Cortes - Investigadores del Cannabis Medicinal.jpg|right|300px]]The overview mentioned how regulators, users, and industry are calling for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana. Without proper testing, several issues are bound to arise<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="CANORMLHow11">{{cite web |url=http://canorml.org/news/ringtest.html |title=How Accurate Is Cannabis Potency Testing? |publisher=California NORML |date=21 September 2011 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* label claims may not match actual contents;<br />
* contaminants may linger, causing illness or even death;<br />
* chemical properties and medicinal benefits of specific strains and their unique cannabinoid-turpene profiles can't be isolated; and<br />
* research on potential therapeutic qualities can't be replicated, hindering scientific progress.<br />
<br />
In 2011 — a year before any U.S. state had enacted broad legalization of recreational marijuana — California NORML reported that its assessment of analytical cannabis testing laboratories' accuracy found that while California labs broadly reached +/- 20 percent consistency from a replicate sample, three out of 10 provided unfavorable results on at least half of their tests. Similar wide-ranging discrepancies were also found among edibles, extracts, and tinctures, and NORML found that none of the labs could reach two decimal points precision of cannabinoid results despite laboratory claims stating otherwise.<ref name="CANORMLHow11" /> Another report out of Washington State in January 2015, not long after recreational marijuana sales to the public (requiring accredited lab testing prior) began<ref name="WLCBFAQ">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/mj2015/faqs_i-502 |title=FAQs on I-502 |publisher=Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>, found blind tests of recreational marijuana at dispensaries could range as much as 7.5 percent in accuracy from its corresponding label.<ref name="BushWorlds15" /> Further issues in 2016 with alleged partiality by some Washington testing laboratories prompted emergency proficiency testing rules to be enacted.<ref name="YoungSome16">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/marijuana/some-pot-labs-in-state-failed-no-pot-at-all-says-scientist/ |title=Some pot labs in state failed no pot at all, says scientist |author=Young, B. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=05 January 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/to-combat-claims-of-inconsistency-washington-testing-labs-turn-to |title=To Combat Inconsistency, Washington Testing Labs Turn to Self-Policing |work=Leafly - Politics |author=Coughlin-Bogue, T. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=11 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> (Proficiency testing essentially requires a laboratory in question to test a sample with known properties, and then those results are compared to those of a neutral third-party lab testing the same sample.)<br />
<br />
These discrepancies and deficiencies highlight the growing need for homogenization of testing methods and procedures, if not nationally at least across an entire state. Such homogenization would, in theory, not only positively affect the quality of product but also provide greater consumer confidence that label and product match. As Marketing Director Scott Kuzdzal of Shimadzu pointed out during a January 2017 webinar on analytic testing of cannabis, poor sample preparation, lack of thorough testing, and the manual process itself — which can introduce user error, particularly when good laboratory practices aren’t used — all can contribute to discrepancies between label and product.<ref name="KuzdzalOpp17">{{cite web |url= http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170119200158/http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |title=Webinar: Opportunities & Challenges in Cannabis Analytical Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.A. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=19 January 2017 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=03 February 2017 |quote=Source is actual webinar.}}</ref> When dispensaries, edible manufacturers, and supplement companies perform insufficient lab testing or overstate claims on labels, it reduces consumer confidence, and both state and federal authorities — including the FDA — have to interject.<ref name="YoungSome16" /><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16" /><ref name="FDAWarn16">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm484109.htm |title=2016 Warning Letters and Test Results for Cannabidiol-Related Products |work=Public Health Focus |publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration |date=31 August 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As was mentioned at the end of the previous section on state regulation, efforts to improve testing methods and procedures, with the goal of seeing the best of them become standards, are ongoing. Where are those efforts now, and where are they going? Before we can examine that, we first need to briefly look at what aspects of cannabis are actually being analyzed.<br />
<br />
===Analytical aspects of cannabis===<br />
====Cannabinoids====<br />
As of mid-2015, researchers have identified 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15" />, active chemical compounds that act in a similar way to compounds our body naturally produces. Many of our body's cells have cannabinoid receptors capable of modulating neurotransmitter release in the brain and other areas.<ref name="WHOTheHealth16" /> The plant's cannabinoids vary, with each bonding to specific receptors in our body, providing differing effects. From a theoretical and medical standpoint, crafting a strain of cannabis that has specific cannabinoids that can aid with a particular malady, while also carefully reproducing the grow conditions to consistently make that strain in the future, is a desirable but difficult goal to achieve.<ref name="RahnCannab14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/cannabinoids-101-what-makes-cannabis-medicine |title=Cannabinoids 101: What Makes Cannabis Medicine? |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=22 January 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabinoids is done primarily as a measure of psychoactive "potency," though cannabinoids have many other potential therapeutic uses. Current laboratory testing looks at only a handful of cannabinoids; more research and development of analytical techniques that can quickly and accurately detect and separate the the rest is required.<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> Some of the major cannabinoids tested for include<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/understanding-cannabis-testing |title=Understanding Cannabis Testing: A Guide to Cannabinoids and Terpenes |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=09 October 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''THC (∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)''': This is the most commonly known cannabinoid found in cannabis, notable for its strong psychoactive effects and ability to aid with pain, sleep, and appetite issues. Included is its analogue ∆8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (which shows notably less strong psychoactive effects than ∆9<ref name="NIHDelta8">{{cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug?cdrid=485262 |title=delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol |work=NCI Drug Dictionary |publisher=National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>) and its homologue THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), which tends to appear in trace amounts and has a more pronounced psychoactive effect, but for a shorter duration. THCV shows promise in fighting anxiety, tremors from neurological disorders, appetite issues, and special cases of bone loss. Also notable is Δ9-THCA (Δ9-Tethrahydrocannibinolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to THC. <br />
<br />
* '''CBC (Cannabichromene)''': This non-psychoactive cannabinoid is found in trace amounts; however, it tends to be markedly more effective at treating anxiety and stress than CBD (see next). It's also notable for its anti-inflamatory properties and potential use for bone deficiencies. <br />
<br />
* '''CBD (Cannabidiol)''': CBD is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, typically accounting for up to 35 to 40 percent of cannabis extracts. It acts as a counter-balance to THC, regulating its psychoactivity. It's been researched as a treatment for anxiety, sleep loss, inflammation, stress, pain, and epilepsy, among other afflictions. Included is its homologue CBDV (Cannabidivarin), which is also non-psychoactive and demonstrates promise as a treatment for epileptic seizures. Also notable is CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBD.<br />
<br />
* '''CBG (Cannabigerol)''': This cannabinoid is also non-psychoactive but only appears in trace amounts of cannabis. If has potential as a sleep aid, anti-bacterial, and cell growth stimulant. Also notable is CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid ), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBG.<br />
<br />
* '''CBN (Cannabinol)''': CBN is mildly psychoactive at best and appears only in trace amounts in ''Cannabis sativa'' and ''Cannabis indica''. It occurs largely as a metabolite of THC and tends to have one of the strongest sedative effects among cannabinoids. It shows promise as a treatment for insomnia, glaucoma, and certain types of pain.<br />
<br />
====Terpenes====<br />
Mandated lab testing of terpenes — volatile organic compounds that distinctly affect cannabis aroma and taste — is done primarily as a way to ensure proper labeling of cannabis and related products, including extracts and concentrates, so buyers have confidence in what they are purchasing.<ref name="HabibTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1c-Testing-for-Psychoactive-Agents-Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing for Psychoactive Agents |author=Habib, R.; Finighan, R.; Davenport, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=24 August 2013 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CMTLabs">{{cite web |url=http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/test-services/tests-offered/ |title=Tests Offered |publisher=CMT Laboratories |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="WercShop">{{cite web |url=http://thewercshop.com/services/terpene-profiling-services/ |title=Terpene Profiling Services |publisher=The Werc Shop |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> However, additional lab research goes into terpenes as they also show potentially useful pharmacological properties<ref name="HabibTesting13" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16">{{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}</ref>, and they demonstrate synergies (referred to at times as the "entourage effect") with cannabinoids that largely still require further exploration.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="WachsbergerTerpene16">{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomcityclub.com/terpine-testing-the-future-of-cannabis-is-here/ |title=Terpene Testing: The future of Cannabis is here |author=Wachsberger, K. |work=Bloom Blog |publisher=Bloom City Club |date=02 February 2016 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> Testing for specific terpenes (discussed later) is less of a standardized practice, though it's rapidly improving.<ref name="HabibTesting13" /> Commonly tested terpenes by third-party testing labs include<ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="CMTLabs" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14" /><ref name="SCLabs">{{cite web |url=http://sclabs.com/terpene-analysis/ |title=Terpene Analysis |publisher=SC Labs, Inc |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Bisabolol<br />
* Caryophyllene<br />
* Cymene<br />
* Humulene<br />
* Limonene<br />
* Linalool<br />
* Myrcene<br />
* Phytol<br />
* Pinene<br />
* Terpinolene<br />
<br />
====Contaminates====<br />
Generally speaking, a contaminate is an unwanted substance that may show up in the final product, be it recreational marijuana or a pharmaceutical company's therapeutic tincture. The following are examples of contaminates that laboratories may test for in cannabis products. <br />
<br />
'''Pesticides''': Pesticides represent the Wild West of not only growing cannabis but also performing analytical testing on it. One of the core issues, again, is the fact that on the federal level marijuana is illegal. Because it's illegal, government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) don't test and create standards or guidelines for what's safe when it comes to residual pesticides, let alone how to best test for them.<ref name="BorelTheWild15">{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/08/pot-marijuana-pesticide-legalization/401771/ |title=The Wild West of Marijuana Pesticides |author=Borel, B. |work=The Atlantic |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group |date=31 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ZhangNobody15">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/nobody-knows-pesticides-legal-marijuana// |title=Nobody Knows What to Do About Pesticides in Legal Marijuana |author=Zhang, S. |work=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |date=07 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, researchers face their fair share of difficulties obtaining product to test. The end result is we don't know much about how inhalation of pesticide-coated marijuana smoke affects long-term health<ref name="BorelTheWild15" /><ref name="ZhangNobody15" />, and we don't have standards for pesticide application and testing.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> With numerous pesticide products and little oversight on what growers apply to their plants, combined with the technical difficulty of testing for pesticides in the lab, pesticides remain one of the most difficult contaminates to test for.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> That said, several classes of of pesticides are commonly applied during cannabis cultivation and can be tested for by labs<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/PreventionWellness/marijuana/Documents/oha-8964-technical-report-marijuana-contaminant-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Technical Report: Oregon Health Authority’s Process to Determine Which Types of Contaminants to Test for in Cannabis Products, and Levels for Action |author=Farrer, D.G. |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |date=December 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''avermectins''': functions as an insecticide that is useful against mites, which are a common problem for cultivators<br />
* '''carbamates''': functions as an insecticide, similar to organophosphates, but with decreased dermal toxicity and higher degradation<br />
* '''organophosphates''': functions as the base of many insecticides and herbicides, valued for its easy organic bonding<br />
* '''pyrethroids''': functions as the base of most household insecticides and exhibits insect repellent properties<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': In 2003, Canadian Rick Simpson published a recipe of sorts for preparing cannabis extract via the use of solvents such as naphtha or petroleum ether. Claiming the resulting oil helped cure his skin cancer, others hoping for a cure tried it, and the solvent method of preparation grew in popularity. Dubious healing claims aside, the solvent extraction method remains viable, though it has evolved over the years to include less harmful solvents such as supercritical carbon dioxide, which has low toxicity, low environmental impact, and beneficial extraction properties.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RomanoCannabis13">{{cite journal |url=http://www.stcm.ch/en/files/hazekamp_cann-oil_2013.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis oil: Chemical evaluation of an upcoming cannabis-based medicine |journal=Cannabinoids |author=Romano, L.L.; Hazekamp, A. |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1–11 |year=2013}}</ref><ref name="PeachSuper14">{{cite journal |title=Supercritical carbon dioxide: A solvent like no other |journal=Journal of Organic Chemistry |author=Peach, J.; Eastoe, J. |volume=10 |pages=1878-95 |year=2014 |doi=10.3762/bjoc.10.196 |pmid=25246947 |pmc=PMC4168859}}</ref> However, chemical solvents are still used, and if not evaporated out properly, the remaining solvents can be particularly harmful to sick patients using the extract. As for what solvents should be tested for, it gets a bit trickier, though Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'', the Oregon Health Authority's December 2015 technical report on contaminant testing of cannabis, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's response to public comments on cannabis testing provide helpful guidance. Listed solvents include benzene, butane, cumene, dimethoxyethane, hexane, and pentane, among others.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="USPNF467">{{cite web |url=https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/USPNF/generalChapter467Current.pdf |format=PDF |title=<467> Residual Solvents |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="MDPHResponse">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/external-comment-response-020416-final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Response to Public Comments |author=Bureau of Healthcare Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |date=12 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': 2013 research on contaminant testing on the behalf of Washington State provides insights into heavy metals and why they're looked for in cannabis testing. That research, as well as other sources, tell us<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DaleyTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Heavy metals contribute to several health problems, including those of a neurological nature.<br />
* Cannabis can "hyperaccumulate metals from contaminated soils."<br />
* Research parallels can be found in tobacco research and how the FDA regulates heavy metal content in foods.<br />
* The most prominently tested heavy metals include arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni).<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': "The ideal conditions for cannabis growth are also ideal for the growth of potentially harmful bacteria and fungi, including yeast and molds," say Shimadzu's Scott Kuzdzal and William Lipps, "therefore microbial contamination poses health risks to consumers and immunocompromised individuals."<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> In truth, these concerns have already borne out; most recently the University of California, Davis reported in February 2017 one of its patients had contracted an incurable fungal infection from inhaling aerosolized marijuana. They later tested 20 marijuana samples from Northern California dispensaries — using specialized techniques — and found a wide variety of potentially hazardous microorganisms.<ref name="UCDavis17">{{cite web |url=http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/11791 |title=UC Davis study finds mold, bacterial contaminants in medical marijuana samples |publisher=UC Davis |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The degree to which such contaminates commonly appear in grown and stored cannabis material and to which microbiological contaminates should be tested is not clear, however. As mentioned previously, neither the U.S. EPA or neighboring Health Canada provide any significant guidance on cannabis testing, including microbiological contaminates.<ref name="KennardYouAre16">{{cite web |url=https://tantaluslabs.com/populace/you-are-probably-smoking-mouldy-weed-why-does-quality-assurance-matter/ |title=You are Probably Smoking Mouldy Weed - Why Does Quality Assurance Matter? |work=Populace |author=Kennard, M. |publisher=Tantalus Labs |date=02 June 2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> Like heavy metal testing, parallels are drawn from microbial testing guidelines and standards relating to tobacco and food, where they exist.<ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> As warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, maintaining stable moisture levels during cultivation and storage is essential. Regularly measuring water activity — how moist something is — is particularly useful as a front-line preventative tool to better ensure microbial growth is limited.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> Regardless, testing of some kind is still required by many U.S. states, including for organisms such as<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="UCDavis17" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="CANNAMicro14">{{cite web |url=http://www.fundacion-canna.es/en/microbiological-study-cannabis-samples |title=Microbiological study of Cannabis samples |publisher=Fundación CANNA |date=2014 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RussoCann13">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qH-2Lj9x7L4C&pg=PT457&lpg=PT457 |chapter=Chapter 30: Contaminants and Adulterants in Herbal Cannabis |title=Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential |author=McPartland, J.M. |editor=Russo, E.B. |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |pages=478 |isbn=9781136614934}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Aflatoxin<br />
* ''Alternaria''<br />
* ''Aspergillus''<br />
* ''Cryptococcus''<br />
* ''E. coli''<br />
* ''Mucor''<br />
* ''Penicillium''<br />
* ''Salmonella''<br />
<br />
===Methods and guidelines===<br />
Now that we've addressed what's being tested for, we can move on to how they're being tested and what's being done to improve testing methods and procedures, including associated guidelines and recommendations. It would be beyond the scope of this guide to include every state's laws and guidelines on cannabis testing; entities such as [https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations Leafly Holdings]<ref name="RoughLeaflysState">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}</ref> and [http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ CannaGuard Security]<ref name="CSCanna16">{{cite web |url=http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ |title=CannaBiz Resources |publisher=CannaGuard Security |date=2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> provide such online resources. Instead, this section will focus on current and promising techniques using generalizations based on information from multiple sources. If any guidelines and recommendations are known, they'll be included.<br />
<br />
====Sampling====<br />
Random, representative sampling is encouraged. When dealing with solid cannabis, BOTEC Analysis recommends a "quartering" method that divides the sample into four equal parts and takes portions from opposite sections of a square-shaped arrangement of the sample. For liquid cannabis products, remembering to stir before sample collection is advised.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> When deriving a sample from a cannabis-laden edible, the QuEChERS approach used by food safety labs for pesticide testing has practical use.<ref name="RigdonExtract16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=25790 |title=Extraction Method for Cannabinoid Analysis in Edibles: Too Much of a Good Thing |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> In fact, a variety of parallels have been drawn from the food and herbal medicine industries' sampling guidelines, including from the Codex Alimentarius Commission's ''CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling'' as well as various chapters of the ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary''.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CACGL50-2004">{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCAC%2BGL%2B50-2004%252FCXG_050e.pdf |format=PDF |author=Codex Alimentarius Commission |title=CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling |pages=69 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> As the APHL points out, "[g]ood sampling is key to improving analytical data equivalency among organizations," and it provides a solid base for any future testing and standardization efforts.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> <br />
<br />
Additional sampling insight can be found by examining other states' guidelines, e.g., Massachusetts' ''Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries''.<ref name="DPHMassProto16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Cannabinoid testing====<br />
Quantifying cannabinoids for label accuracy is a major goal of testing, though calculation and testing processes may vary slightly from state to state. Despite any differences, laboratorians generally agree that when testing for cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, as well as their respective biosynthetic precursors THCA and CBDA, the methodology used must be scrutinized. The naturally occurring THCA of cannabis isn't psychoactive; it requires decarboxylation (a chemical reaction induced by drying/heating that releases carbon dioxide) to convert itself into the psychoactive cannabinoid THC. Chemical calculations show that the process of decarboxylation results in approximately 87.7 percent of the THCA's mass converting to THC, with the other 12.3 percent bubbling off as CO<sub>2</sub> gas.<ref name="CAWhy1">{{cite web |url=http://conflabs.com/why-0-877/ |title=Why 0.877? |publisher=Confidence Analytics |date=10 February 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> The problem with this in the testing domain is gas chromatography (GC) involves heating the sample solution. If you, the lab technician, require precise numbers of both THCA and THC, then GC analysis poses the risk of under-reporting THC total values.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> As such, liquid chromatography-diode array detection (LC-DAD) may be required if a concise profile of all cannabinoids must be made, primarily because it provides environmental stability for them all during analysis. If GC is used, the analysis requires extra considerations such as sample derivatization.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RigdonAccurateJuly15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=14961 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids by GC – Is it Possible? |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 July 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RigdonAccurateSept15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=15135 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids and Neutrals by GC – Derivatives without Calculus |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=09 September 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The APHL briefly describes analysis methods of cannabinoids using both LC and GC on pages 31–32 of their May 2016 ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs''. They also point to New York Department of Health - Wadsworth Center's various guidance documents (MML-300, -301, and -303) for methodologies when testing sample types other than solids, particularly using high-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA).<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MML-300">{{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> Overall, methods used in cannabinoid testing include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="MML-300" /><ref name="SCCann16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/docs/Sigma-Aldrich/General_Information/1/cannabis-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing: Quality You Can Trust |publisher=Sigma-Aldritch Co. LLC |date=2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AdamsNear16">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/column/near-infrared-gc-and-hplc-applications-in-cannabis-testing/ |title=Near Infrared, GC and HPLC Applications in Cannabis Testing |author=Adams, T.; Bertone, M. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=30 November 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR; has limitations, such as requiring standard samples tested w/ other methods)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like 5α-cholestane, docosane, and tetracosane)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like deuterated cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA; stable for all forms of cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography UV detection (HPLC-UV)<br />
* Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
* Thin-layer chromatography (TLC; older, less common technology)<br />
* Ultra-performance chromatography (UPC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
<br />
====Terpene testing====<br />
Identifying and quantifying terpenes is one of the more difficult tasks facing laboratorians<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Terpenes present an analytical challenge because they are nonpolar and structurally similar, and many structural isomers exist. Mass spectrometry (MS) cannot distinguish terpenes that co-elute from a GC column because many have the same molecular weight and share fragment ions.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Of course, types of gas chromatography work; but like cannabinoids, terpenes can degrade with the high heat of gas chromatography.<ref name="AdamsNear16" /> Combined with the problems mentioned above, highly specialized gas chromatography processes that include additional steps — such as full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID) — can be used to produce cleaner results, particularly for volatile components.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> It's less clear if high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used frequently; some entities such as Eurofins Experchem Laboratories claim HPLC works best for them<ref name="AdamsNear16" />, while others such as Restek Corporation claim the method is problematic at best.<ref name="HerringCanHP16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=33071 |title=Can HPLC-UV Be Used For Terpenes Analysis In Cannabis? |author=Herring, T. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 December 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Overall, methods for terpene identification and analysis include<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="SCLabs" /><ref name="SCCann16" /><ref name="AdamsNear16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/life_science/shimadzu_cannabis_brochure.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Solutions |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID; tends to be semi-quantitative)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; may have limitations due to coelution of terpenes and cannabinoids at certain ranges<ref name="HerringCanHP16" />)<br />
<br />
====Contaminate testing====<br />
[[File:LC MS pic.jpg|right|400px]]'''Pesticides''': Gas and liquid chromatography methods are by and large the staple of testing methods for pesticides, which remain "the hardest analyses that are going to be done in the cannabis industry."<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Notably, high-performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) tends to be one of the most thorough methods says Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon. "Ninety-five percent of the pesticides out there can be analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS, although there are some that you would need a GC-MS/MS for," she says.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Testing methods that have been used include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Gas chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of pesticides in cannabis, the EPA's Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) or FDA's Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) provide guidance to labs.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="FDA_PAM">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': Testing for solvents is largely standardized into a couple of options, which have parallels to existing pharmaceutical testing standards outlined in Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'' (USP <467>)<ref name="USPNF467" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS)<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID)<br />
<br />
Massachusetts and Oregon — and likely other states — have used a variety of guidance documents such as USP <467>, reports from the Commission of the European Communities' Scientific Committee on Food (now the European Food Safety Authority), and the International Conference on Harmonization's (ICH) Q3C(R5)<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MDPHResponse" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /> to set their action level testing values for particular solvents.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': The methods used for quantifying levels of highly toxic metals in plants depend on ease-of-use, level of accuracy, and overall cost. The following methods are most common for testing cannabis and other plants<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DavisAnalysis15">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/aas/ssi-icp-002.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of "The Big Four" Heavy Metals in Cannabis by USN-ICP-OES |author=Davis, D.; Long, K.; Masone, J.; Firmin, P. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=August 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), sometimes called inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) (at times coupled with an ultrasonic nebulizer)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma tandem-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of metals in cannabis, the U.S. FDA's ICP-MS methodology document is often used.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': A standard method of testing for the existence of microorganisms is through the process of culturing a sample in a Petri dish, a common diagnostic method in microbiology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is also used, particularly to identify mycotoxins. However, Petri culture analysis isn't rigorous, and ELISA can be time consuming, as it's limited to one mycotoxin per test.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> The following are other, more precise techniques that are improving laboratorians' analyses, particularly using DNA snippets of microbiological contaminates<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="ThompsonAMicro16">{{cite journal |title=A microbiome assessment of medical marijuana |journal=Clinical Microbiology and Infection |author=Thompson III, G.R.; Tuscano, J.M.; Dennis, M. et al. |pages=S1198-743X(16)30605-X |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.cmi.2016.12.001 |pmid=27956269}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)<br />
* Whole metagenome shotgun (WMGS) sequencing<br />
* Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
The extent of mycotoxin testing required remains in question by several entities. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) claims "[t]here is no readily available evidence to support the contention that cannabis harbors significant levels of mycotoxins."<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> The Oregon Health Authority takes a more middle-ground approach, noting that testing for ''E. coli'' and ''Salmonella'' will "protect public health," though ''Aspergillus'' only deserves a warning for people with suppressed immune systems due to its prevalence in the environment.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> USP <561> recommendations largely limit mycotoxin testing of botanical products to those borne from root or rhizome material<ref name="USPNF561">{{cite web |url=https://hmc.usp.org/sites/default/files/documents/HMC/GCs-Pdfs/c561.pdf |format=PDF |title=<561> Articles of Botanical Origin |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>, "which THC-containing cannabis products presumably do not possess," emphasizes the APHL.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Regardless, U.S. Pharmacopeia's Chapter 561 remains a useful document for testing guidelines and limits regarding microbials.<ref name="USPNF561" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> In the less common case of dealing with powdered cannabis — a relatively new THC extract form — Chapter 2023 provides at least some testing parallels, though Dr. Tony Cundell, a microbiologist consulting for the pharmaceutical industry, suggests USP <2023> doesn't go far enough for immunocompromised patients.<ref name="CundellMicro15">{{cite web |url=http://www.americanpharmaceuticalreview.com/Featured-Articles/177487-Microbiological-Attributes-of-Powdered-Cannabis/ |title=Microbiological attributes of powdered cannabis |work=American Pharmaceutical Review |author=Cundell, T. |publisher=CompareNetworks, Inc |date=31 July 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Somewhat related and worth mentioning is moisture content testing. As previously mentioned, warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, and regularly measuring water activity is useful for the prevention of microbial growth.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> The APHL references specifications from the Dutch Office of Medical Cannabis that recommend water content be between five to ten percent in cannabis.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><br />
<br />
===Reports===<br />
There's little in the way of standardization for lab reporting of cannabis test results, though some U.S. states have outlined requirements for what must be included in such reports. The Oregon Health Authority's ''Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 333, Division 64, Section 0100: Marijuana Item Sampling Procedures and Testing'' stipulates that any report must include total THC and total CBD (by dry weight) and, if discovered, "up to five tentatively identified compounds (TICS) that have the greatest apparent concentration." It also lays out requirements for pesticides, failed tests, limits of quantification, and specimen identifiers such as test batch number.<ref name="OHA333-064-0100">{{cite web |url=http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_300/oar_333/333_064.html |title=Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, Division 64, Accreditation of Laboratories |work=Oregon Administrative Rules |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In late January 2017, Pennsylvania released its temporary regulations in support of its new medical marijuana program (28 Pa. Code Chapter 1171), which includes a section on test results and reporting (1171.31). The regulations stipulate reporting by electronic tracking system, with stipulations on using certificates of analysis which include lot/batch number and the specific compounds and contaminates tested.<ref name="28PA1171">{{cite journal |url=http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/M-P/MedicalMarijuana/Documents/Chapter%201171%20Laboratories%201-26-17.pdf |format=PDF |title=Title 28 - Health and Safety, Department of Health - 28 Pa. Code Ch. 1171 |journal=Pennsylvania Bulletin |author=Pennsylvania Department of Health |volume=46 |issue=52 |pages=8036–8041 |date=24 December 2016}}</ref> Regulations aside, it's largely up to the laboratory — and often by extension, the software they're using — to decide how a report is formatted. Some labs like Seattle-based Analytical 360 offer clean, color-based certificates of analysis, with high-magnification photographs, the chromatogram, potency, cannabinoid content, contaminate content, and explanation of limits, with the name of the approving analyst.<ref name="CC_A360">{{cite web |url=http://cannabis-chronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/Godzilla.pdf |format=PDF |title=Certificate of Analysis - Sample: Godzilla |publisher=Cannabis Chronicles |date=07 July 2014 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="C360Results">{{cite web |url=http://analytical360.com/testresults |title=Current Test Results |publisher=Analytical 360, LLC |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Others may simply generate a computer printout with the basic data and a legend.<ref name="HydrioCan16">{{cite web |url=http://beyondchronic.com/question/can-you-help-me-analyze-lab-reports-of-cannabis-oil/ |title=Can you help me analyze lab reports of cannabis oil? |author=Hydrio |work=Beyond Chronic: Ask Old Hippie |date=August 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Reports may originate from the measuring device itself (e.g., an integrator in a chromatography device), a middleware or data station attached to the instrument, or a laboratory information management system that accepted data from the instrument.<ref name="McKennaSetting15">{{cite web |url=http://www.slideshare.net/GenTechScientific/ica2015-cannabis-presentation |title=Setting Up Your Cannabis Lab for Potency Testing |author=McKenna, M. |work=SlideShare |publisher=GenTech |date=18 June 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Though not directly related to laboratory testing, it's worth noting states also have their own reporting requirements for growers, processors, and dispensaries. Both Oregon and Washington, for example, require monthly reports related to medical marijuana transfers.<ref name="OMMPReporting">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/ChronicDisease/MedicalMarijuanaProgram/Pages/reporting.aspx |title=Reporting Requirements for Tracking Medical Marijuana |author=Public Health Division |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="314-55 WAC">{{cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=314-55&full=true |title=Chapter 314-55 WAC: Marijuana Licenses, Application Process, Requirements, and Reporting |work=Washington Administrative Code |publisher=Washington State Legislature |date=16 November 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Lab equipment===<br />
As indicated in previous sections, spectrometry and chromatography have played and will continue to play an important role in cannabis laboratory testing. This should not be surprising: "mass spectrometry is superior to other spectral techniques in such features as sensitivity, selectivity, generation possibility of molecular mass/formula, and combinability with chromatography."<ref name="MilmanTech10">{{cite book |chapter=Chapter 2: Techniques and Methods of Identification |title=Chemical Identification and its Quality Assurance |author=Milman, B.L. |publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg |year=2010 |pages=23–39 |isbn=9783642153617 |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-15361-7_2}}</ref> Analyzing complex chemical compounds that have many features and which are at times difficult to differentiate from each other proves challenging, but these technologies excel in meeting that task.<ref name="MilmanTech10" /> Refer to the previous "Methods and guidelines" section to note the specific technology associated with each molecule and contaminate. Aside from spectrometry and chomatography equipment, the analysis of microorganisms in cannabis may turn to DNA analysis methods that require additional equipment such as a thermal cycler (qPCR) or sequencer (WMGS), or ELISA, which utilizes a photometer or spectrophotometer. Of course, preparing and storing samples requires equipment as well, such as microplates, centrifuges, comparison standards, capillaries, chemicals, columns, Petri dishes, scales, and disposable gloves. Software-based data management systems may also constitute as equipment and are discussed in the next section.<br />
<br />
When it comes to purchasing lab equipment specifically for cannabis testing, a 2015 interview with Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon (then with Restek Corporation) provides good advice<ref name="TaylorCanna15">{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/article/2015/06/cannabis-testing-opens-whole-new-market |title=Cannabis Testing Opens Up a Whole New Market |author=Taylor, M. |work=Laboratory Equipment |publisher=Advantage Business Media |date=23 June 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Industry-specific instrumentation isn't needed in most cases as most of the techniques and equipment used in food and herbal medicine testing have strong parallels to cannabis testing.<br />
* That said, some sample preparation tools, standards, and consumables specifically marketed to the industry may very well make the job quicker and more reliable.<br />
* Appropriate sample preparation techniques are just as vital as the equipment you use.<br />
* Do your research; many instrument companies are examining methodologies usable on conventional equipment, lessening the need for more expensive devices.<br />
* If buying used equipment, make sure the original manufacturer is still in-business and producing consumables and replacement parts. Make sure your planned methods match the equipment, and make sure it's not so old that it can't be serviced by a qualified technician.<br />
<br />
===Software===<br />
Laboratories increasingly depend on software to analyze, store, and share critical data from instruments and experiments.<ref name="VI11">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150425070143/http://virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |title=Laboratory Informatics |publisher=virtualinformatics.com |date=09 April 2011 |archivedate=25 April 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> This has led to the development of laboratory-specific software like the [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS), [[electronic laboratory notebook]] (ELN), and [[chromatography data management system]] (CDMS; sometimes simply CDS). These and other software systems such as "seed-to-sale" programs can also play an important role in the cannabis testing laboratory.<br />
<br />
====LIMS====<br />
Laboratories of all types use LIMS software to manage the wide variety of data, testing and analysis workflows, and other enterprise activities typical of them. This generally includes — but is not limited to — sample reception, workflow management, sample tracking and analysis, quality control, instrument data management, data storage, reporting, and document management.<ref name="SkobelevLab11">{{cite journal |title=Laboratory information management systems in the work of the analytic laboratory |journal=Measurement Techniques |author=Skobelev, D.O.; Zaytseva, T.M.; Kozlov, A.D. et al. |volume=53 |issue=10 |pages=1182–1189 |year=2011 |doi=10.1007/s11018-011-9638-7}}</ref> The cannabis testing laboratory is no exception, though its activities differ slightly from, for example, a clinical pathology laboratory. As such, a few additional features outside of what's typically found in a generic LIMS are required.<br />
<br />
Features that may be incorporated into a cannabis testing LIMS that you might not necessarily find in an all-purpose LIMS include<ref name="BirosUsing15">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/feature_article/using-lims-in-cannabis-laboratories/ |title=Using LIMS in Cannabis Laboratories |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=23 October 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PromiumELIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=https://www.promium.com/main/element-lims-cannabis |title=LIMS for Managing Cannabis Testing |publisher=Promium, LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PharmWareHome">{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmware.net/ |title=PharmWare |publisher=PharmLabs LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LLLIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynxpress.com/index.php?title=LabLynx_LIMS_-_Cannabis |title=LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* sample loading screens optimized for the industry, including differentiation between medical and recreational marijuana<br />
* pre-loaded compliant test protocols, labels, and reports optimized and readily adjustable for a rapidly changing industry<br />
* tools for creating new, compliant test protocols, labels, and reports<br />
* a web API to integrate with state-required compliance reporting systems<br />
* chain-of-custody (CoC) tracking, when necessary<br />
* support for inventory reconciliation<br />
<br />
As previously discussed, industry-specific test protocols largely focus on cannabinoids, terpenes, and a wide variety of contaminates, including excess water. However, as regulations continue to be in a state of flux and not particularly standardized, most LIMS developers are including the ability for users to adjust their protocols and even add new ones. And while CoC functionality is not entirely foreign to generic LIMS, it's particularly important in an industry where currently transporting even a cannabis test sample across state lines can create huge problems.<br />
<br />
In cases where daily sample processing is infrequent and only a couple of chromatography machines are used, laboratories may weigh a decision between a LIMS and a chromatography-specific CDMS.<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
Scientists on the research side of cannabis are certainly using CDMSs from Agilent, Thermo Scientific, Waters, and other to manage the data coming out of their chromatography equipment<ref name="PurschkeDevelop16">{{cite journal |title=Development and validation of an automated liquid-liquid extraction GC/MS method for the determination of THC, 11-OH-THC, and free THC-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) from blood serum |journal=Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry |author=Purschke, K.; Heinl, S.; Lerch, O. et al. |volume=408 |issue=16 |pages=4379-88 |year=2016 |doi=10.1007/s00216-016-9537-5 |pmid=27116418 |pmc=PMC4875941}}</ref><ref name="AlbertiniDeterm15">{{cite web |url=http://tools.thermofisher.com/content/sfs/posters/PO-GC-MS-THC-Metabolites-Triple-Quad-EN.pdf |format=PDF |title=Determination of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Its Main Metabolites Using GC Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry |author=Albertini, T.; Caruso, A. |publisher=Thermo Fisher Scientific |date=2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LaytonAnalysis17">{{cite web |url=https://www.perkinelmer.com/lab-solutions/resources/docs/APP_Analysis-of-Cannabinoids-in-Hemp-Seed-Oils-by-HPLC-012317_01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Cannabinoids in Hemp Seed Oils by HPLC Using PDA Detection |author=Layton, C.; Reuter, W.M. |publisher=PerkinElmer, Inc |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>, and slowly but surely some of those CDMSs are beginning to also support spectrometer data management in a similar way.<ref name="DaviesCentral16">{{cite web |url=http://www.spectroscopyeurope.com/articles/tony-davies-column/3676-central-spectroscopic-data-systems-why-are-chromatographers-so-much-better-equipped |title=Central spectroscopic data systems: Why are chromatographers so much better equipped? |author=Davies, A.N. |work=Spectroscopy Europe |publisher=John Wiley & Sons Ltd; IM Publications LLP |date=12 April 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, some chromatography system developers will collaborate with CDMS vendors to develop software drivers — code that essentially acts as a translator between a device and a program — so chromatography devices can interact fully with the CDMS.<ref name="ShimadzuWaters">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/product.cfm?product=gcdriver |title=Waters Empower Shimadzu GC Driver Version 2 |publisher=Shimadzu Scientific Instruments |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The CDMS likely has a place in the cannabis testing lab as well, though it may depend on the lab's data management needs and goals. In more complex labs with multiple instruments and significant daily processing workflows, a LIMS may make more practical sense.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
The use of seed-to-sale software is an emerging trend that is only tangentially related to laboratory testing of cannabis. Rather than at testing laboratories, seed-to-sale software is found at cultivation sites, production facilities, and dispensaries, and that software is typically designed to be able to integrate with testing laboratory or other software. The goal: create a complete record of transaction, from the grown plant to the lab, producer, and seller. This sort of tracking is mandated in various ways by many U.S. states with legalization laws. "It’s there to prevent the diversion of marijuana, which the federal government still lists as a Schedule I substance, the most dangerous class of drugs," wrote Daniel Rothberg of the ''Las Vegas Sun'' in December 2015. "Tracking also ensures product safety, assists with audits and helps facilitate recalls."<ref name="RothbergSoft15">{{cite web |url=http://www.govtech.com/state/Software-Firms-Benefit-from-Governments-Seed-to-Sale-Marijuana-Tracking.html |title=Software Firms Benefit from Government’s Seed-to-Sale Marijuana Tracking |author=Rothberg, D. |work=Government Technology |publisher=e.Republic, Inc |date=29 December 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref> This type of software is able to track plant yields, attempted theft or diversion, patient preferences, extraction methods, batch weights, and various financial statistics for analysis.<ref name="SmythTrack16">{{cite web |url=https://mjfreeway.com/blog/track-and-trace-vs-seed-to-sale |title=Track and Trace vs. Seed to Sale |author=Smyth, H. |work=MJ Freeway Blog |publisher=MJ Freeway, LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RothbergSoft15" /><br />
<br />
==Future of cannabis regulation, testing, and market trends==<br />
===Regulation and market===<br />
[[File:Medical cannabis demo 2.JPG|right|250px]]On February 23, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer indicated for the first time that the Trump administration would indeed be ramping up enforcement in states that have legalized recreational marijuana use, stating "I do believe that you’ll see greater enforcement," adding that "there’s a big difference between the medical use ... that’s very different than the recreational use, which is something the Department of Justice will be further looking into."<ref name="KumarTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article134608704.html |title=Trump administration plans crackdown on recreational marijuana |author=Kumar, A.; Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Five days later, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions continued to send pessimistic signals, stating he was "dubious about marijuana," and that "[w]e have a responsibility to use our best judgment ... and my view is we don’t need to be legalizing marijuana."<ref name="WheelerSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/321525-sessions-we-dont-need-to-be-legalizing-marijuana |title=Sessions: 'We don't need to be legalizing marijuana' |author=Wheeler, L. |work=The Hill |publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp |date=28 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Several days later, seemingly in response to both Spicer's and Sessions' comments, 11 U.S. senators sent a letter to Sessions asking him to keep in mind Trump's campaign promises of letting states decide their own fate on legalization efforts.<ref name="HotokainenEleven17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article135996463.html |title=11 senators call on Trump team to allow sale of recreational marijuana |author=Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Until demonstrably intrusive federal enforcement actions take place in states with legalized recreational marijuana, it won't be clear if the administration is simply making an implied, noisy threat in order to bring more in the industry to heel. More certain is mounting evidence that a growing majority of U.S. voters believe the federal government should not be enforcing its laws in such states: 64 percent agreed on this in 2012<ref name="NewportAmericans12">{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/159152/americans-federal-gov-state-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=Americans Want Federal Gov't Out of State Marijuana Laws |author=Newport, F. |publisher=Gallup, Inc |date=10 December 2012 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>, rising to 71 percent in 2017.<ref name="QuinnipiacRepublicans17">{{cite web |url=https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2432 |title=Republicans Out Of Step With U.S. Voters On Key Issues, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Most Voters Support Legalized Marijuana |publisher=Quinnipiac University |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Despite such support, it may largely be up to the states in the future to twist the arm of the federal government. Legal representatives at Thompson Coburn expressed this idea well in a blog post in November 2016<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry may have to consider forcing the federal hand by providing credible data on the safety of cannabis as it was invited to do in the DEA decision, in addition to the continuing to support the groundswell of approval at the state level. At some point, in the near future, the state regulatory position and the federal position will have to be reconciled. The industry can and should prompt that reconciliation by a clear united message to federal lawmakers. Without that, it remains unlikely that agencies, such as the FDA, will change its position on cannabis. A lack of change will inhibit market growth and prevent the cannabis industry from reaching its potential.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The obvious issue with expanding research and testing on cannabis and of its safety is acquiring the product within a legal framework and a reasonable time frame. As mentioned previously, the DEA has recognized the need for more federally approved growers than the NIDA center at the University of Mississippi (which came under fire in March 2017 for not testing its provided samples for mold and other contaminants in any standardized fashion<ref name="HellermanScientists17">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/scientists-say-governments-pot-farm-moldy-samples-no-guidelines/ |title=Scientists say the government’s only pot farm has moldy samples — and no federal testing standards |author=Hellerman, C. |work=PBS NewsHour |publisher=NewsHour Productions, LLC |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref>), and they've begun accepting applications for additional entities looking to grow marijuana for researchers.<ref name="81FR53846" /> Assuming the Trump administration doesn't force the DEA to change course — and signs point to the administration at least being on spoken record of supporting medical marijuana and associated research<ref name="MPPTrumpMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/trump-marijuana-policy/ |title=Trump on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=12 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — researchers will optimistically have more options for acquiring research-quality cannabis in the future. This should in turn allow researchers a shot at more focused studies that provide efficacy and safety data related to the medical use of cannabis.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> In fact, this has been a goal of Dr. Susan Weiss, Division Director of Extramural Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for some time. In July 2016 testimony to the U.S. Judiciary Committee<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /> and in a February 2017 research paper set to be published in ''The International Journal of Drug Policy''<ref name="WeissBuilding17">{{cite journal |title=Building smart cannabis policy from the science up |journal=International Journal of Drug Policy |author=Weiss, S.R.B.; Howlett, K.D.; Baler, R.D. |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.01.007 |pmid=28189459}}</ref>, Weiss cautiously recognizes and promotes the need for further evidence-based cannabis research, emphasizing both the healthy and detrimental effects evident so far in the plant and its constituents. She said of recent federal actions towards this goal<ref name="WeissTestimony16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Multiple agencies (NIH, ONDCP, DEA, and FDA) are working together to find ways to streamline the process to facilitate research while meeting international and legislative obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the Controlled Substances Act. In addition to actions taken by the Department of Health and Humans Services to eliminate the Public Health Services (PHS) committee review for non-federally funded marijuana research, the DEA recently streamlined the administrative process for CBD research to allow researchers to obtain a waiver of the requirement for review of changes to an approved protocol in their DEA research registrations, and is attempting to address the marijuana diversity and product development concern by licensing additional manufacturers.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Another recent and significant body of research that may have future influence on cannabis research itself is a massive January 2017 cannabis literature review published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This 440-page report detailed the National Academies' findings after reviewing more than 10,700 abstracts related to cannabis. Among its final recommendations, the authors called for<ref name="NASEMTheHealth17">{{cite web |url=http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/reports/2017/health-effects-of-cannabis-and-cannabinoids.aspx |title=The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research |author=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine |publisher=The National Academies Press |pages=440 |doi=10.17226/24625 |date=12 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* public and private entities to fund and support a national cannabis research initiative that looks to fill key knowledge gaps;<br />
* government agencies to develop research methods and standards that may act as a guide towards higher-quality cannabis research;<br />
* government agencies, non-profit associations, and state and local health departments to fund and support efforts to improve federal, state, and local public health surveillance systems and efforts; and<br />
* government, non-government, and industry entities to work together towards developing a report on existing regulatory barriers to research and how to overcome them.<br />
<br />
However, some researchers such as Mayo Clinic psychiatrist and researcher Michael Bostwick are less convinced that the barriers will fall — claiming federal entities shift too much focus on the detrimental effects and not enough on the potential benefits — and aren't optimistic about the direction the Trump administration will take.<ref name="GrantMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/48122/title/Marijuana-Research-Still-Stymied-by-Federal-Laws/ |title=Marijuana Research Still Stymied by Federal Laws |author=Grant, B. |work=The Scientist |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Despite this pessimism, predictions of substantial revenues in states where recreational marijuana is legalized or could be legalized persist.<ref name="MorrisTheNext16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/21/the-next-big-billion-dollar-cannabis-markets-investors-are-rushing-to.html |title=The next big billion-dollar cannabis markets investors are rushing to |author=Morris, C. |work=CNBC |date=21 October 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ThomasBigPot17">{{cite web |url=http://ctmirror.org/2017/02/07/big-pot-of-money-waiting-if-ct-legalizes-marijuana-analysts-say/ |title=Big pot of money waiting if CT legalizes marijuana, analysts say |author=Thomas, J.R. |work=The CT Mirror |publisher=The Connecticut News Project |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="HoughtonTown17">{{cite web |url=http://www.capenews.net/mashpee/news/town-manager-marijuana-shops-could-boost-tax-revenue/article_c27b9b71-fb63-52de-bc24-fda320f38a32.html |title=Town Manager: Marijuana Shops Could Boost Tax Revenue |author=Houghton, S. |work=The Mashpee Enterprise |publisher=Enterprise Newspapers |date=14 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> The latest national estimates by market research and analytics company New Frontier Data put the U.S. marijuana industry at $24 billion by 2025, with 255,000 total jobs by 2019.<ref name="WallaceReport17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/02/22/report-united-states-marijuana-sales-projections-2025/74059/ |title=Report: America’s marijuana industry headed for $24 billion by 2025 |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Yet entities such as the Denver-based Marijuana Policy Group and cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg LLC preach caution when dealing with tax revenue estimates and economic projections in the U.S. cannabis market<ref name="WallaceReport17" />, pointing to CIBC World Markets' grossly inflated tax revenue estimate of $142 CAD ($106 USD) per resident in January 2016, an overshot of about 300 percent.<ref name="WallaceWhat16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/12/22/marijuana-sales-pot-taxes-colorado-estimates-projections/69831/ |title=What legal states need to know about sketchy pot tax predictions |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 December 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> "This is a fast-paced, changing market with varying different dynamics that have more to do based on governmental and regulatory dynamics than they do on consumer dynamics," said Vicente Sederberg's director of economics and research Andrew Livingston.<ref name="WallaceReport17" /> <br />
<br />
Indeed, current and future regulatory dynamics seem to be the biggest wildcards in making market-based predictions, with predicted tax and associated revenue estimates capable of both being significantly too high (by inadequately taking into account local and regional cultural and economic statuses) or too low (by not anticipating new states legalization efforts, research breakthroughs, or ties to other mainstream but related industries).<ref name="WallaceReport17" /><ref name="WallaceWhat16" /> Additionally, too much regulation can put a stranglehold on a state's cannabis program development — as it has done in Minnesota<ref name="PotterBig16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/08/12/big-losses-for-minn-medical-marijuana-providers |title=Big losses for Minn. medical marijuana providers |author=Potter, K. |work=MPR News |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=12 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — causing related grow-ops and laboratories to take significant losses or even go out of business.<br />
<br />
===Lab testing===<br />
Future-looking estimates on cannabis lab testing are more difficult to find. The primary numbers being floated around originate from a June 2015 market report published by GreenWave Advisors titled ''Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays''. GreenWave suggested that if the U.S. were to quickly legalize cannabis at the federal level, lab testing revenues alone would be $553 million by 2020, $866 million including related activities such as data analysis and consulting.<ref name="DPAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DigiPath-Investor-Presentation-11.3.pdf |format=PDF |title=DigiPath, Inc.: A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |pages=28 |date=November 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SBSignal15">{{cite web |url=https://signalbay.com/company-news/signal-bay-makes-strategic-acquisition-in-the-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=Signal Bay Makes Strategic Acquisition in the $850M Cannabis Testing Market |publisher=Signal Bay, Inc |date=24 September 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="GWMari15">{{cite web |url=https://www.greenwaveadvisors.com/research/marijuana-lab-testing-an-in-depth-analysis-of-investing-in-one-of-the-industrys-most-attractive-plays/ |title=Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays |publisher=GreeenWave Advisors, LLC |date=June 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
As for advances in cannabis lab testing, Kuzdzal ''et al.'' of Shimadzu envision a future where improvements in standardization, quality control, and research will shift what is tested and how its tested<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry and cannabis testing are in their infancies. As the need for better quality control continues and standardization is introduced, it is likely that lower limits for the various cannabis contaminants will be established and regulations will be introduced. Mass spectrometry will likely play a greater role in quantitation as detection levels are lowered and confirmatory tests are required. The health benefits of terpenes present in cannabis will also provide a fertile area of scientific research. CBD, CBG and other compounds appear to have a synergistic relationship with each other as well as with various THC forms and terpenes. This field needs much more investigation to determine mechanisms of action, bioavailability and health benefits.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabis should continue to provide more exact and useful results as methods and standards continue to evolve. Disparity of results between two labs for the same sample are continuing to narrow as states increasingly add testing requirements to their cannabis legislature.<ref name="NelsonHas16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/has-lab-testing-turned-a-corner/ |title=Has Lab Testing Turned A Corner? |author=Nelson, S. |work=Cannabis Business Times |publisher=GIE Media, Inc |date=03 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Those testing requirements are increasingly based off a growing body of recommendations, guidance, and standards developed by the likes of the Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS), and the Association of Public Health Laboratories.<ref name="InfocastNew16" /><ref name="AHPARecomm16" /><ref name="AHPCanna14" /><ref name="MarcuJahan16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Proficiency tests such as the Emerald Test<ref name="EmeraldTest">{{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>, which allows multiple labs to test an anonymous sample and compare results, should also continue to drive improved performance from cannabis testing labs.<ref name="NelsonHas16" /><br />
<br />
Another potential trend to keep an eye on with these testing laboratories: consolidation. Currently there's not a lot of data on the extent consolidation has affected the number of cannabis testing labs or how they operate; the industry is arguably still in its infancy. Regardless, mentions in press and practical examples demonstrate that consolidation is a real concern for the industry, if not now in the future. Suggestion of such came from Steep Hill Halent's CEO David Lampach in late 2013, anticipating "huge consolidation in general and fewer companies as a result."<ref name="LampachQA13" /> The previously mentioned GreenWave Advisors as well as CannaSafe Analytics have also lent their voices to this idea in recent years.<ref name="TMIDigiPath15">{{cite web |url=http://marijuanaindex.com/digipath-digp-well-positioned-to-take-advantage-of-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=DigiPath (DIGP) Well Positioned To Take Advantage of $850M Cannabis Testing Market |work=The Marijuana Index |author=CannabisFN |publisher=MJIC, Inc |date=16 July 2015 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SchroyerIndustry16">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizmagazine.com/industry-snapshot-testing-labs/ |title=Industry Snapshot: Testing Labs |author=Schroyer, J. |work=Marijuana Business Magazine |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=January 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Production===<br />
Outside the lab, on the production side, resides a glimpse of technology that ties several of the previously mentioned ideas together: growing cannabis as an environmentally modified organism (EMO). A June 2016 article published in <em>Motherboard</em> references the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) in Canada and its effort to apply innovations in growing plants in closed environments (such as on spaceships) to cannabis production.<ref name="OwensHow16">{{cite web |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/how-space-technology-will-produce-the-best-weed-marijuana-cannabis-pot |title=How Space Technology Will Produce the Best Weed Ever |author=Owens, B. |work=Motherboard |publisher=Motherboard-IPTV LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref> Specifically, the researchers see promise in being able to precisely control grow conditions to produce a plant with a particular ratio of active chemicals. As such, the previously mentioned synergistic relationship of cannabis' chemicals can be more carefully studied, and the end product, once studied and methodically tested, could potentially "achieve the status of a conventional pharmaceutical commodity that a doctor can rely on and prescribe."<ref name="OwensHow16" /> CESRF isn't alone in developing grow technology that can tailor the necessary conditions for a particular strain. Several Israeli-linked start-ups (see the last section "Non-U.S. policy" for more) like Corsica Innovations (LEAF) and Flux (Eddy) have been developing similar grow technology that may transform future research.<ref name="GustafsonStartup16">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinegustafson/2016/12/07/it-just-became-incredibly-easy-to-grow-marijuana-at-home-meet-leaf/print/ |title=Startup Launches Automated System It Claims Makes It Easy To Grow Marijuana At Home |author=Gustafson, K. |work=Forbes |publisher=Forbes.com LLC |date=07 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SolomonIsreali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startup-creates-idiots-guide-to-home-grown-food/ |title=Israeli startup creates idiot’s guide to home-grown food |author=Solomon, S. |work=The Times of Israel |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="PressFive17">{{cite web |url=https://www.israel21c.org/5-reasons-israel-is-dominating-the-cannabis-industry/ |title=5 reasons Israel is dominating the cannabis industry |author=Press, V.S. |work=ISREAL21c |date=13 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
With better research, more definitive fact-based decisions can be made in the regulatory sphere, better guiding medical and recreational marijuana policy. That said, keep an eye on developments in controllable production methods; advances in this area stand to improve many of the other facets of research and testing discussed.<br />
<br />
===Big Marijuana===<br />
Both U.S. states and the federal government have a long, sometimes torturous history with regulating and controlling the production and sale of drug-containing products such as pharmaceuticals, tobacco, beer, wine, and spirits. As such, it seems intuitive to examine the successes and failures of those past efforts when considering what to do with cannabis. One aspect of that examination that raises concern among some is the likelihood of a narrow group of commercial interests taking over all aspects of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales. Taking from "Big Pharma," "Big Tobacco," and "Big Alcohol," some fear a similar "Big Marijuana" industry will develop.<ref name="HudakWorry16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana—not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These fears can be found among small private growers at the hyper-local level<ref name="SolovitchHow16">{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/marijuana-legalization-big-business-alcohol-214198 |title=How Big Alcohol Is About to Get Rich Off California Weed |author=Solovitch, S. |work=POLITICO |publisher=POLITICO, LLC |date=29 August 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>, all the way up to the state government level.<ref name="SteeringPathways15">{{cite web |url=https://www.aclunc.org/sites/default/files/20150721-brc_pathways_report.pdf |format=PDF |title=Pathways Report: Policy Options for Regulating Marijuana in California |author=Steering Committee of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |date=22 July 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In fact, in a 2015 Pathways Report, the state of California — including its Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom — expressed this very concern in regards to how best to regulate marijuana in the state. When considering the marijuana industry structure, they found that controls should be put in place to better incentivize smaller industry players, stating "[t]he goal should be to prevent the growth of a large, corporate marijuana industry dominated by a small number of players, as we see with Big Tobacco or the alcohol industry."<ref name="SteeringPathways15" /> Despite that advice, major California-based industry players such as Steve DeAngelo — who owns one of the largest medical marijuana dispensaries in the world and co-founded Steep Hill Labs — remain concerned that mandates for distribution, which mirror alcohol regulations, will only undermine small cannabis businesses in the state.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><br />
<br />
Anti-marijuana alliances such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and corporation-friendly pro-cannabis Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) act as opposing special interest groups, one fighting against Big Marijuana, the other borrowing from a libertarian approach proposing regulation of marijuana in a way similar to alcohol.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><ref name="WallachBoot16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="CRPTheMoney15">{{cite web |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/issues/marijuana/ |title=The Money in Marijuana: The political landscape |work=OpenSecrets.org |publisher=Center for Responsive Politics |date=November 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These and other special interest groups inevitably bring about the perception that, as the Brookings Institution puts it, "the marijuana industry is as self-serving as any other commercial lobby," further propelling worries of Big Marijuana.<ref name="WallachBoot16" /><br />
<br />
If worries of large corporations taking over significant portions of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales markets actually come to fruition, how will they potentially manifest? The previously mentioned concern of increased consolidation of testing labs is arguably one sign, as is DeAngelo's concern of forced distribution contracts taking away from smaller businesses. Brookings also points out concerns of large firms gaining hold over the evolving regulatory status as well as upward trends in antisocial marketing, though they also argue against undue alarmism of commercialization at the same time.<ref name="HudakWorry16" /><br />
<br />
Another manifestation of how Big Marijuana may be taking hold is through the patenting of cannabis strains and methods. PBS' ''Nova'' reported in October 2016 that a group of California growers were granted a patent for "compositions and methods for the breeding, production, processing and use of specialty cannabis,"<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/evolution/patenting-pot/ |title=The Rise of Marijuana™ (Patent Pending) |author=Arnold, C. |work=Nova Next |publisher=PBS |date=19 October 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> raising concerns about how Big Pharma could capitalize. Mowgli Holmes — founder of Phylos Biosciences, a genetics testing laboratory for cannabis — says as much: "Everyone is terrified of some big corporation with deep pockets coming in and taking over ... and they should be." To fight against the misappropriation of patents for "public domain" cannabis strains, he and others have developed Phylos Galaxy to better track relations between existing cannabis strains and the creation of new strains. From a lab testing perspective, a small but increasing number of qualified labs could test not only for potency, terpenes, and pesticides but also genetically verify in a standardized format that a unique strain is actually what it is claimed to be, providing slight competitive advantage.<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16" /> As the patenting trend continues (most recently a patent was issued to a Florida company for an "apparatus and methods for biosynthetic production of cannabinoids"<ref name="LivniTheUS17">{{cite web |url=https://qz.com/927649/the-us-government-grants-cannabis-patents-though-weed-is-illegal/ |title=The US government grants cannabis patents even though weed is illegal |author=Livni, E. |work=Quartz |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group, Inc |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>) the intellectual property war over strains and methods is bound to get more heated; as such, the development of accurate and open genetic and other laboratory testing methods may become increasing vital.<br />
<br />
===Non-U.S. policy===<br />
[[File:Treaty decades.png|right|800px]]Aside from a few mentions of Canada and European regulation, this guide has focused solely on the state of cannabis and related lab testing in the United States. However, it would be remiss to not look at how policy elsewhere may potentially impact the U.S. cannabis market, if nothing else at least indirectly. Broadly speaking, other countries like the Netherlands and Portugal have put more emphasis on decriminalization and recreational legalization of marijuana than on researching and providing marijuana for medical purposes.<ref name="JohnsonPast15">{{cite journal |title=Past 15-year trends in adolescent marijuana use: Differences by race/ethnicity and sex |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Johnson, R.M.; Fariman, B.; Gilreath, T. et al. |volume=155 |pages=8–15 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.025 |pmid=26361714 |pmc=PMC4582007}}</ref> Israel has been one of the major exceptions to this generalization, arguably "up to 10 years ahead of other countries in innovation in the cannabis industry."<ref name="PressFive17" /> The country has been involved with cannabis research since the 1960s, and today it has its hands in many medical research-based initiatives (though recreational marijuana is still illegal), including<ref name="PressFive17" /><ref name="KershnerIsrael16">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/middleeast/israel-a-medical-marijuana-pioneer-is-eager-to-capitalize.html?_r=0 |title=Israel, a Medical Marijuana Pioneer, Is Eager to Capitalize |author=Kershner, I. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=17 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* The Green Book, a set of written protocols and policy detailing how doctors should work with medical marijuana (still in draft phase as of March 2017) as well as how it would be commercialized across the country; includes training and certification of 100 doctors for prescribing it<ref name="EfratiIsraeli16">{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.747985 |title=Israeli Pharmacies Prepare to Sell Medical Cannabis |author=Efrati, I. |work=Haaretz |publisher=Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd |date=20 October 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="iCANIsrael16">{{cite web |url=http://journal.cannabislaw.report/israel-a-peek-inside-the-israeli-knessets-special-committee-on-medical-cannabis/ |title=Israel: A Peek Inside the Israeli Knesset’s Special Committee on Medical Cannabis |author=iCAN Israel |work=Cannabis Law Journal |date=01 September 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
* the creation of the Medical Cannabis Unit, a government agency that regulates medical cannabis research and use<br />
* the development of significant investment and infrastructure for clinical trials involving medical cannabis<br />
* the development of a national institute for medical marijuana research<br />
* the discussion of potentially exporting cannabis and/or cannabis-related extracts and derivatives<br />
* several higher education facilities offering courses and research opportunities on cannabis<br />
* several start-ups developing improved cultivation, pharmaceutical, and medical device technology<br />
<br />
Another major country challenging traditional cannabis regulation is Uruguay, which in December 2013 adopted the first stages of regulatory legislation that will ultimately make the cultivation, sale, and use (recreational and medical) of cannabis in the country legal and government-controlled. In part due to concerns regarding gang-related violence and a tentative but not proven connection to black-market cannabis, the country has since carefully and methodically implemented the laws and regulations with the goal of keeping in mind evidence-based research and the potential social impact.<ref name="RamseyGetting16">{{cite web |url=https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Getting-Regulation-Right-WOLA-Uruguay.pdf |format=PDF |title=Getting Regulation Right: Assessing Uruguay's Historic Cannabis Initiative |author=Ramsey, G. |publisher=WOLA |date=November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> In fact, a late February 2017 press release from Canadian company Emblem Corp. stated it and Uruguayan ICC International Cannabis Corporation would, pending finalization of regulatory processes between the two countries, begin a partnership that would have Emblem import CBD (cannabidiol) from ICC "to help fulfill the demand in the Canadian market."<ref name="NCVEmblem17">{{cite web |url=https://www.newcannabisventures.com/emblem-to-import-cbd-from-uruguay-into-canada/ |title=Emblem to Import CBD from Uruguay into Canada |work=New Cannabis Ventures |publisher=NCV Media, LLC |date=27 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The reality of all this — combined with the legalization momentum in the U.S. and other countries — means that new pressures are being applied to organizers of international treaties and policy, and any future changes to those treaties and policy may inversely apply pressure back on the U.S. government to update its stance on cannabis. An October 2014 Brookings Institution interview revealed some of the issues "straining the limits of an international drug control regime that most participants, including the United States, have long understood to be quite strict."<ref name="RauchMari14">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2014/10/16/marijuana-legalization-poses-a-dilemma-for-international-drug-treaties/ |title=Marijuana Legalization Poses a Dilemma for International Drug Treaties |author=Rauch, J. |work=Brookings FIXGOV: Making Government Work |publisher=The Brookings Institution |date=16 October 2014 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> Drug treaties such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988) represent hard policy that the U.S. government (as well as other federal governments) has followed steadfastly for years. However, a dichotomy begins to form when federal governments bend those treaties either through outright legalization or, as is the case in the U.S., by allowing the states power to determine their own laws.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><br />
<br />
As a result of these stresses, policy experts around the world are shining light on the need for not only federal governments but also international agencies such as the United Nations' World Health Organisation (WHO) to move forward with critical reviews of existing cannabis research in the social and medical domains and determine if revising cannabis' scheduling is appropriate. Additionally, policy experts urge United Nations members to discuss and amend existing treaties, even if such amendments only provide greater flexibility in regards to marijuana.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><ref name="HamiltonWhyWHO16">{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/why-who-needs-a-radical-rethink-of-its-draconian-approach-to-cannabis-68209 |title=Why WHO needs a radical rethink of its draconian approach to cannabis |author=Hamilton, I.; Monaghan, M.; Rolles, S. et al. |work=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation US, Inc |date=23 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Whether or not the decriminalization and legalization efforts of Israel, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and other foreign governments has a noticeable impact on international and U.S. federal law remains to be seen. However, it would be foolish to entirely ignore foreign policy when considering the future of cannabis — and by extension its laboratory testing — in the United States.<br />
<br />
==Final thoughts==<br />
This guide has attempted to provide insight into various aspects of the current status of laboratory testing of cannabis in the U.S. By extension, it has required a closer look at many non-testing or tangentially related aspects of cannabis, including history, regulations, standards, methods, equipment, and software. The guide has also attempted to look at the potential future of testing, a more difficult feat that has required inspection of — and speculation on — a mix of statistics and politics, as well as government and social policy and how they may all affect the future of cannabis testing. We learned that many point fingers at the U.S. federal government for being responsible for several cannabis-related issues, including lack of clear government support for cannabis research, lack of standardization of testing and analysis methods for said research, and wavering policy that remains inconsistent at best. At root is the fact that the federal government maintains cannabis (and its constituents) as a Schedule I drug, by extension declaring that it has no respectable medical use. This and related decisions have slowed down the academic study of cannabis, including its analysis, quality testing, and research and use as a medical treatment. The development, implementation, and reassessment of cultivation and testing standards and methods have largely been piecemeal; additionally, those efforts have been enacted in an environment where, despite the legal status in a state, fear that the federal government will inevitably intervene slows progress even further.<br />
<br />
Despite these barriers, the speed at which U.S. states have adopted some form of legalization of cannabis has pushed scientists and researchers to collaborate and improve standards and methods. Necessity continues to be the mother of invention, driving those in the industry to adapt or perish in a difficult, inconsistent market. State officials are teaming up at industry conferences and sharing ideas. Non-profit organizations are joining forces with major standards agencies to expand and improve good laboratory practices. Researchers — whether on their own or with the help of others internationally — are learning more about the cannabinoid and its interaction with terpenes, driving new insight into potential therapeutic remedies. Overall public perception about marijuana consumption and use is gradually shifting towards a positive light, even when so little is still understood about the long-term ramifications of its use. Commercial interests are taking notice, and so are international treaty makers. All of this adds up to forward momentum in the cannabis industry, with warts and all.<br />
<br />
Many factors will affect the future of cannabis regulation, testing, and research in the future; in the process, we're certain to see both ups and downs as political and social climates continue to change. However, as marijuana consumption and hemp-based manufacturing methods continue to see expanded support, consumers and manufacturers, as well as all those involved in between, will always clamor for a safer product that is "as advertised." Laboratory analysis will play an important role in that effort, whether it's in the medical research lab, the quality control lab, or the manufacturer's lab. It will be imperative for all interested parties to further work together to ensure methods are sound and standardized in a realistic and beneficial way to ensure that in the end consumers will get the best possible product available.<br />
<br />
==Resources==<br />
===Key reading===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana — not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Reference material===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/bookstore/state-legislatures-magazine/marijuana-deep-dive.aspx |title=Marijuana Deep Dive |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170117133745/https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |title=Marijuana Resource Center |author=Office of National Drug Control Policy |archivedate=17 January 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Law and regulation====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=State Medical Marijuana Laws |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=09 November 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Publications and blogs====<br />
<br />
* ''[http://www.liebertpub.com/overview/cannabis-and-cannabinoid-research/633/ Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research]''<br />
* ''[https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/ Cannabis Industry Journal]''<br />
* ''[http://mjbizdaily.com/ Marijuana Business Daily]''<br />
* ''[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7570_supp/index.html Nature Outlook: Cannabis]''<br />
* ''[http://www.beyondthc.com/ O’Shaughnessy’s]''<br />
* ''[http://terpenesandtesting.com/ Terpenes and Testing Magazine]''<br />
* ''[http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis Tracking Cannabis]'' - Thomas Coburn LLP<br />
<br />
<br />
====Standards and guidance====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Accreditation and certification====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientfocusedcertification.org/ |title=Patient Focused Certification |author=Americans for Safe Access Foundation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://certified-kind.com/ |title=Certified Kind: Certification for Responsibly Grown Cannabis |author=Certified Kind, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cleangreencert.org/ |title=Clean Green Certified |author=Clean Green Certified}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |author=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.pjlabs.com/accreditation-programs/medical-marijuana-testing |title=Accreditation Programs: Medical Marijuana Testing |author=Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Testing====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.a2la.org/appsweb/cannabis_testing.cfm |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Accreditation |author=American Association of Laboratory Accreditation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/ST-NAR-40-Ebook.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of cannabis and cannabis products |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=September 2009}} (Note year; still provides historical perspective)<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/STNAR48_Synthetic_Cannabinoids_ENG.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in seized materials |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=June 2013}}<br />
<br />
'''New York State Department of Health''':<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/359205661/MML-303-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Mycotoxins by LC-MS/MS, NYS DOH MML-303 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=43 |date=18 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/1495494332/MML-301-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medical marijuana sample preparation protocols for potency analysis, NYS DOH MML-301 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=13 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* For all other methods documents, see [https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana].<br />
<br />
<br />
===Scientific conferences and trade shows===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://2017.canntencon.com/ |title=Cann10 |publisher=Paragon Israel}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesssummit.com/oakland-2017/ |title=Cannabis Business Summit and Expo |publisher=National Cannabis Industry Association}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.canna-tech.co/ |title=CannaTech |publisher=iCAN Israel Cannabis}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldconference.com/ |title=Emerald Conference |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.csupueblo.edu/institute-of-cannabis-research/2017-conference/ |title=Institute of Cannabis Research Conference |publisher=Colorado State University - Pueblo}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://internationalcbc.com/ |title=International Cannabis Business Conference |publisher=International Conferences Group, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://mjbizconference.com/ |title=Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientsoutoftime.org/2017-national-clinical-conference-on-cannabis-therapeutics/ |title=National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics |publisher=Patients Out of Time}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.compassionatecertificationcenters.com/conference-overview/ |title=World Medical Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Present Syndikos LLC}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Associations, organizations, and interest groups===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agriculturalgenomics.org/ Agricultural Genomics Foundation]<br />
* [http://americancannabisnursesassociation.org/ American Cannabis Nurses Association]<br />
* [https://www.aocs.org/ American Oil Chemists Society]<br />
* [http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ Americans for Safe Access]<br />
* [http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories]<br />
* [http://www.australiancannabisindustry.org/ Australian Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.chascience.com/ Cannabis Horticultural Association]<br />
* [http://cannabissafetyinstitute.org/ Cannabis Safety Institute]<br />
* [https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/organization/workgroups-interest-groups-consortia/cannabis-science-interest-csi-group Cannabis Science Interest (CSI) Group], part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse<br />
* [http://cannabisandsocialpolicy.org/ Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy]<br />
* [http://www.cocannabischamber.com/ Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce]<br />
* [http://dfcr.org/ Doctors for Cannabis Regulation]<br />
* [https://www.cannabis-med.org/ International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines]<br />
* [http://icrs.co/ International Cannabinoid Research Society]<br />
* [http://thecannabisindustry.org/ National Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.nvcla.org/ Nevada Coalition Laboratory Association for Public Safety]<br />
* [http://norml.org/ NORML]<br />
* [http://patientsoutoftime.org/ Patients Out of Time]<br />
* [https://www.projectcbd.org/ Project CBD]<br />
* [https://learnaboutsam.org/ Smart Approaches to Marijuana]<br />
* [http://cannabisclinicians.org/ Society of Cannabis Clinicians]<br />
* [https://themedicalcannabisinstitute.org/ The Medical Cannabis Institute]<br />
* [http://www.vetscp.org/ Veterans Cannabis Project]<br />
* [http://womengrow.com/ Women Grow]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Testing labs and pricing info===<br />
<br />
The prevalence of testing laboratories in any given state depends on a few factors: legalization status, state laws regarding testing, and strictness of regulations. Labs typically appear as stand-alone, third-party entities. Though not common, some testing laboratories are located within dispensaries (e.g., Champlain Valley Dispensary in Vermont<ref name="CVDOurQuality">{{cite web |url=http://www.cvdvt.org/products/quality-commitment/ |title=Our Quality Commitment |publisher=Champlain Valley Dispensary, Inc |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>) and treatment centers (e.g., Sanctuary ATC in New Hampshire.<ref name="SATCAnalysis">{{cite web |url=http://www.sanctuaryatc.org/laboratory-analysis-nh.php |title=New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Laboratory Analysis — Therapeutic Uses |publisher=Sanctuary ATC |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>).<br />
<br />
The following are known active cannabis testing labs (those currently in the licensing process are not included):<br />
<br />
'''Alaska'''<br />
<br />
* [http://www.canntest.com/ Canntest] ($70–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/alaska Steep Hill Alaska] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arizona''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.arizonaanalytical.com/ Arizona Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.c4lab.com/ C4 Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.deltaverdelaboratory.com/ Delta Verde Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://desertvalleytesting.com/ Desert Valley Testing] ($15–$360, single and package tests)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arkansas''':<br />
<br />
* Laboratory testing requirements being drafted<br />
<br />
<br />
'''California''':<br />
<br />
* [http://anresco.com/ Anresco Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://budgenius.com Bud Genius] ($50/sample)<br />
* [https://www.cannalysislabs.com/ Cannalysis] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [https://coastalanalytical.com/ Coastal Analytical] ($77–$249, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.cblabstesting.com/ CS Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cwanalytical.com/ CW Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.flowertesting.com/ Flower Potency Testing] ($65–80/test type)<br />
* [http://greenherbanalytics.com/ GreenHerb Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenstyleconsulting.com/ Green Style Analytics] ($55–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.harrenslab.com/ Harrens Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.sdpharmlabs.com PharmLabs] ($40–$569, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://pureanalytics.net/ Pure Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.sequoia-labs.com Sequoia Analytical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/california Steep Hill California] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Colorado''':<br />
<br />
* [http://agricorlabs.com/ Agricor Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.aurum-labs.com/ Aurum Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://bonafideslab.com/ Bonafides Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/ CMT Laboratories] ($15–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://gobianalytical.net/ Gobi Labs] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [https://greenlabsolutionscompany.com/ Green Lab Solutions Company] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenhilllab.com/ GreenHill Laboratories] ($45–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://www.nordicanalytic.com Nordic Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phytatech.com/ PhytaTech CO] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rm3.us/ Rm3 Labs] ($35–$237, single and package tests)<br />
* Shilo Labs (Licensed<ref name="COLGovMLab16">{{cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/MLab%2007012016%20%20%20this%20one%20.pdf |format=PDF |title=MLab 07012016 this one |publisher=State of Colorado |date=01 July 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://www.teqanalyticallabs.com/ TEQ Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://goodlabcolorado.com/ The Good Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Connecticut''':<br />
<br />
* [http://altascilabs.com/ AltaSci Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Delaware''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agrolab.us/ Agrolab Organics] (State-contracted<ref name="FloodState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.capegazette.com/article/state-contracts-medical-marijuana-tester/120159 |title=State contracts medical marijuana tester |author=Flood, C. |work=Cape Gazette |date=15 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''District of Columbia''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Florida''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis Testing Lab Florida, LLC (Active but no website?)<br />
* [http://www.marijinc.com/ MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] (Mobile lab; pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.moderncanna.com/ Modern Canna Science (MCS)] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Hawaii''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hitestmedicallabs.com/ HI Test Medical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.hipharmlabs.com/ PharmLabs Hawaii] ($50–$775, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/hawaii Steep Hill Hawaii] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Illinois''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.gracelabinc.com/ Grace Analytical Laboratory, Inc.] ([https://www.agr.state.il.us/medical-cannabis-pilot-program/ Approved by state], but not advertised on website)<br />
* [http://www.lkpurelabs.com/ LK Pure Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maine''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.testedlabs.com/ Tested Labs] ($25–35/sample)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maryland''':<br />
<br />
* [http://steephill.com/maryland Steep Hill Maryland] (Pricing not public; plans on expanding here)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Massachusetts''':<br />
<br />
* [http://mcrlabs.com/ MCR Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Michigan''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.greatlakeslabservices.com/ Great Lakes Lab Services] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–$430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://micannalabs.com/ MI Canna Labs] ($60–$100/test package)<br />
* [https://www.psilabs.org/ PSI Labs] ($30–$85, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.steadfastlab.com/ Steadfast] ($25–$90/test)<br />
* [http://mispott.com/ The Spott] ($40–$90/test w/o membership; cheaper with, and can access package test prices)<br />
* [http://www.truenorthlaboratory.com/ True North Laboratory] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://upgclabs.com/ UPGC Labs] ($35/sample for potency testing)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Minnesota''':<br />
<br />
* Not clear; independent labs must be approved by Commissioner of Health.<ref name="KlarqvistMinnesota16">{{cite web |url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/MCTRA.pdf |format=PDF |title=Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research Act |author=Klarqvist, E. |publisher=Minnesota House of Representatives |date=August 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Two labs — Aspen Research and Legend Technical Services — were approved to do testing in 2015, but neither lists those services on their website.<ref name="MDHPublic16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2016/other/160894.pdf |format=PDF |title=Public Health Laboratory Annual Report: Fiscal Year 2015 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory |date=2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Montana''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buboanalytics.com/ Bubo Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://cannabanalysis.com/ Cannabanalysis Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://fidimt.com/ Fidelity Diagnostics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://montanabiotech.com/ Montana BioTech] (From $60)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Nevada''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.374labs.com/ 374 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://certifiedaglab.com/ Certified AgLab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://dblabslv.com/ DB Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://digipath.com/ Digipath] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://g3labsllc.com/ G3 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mmlabtesting.com/ MM Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.newheightslaboratory.com/ New Heights Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.nvcann.com/ NV Cann Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rsrlabs.com/ RSR Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.testlablasvegas.com/ Test Lab Las Vegas] (Pricing not public]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Hampshire''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates testing, but it's not clear which independent laboratories are approved to do so.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Jersey''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis testing is performed by the Department of Health and Senior Services.<ref name="HSS_NJAC8-64">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/documents/final_rules.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medicinal Marijuana Program Rules |publisher=New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services |date=23 November 2011 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Mexico''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.scientificbasesolutions.com/ Scientific Base Solutions] (Pricing not public]<br />
* [http://steephill.com/new-mexico Steep Hill New Mexico] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New York''':<br />
<br />
* "The Department's Wadsworth Center Laboratory will perform initial testing and analysis of final medical marijuana products until independent laboratories receive certification from the New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP)."<ref name="NYSFAQ">{{cite web |url=https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/faq.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |work=New York State Medical Marijuana Program |publisher=New York State Department of Health |date=March 2016 |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''North Dakota''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates that its compassion centers must test cannabis in-house or have it done by a contracted facility, though it's not clear what labs are performing such testing.<ref name="NDPetitionMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Measures%20Info/2016%20General/Measure%205.pdf |format=PDF |title=Initiated Constitutional Amendment No. 5 |publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State |date=2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Ohio''':<br />
<br />
* Licensing requirements for testing labs will become clearer in September 2017.<ref name="OMMCPTesting">{{cite web |url=http://www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/testing |title=Testing: Frequently Asked Questions |work=Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program |publisher=State of Ohio |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Oregon'''<br />
<br />
* Anova Laboratory (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ktvz.com/news/olcc-oks-26-recreational-pot-licenses-3-are-in-bend/101328364 |title=OLCC OKs 26 recreational pot licenses, 4 in Bend |work=News Channel 21 KTVZ |publisher=NPG of Oregon, Inc |date=30 September 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://cascadia-labs.com/ Cascadia Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://chemhistory.com/ ChemHistory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.easternoregonanalytical.com/ Eastern Oregon Analytical] ($50–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public; also see [http://www.kenevirresearch.com/ Kenevir Research], [http://oregonanalyticalservices.com/ Oregon Analytical Services], and [http://www.ghalabs.com/ GreenHaus Analytical Labs])<br />
* [http://www.greenleaflab.org/ Green Leaf Lab] ($50–$355, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://www.juniperanalyticsllc.com/ Juniper Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://lightscale.com/ Lightscale Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mrxlabs.com/ MRX Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://oganalytical.com/ Oregon Growers Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phlabsoregon.com/ pH Labs] (($60–$375, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.phylosbioscience.com/ Phylos Bioscience] ($15–$295; sexing and genotyping only)<br />
* [http://pixislabs.com/ Pixis Labs] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
* [http://www.rosecitylabs.com Rose City Laboratories] ($25–$360, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://spartananalytics.com/ Spartan Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.synpestlab.com/ Synergistic Pesticide Lab] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Pennsylvania''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here. Laboratory testing rules will become clearer later in 2017.<ref name="SchmittPA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.pamcs.org/pa-health-department-asks-public-input-medical-pot-rules/ |title=Pa. Health Department asks public for input on medical pot rules |author=Schmitt, B. |publisher=Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Rhode Island''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.bpanalytical.com/ Baseline Precision Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.ecltesting.com/ East Coast Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Vermont''':<br />
<br />
* The Department of Public Safety "may require laboratory testing of cannabis produced by a registered dispensary. The Department may specify the testing methodology. The registered dispensary shall bear the costs of any testing required by the Department."<ref name="DPSRulesReg15">{{cite web |url=http://vcic.vermont.gov/sites/vcic/files/files/marijuana-registry/MR-Rules-Regulating-Cannabis-for-Symptom-Relief.pdf |format=PDF |title=Rules Regulating Cannabis for Symptom Relief |publisher=Vermont Department of Public Safety |date=30 November 2015 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Washington''':<br />
<br />
* [http://analytical360.com/ Analytical 360] ($70–$120, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.anateklabs.com/ Anatek Labs] (Pricing for cannabis QA testing not clear)<br />
* [http://www.cannalyticsqc.com/ Cannalytics QC] ($35–$70/test)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://conflabs.com/ Confidence Analytics] ($40–$250, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.dragonlaboratory.com/ Dragon Analytical Laboratory] ($25–$1600, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.greengrowerlabs.com/ Green Grower Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.herbalanalytics.com/ Herbal Analytics] ($15–$70/test; contact for test package pricing)<br />
* [http://integritylabsolympia.com/ Integrity Labs] ($40–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.medicinecreekanalytics.com/ Medicine Creek Analytics] ($20–$100, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.peakanalyticslab.com/ Peak Analytics] ($50–$75/test)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/washington Steep Hill Washington] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://traceanalytics.com/ Trace Analytics] ($40–$350, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://tnwlab.com/ True Northwest] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
====Support services====<br />
The following entities are known to provide consulting and support services of various types to cannabis testing labs (as well as cultivators, dispensaries, etc.):<br />
<br />
* [http://www.3ccannabis.com/ 3C Consulting]<br />
* [http://www.americancannabisconsulting.com/ American Cannabis Company]<br />
* [http://c3analytical.com/ C3 Labs]<br />
* [http://cannabisconsultantsfl.com/ Cannabis Business Services (of Florida)]<br />
* [http://michigan-marijuana-lawyer.com/ Cannabis Legal Group]<br />
* [http://www.carbonblueconsulting.com/ Carbon Blue Consulting]<br />
* [https://www.hypur.com/ Hypur]<br />
* [http://www.phytoscienceinstitute.com/ Phytoscience Institute]<br />
* [http://www.phytosciences.com/ PhytoSciences Consultants]<br />
* [http://signoto.com/ Signoto] (Canada)<br />
* [http://steephilllab.com/consulting/ Steep Hill Halent]<br />
* [http://www.vitalescientific.com/services/cannabis/ Vitale Scientific Associates]<br />
<br />
===Testing hardware and supplies vendors===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buchi.com/en/ BÜCHI Labortechnik AG]<br />
* [http://www.emeraldscientific.com/ Emerald Scientific, LLC]<br />
* [http://www.fritsch-international.com/ Fritsch GmbH]<br />
* [http://gentechscientific.com/cannabis-testing/index.php GenTech Scientific]<br />
* [https://us.lgcstandards.com/US/en LGC Standards]<br />
* [http://www.orangephotonics.com/ Orange Photonics, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.restek.com/Landing-Pages/Medical-Marijuana Restek Corporation]<br />
* [http://sageanalytics.com/ Sage Analytics]<br />
* [http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/industry/industry_cannabistesting.cfm Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.spexcertiprep.com/products/cannabis SPEX CertiPrep]<br />
* [http://www.srigc.com/ SRI Instruments]<br />
* [http://vicam.com/ VICAM]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Software vendors===<br />
====Cannabis-oriented LIMS====<br />
<br />
* [http://www.atlab.com/industries/medical-marijuana Accelerated Technology Laboratories, Inc. - Various]<br />
* [[Bika LIMS|Bika Lab Systems (Pty) Ltd. - Bika LIMS]]<br />
* [[CannaSys, Inc.|CannaSys, Inc. - CannaLIMS]] <br />
* [[Guardian Data Systems, LLC|Guardian Data Systems, LLC - ROAR Cannabis Lab Software]]<br />
* [[lablynxwiki:LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis|LabLynx, Inc. - LabLynx LIMS]]<br />
* [[PharmLabs, LLC|PharmLabs, LLC - PharmWare]]<br />
* [[TheraCann International Benchmark Corporation|TheraCann International Corporation - TheraCannSYSTEM]]<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
<br />
See the [[CDMS vendor]] page.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
<br />
This is a representative sample of solutions and not a directory of all available solutions:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.biotrack.com/government-seed-to-sale-tracking/ Bio-Tech Medical Software, Inc. - BioTrackTHC]<br />
* [http://www.chetu.com/agriculture/seed-to-sale.php Chetu, Inc. - Custom software solutions]<br />
* [http://www.traceweed.com/ Dauntless Software, Inc. - TraceWeed]<br />
* [http://viridiansciences.com/ Far-From-Groove'N, Inc. dba Viridian Sciences - Viridian Sciences]<br />
* [https://www.metrc.com/the-system Franwell, Inc. - Metrc]<br />
* [https://mmjmenu.com/ Ghost Management Group, LLC - MMJMenu]<br />
* [https://www.greenbits.com/ Green Bits, Inc. - Green Bits]<br />
* [http://growone.com/ Grow One Software (US), LLC - Grow One]<br />
* [http://kind.financial/agrisoft-seed-to-sale-software/ KindManage, LLC - Agrisoft]<br />
* [https://www.motagistics.com/ Motagistics, LLC - 4S]<br />
* [https://www.proteus420.com/ Proteus Business Solutions, Inc. - PROTEUS420]<br />
* [http://www.webjoint.com/ Pyrotree, Inc. - WebJoint]<br />
* [http://theracanncorp.com/our-products-2/theracannsystem/ TheraCann International Corporation – TheraCannSYSTEM]<br />
* [https://weedtraqr.com/ WeedTraQR, LLC - WeedTraQR]<br />
<br />
===LIMSpec===<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel4&diff=29689User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel42017-03-30T15:11:24Z<p>Avaughan: /* Banking */</p>
<hr />
<div><br />
<br />
==Overview of the cannabis industry in the United States==<br />
'''Author, for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas<br />
<br />
The following is a brief overview of the cannabis industry in the United States. It's meant to give a quick and concise review of where cannabis use, regulation, testing, and research have been and where they are now. Many of the topics touched upon here will be expanded upon later in this guide.<br />
<br />
===Brief history of cannabis in the U.S.===<br />
[[File:Drug bottle containing cannabis.jpg|right|140px]]''Cannabis'' is a rapid-growing, flowering plant that has been used for centuries for industrial, medicinal, and recreational purposes. The plant includes three species or subspecies: ''indica'', ''ruderalis'', and ''sativa''.<ref name="GRINCannabis11">{{cite web |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomygenus.aspx?id=2034 |title=Genus: Cannabis L. |work=U.S. National Plant Germplasm System |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture |date=01 January 2011 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Both industrial hemp and recreational marijuana are derived from cannabis plants, but with important differences in biochemical composition. Hemp — which has historically been used to create clothing, food and feed, paper, textiles, and other industrial items — tends to have lower levels of the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and higher levels of the non-psychoactive component cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="SwansonControlled15">{{cite journal |title=Controlled Substances Chaos: The Department of Justice's New Policy Position on Marijuana and What It Means for Industrial Hemp Farming in North Dakota |journal=North Dakota Law Review |author=Swanson, T.E. |volume=90 |issue=3 |pages=599–622 |year=2015 |url=https://law.und.edu/_files/docs/ndlr/pdf/issues/90/3/90ndlr599.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="DeitchHemp03">{{cite book |title=Hemp – American History Revisited |author=Deitch, R. |publisher=Algora Publishing |location=New York City |year=2003 |pages=232 |isbn=9780875862262}}</ref> Some cannabis strains have intentionally been bred to produce low levels of THC, while others have been bred with the intent to maximize the psychoactive component. <br />
<br />
Cannabis cultivation began in England's Jamestown colony of America in earnest around 1611, via formal orders. Several years later those orders turned into a royal decree, enacted by the Virginia Company, asking colonists to each grow 100 hemp plants for export to England.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Colonial America continued its growth, use, and exportation of hemp, even beyond the formal founding of the United States. During that time, growers undoubtedly were using the female plant (which flowers and has higher levels of THC) to treat aches and pains as well as enjoy it recreationally. By the time the U.S. Civil War arrived in the 1860s, however, the growth and use of industrial hemp declined as increased cotton and wood use took away much of the profitability of hemp.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Around the same time, local governments began recognizing tonics, tinctures, and extracts from cannabis plants as potentially dangerous substances, labeling them as hypnotics, narcotics, or even poisons.<ref name="Senate1860">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1860/02/16/news/senate-88150825.html |title=Senate |author=U.S. Senate |work=The New York Times |date=15 February 1860 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> In the early twentieth century, U.S. labeling and prescription laws — such as the the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 at the federal level as well as various state laws — saw further restrictions put on cannabis, effectively culminating in the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. With the passage of those acts, hemp and marijuana essentially became illegal, controlled substances.<ref name="WaltonMari38">{{cite book |author=Walton, R.F. |title=Marijuana, America’s New Drug Problem |location=Philadelphia |publisher=B. Lippincott |year=1938 |page=37}}</ref><ref name="WoodwardTax37">{{cite web |url=http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/woodward.htm |title=Taxation of Marihuana |author=Woodward, W.C.; House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means |work=Schaffer Library of Drug Policy |date=04 May 1937 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CaversTheFood39">{{cite journal |title=The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938: Its Legislative History and its Substantive Provisions |journal=Law and Contemporary Problems |author=Cavers, D.F. |volume=6 |pages=2–42 |year=1939 |url=http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/lcp/vol6/iss1/2/}}</ref><br />
<br />
State efforts to decriminalize marijuana were somewhat successful in the early 1970s, though progress towards that goal slowed again with the Reagan Administration's war on drugs.<ref name="MeierPolitics16">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4wYDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT58 |title=The Politics of Sin: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy |author=Meier, K.J. |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2016 |page=58 |isbn=9781315287270}}</ref> Progress picked up steam again in the late 1990s into the 2000s, particularly in states such as California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, and Colorado.<br />
<br />
As of March 2017, twenty-eight U.S. states have approved some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization of medicinal and/or recreational marijuana.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16">{{cite web |url=http://time.com/4559278/marijuana-election-results-2016/ |title=These States Just Legalized Marijuana |author=Steinmetz, K. |work=Time |publisher=Time, Inc |date=08 November 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Industrial hemp has also been addressed in some regard, with 16 states having legalized commercialized industrial hemp production and the federal government making certain concessions on it (''Cannabis sativa'' containing no more than 0.3 percent THC, grown under a state-sanctioned agricultural pilot program).<ref name="NCSLState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/agriculture-and-rural-development/state-industrial-hemp-statutes.aspx |title=State Industrial Hemp Statuses |publisher=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=19 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="81FR53395">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-19146/statement-of-principles-on-industrial-hemp |journal=Federal Register |title=Statement of Principles on Industrial Hemp |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53395–6 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> However, cannabis, including industrial hemp, remains a Schedule I controlled substance, as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<ref name="LegerMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/11/dea-marijuana-remains-illegal-under-federal-law/88550804/ |title=Marijuana to remain illegal under federal law, DEA says |author=Leger, D.L. |work=USA. Today |publisher=Gannett Company |date=11 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref>, including extracts and other derivatives such as cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="WallaceLegal17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/01/13/hemp-dea-extracts-marijuana-cbd-judicial-review/71387/ |title=Legal challenge filed against DEA’s new marijuana extract rule |work=The Cannabist |author=Wallace, A. |publisher=The Denver Post |date=13 January 2017 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> This federal classification continues to clash with changing state laws and regulations at an increasing pace, creating both opportunities and difficulties for involved citizens at all points along the industrial, economic, and social chain.<br />
<br />
===Medical and recreational use===<br />
In its 2016 World Drug Report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that 3.8 percent of the global population — roughly 183 million people — used cannabis in 2014.<ref name="UNODCWorld16">{{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/doc/wdr2016/WORLD_DRUG_REPORT_2016_web.pdf |format=PDF |title=World Drug Report 2016 |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |publisher=United Nations |isbn=9789210578622 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Focusing in on the United States, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that in 2014 the country had 35.1 million past-year marijuana users.<ref name="SAMHSAResults16">{{cite web |url=https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.pdf |format=PDF |title=Results from The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use And Health: Detailed Tables |author=Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |editor=RTI International |page=178 |date=08 September 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> It's not clear if that total includes legal medical marijuana users, which numbered roughly 2.4 million that year according to non-profit ProCon.org.<ref name="ProConNumber14">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=006445 |title=Number of Legal Medical Marijuana Patients (as of Oct. 27, 2014) |publisher=ProCon.org |date=27 October 2014 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref> When compared to SAMHSA's estimate of 11.1 million users in 1997<ref name="RabkinDrug99">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvzBdlolKrQC&pg=PA16 |title=Drug Control: DEA's Strategies and Operations in the 1990s |author=Rabkin, N.J. |publisher=U.S. General Accounting Office |year=July 1999 |pages=172 |isbn=9780788184833}}</ref>, it becomes clear that reported marijuana use has increased in the United States over the past few decades, whether it's through legalization efforts or otherwise. Some have pointed to the expansion of medical marijuana laws acting as gateways for increased adolescent use; however, multiple studies have tried but failed to find such a cause and effect relationship.<ref name="HasinMedical15">{{cite journal |title=Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the USA from 1991 to 2014: Results from annual, repeated cross-sectional surveys |journal=The Lancet Psychiatry |author=Hasin, D.S.; Wall, M.; Keyes, K.M. et al. |volume=2 |issue=7 |pages=601–608 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00217-5}}</ref><ref name="WallAdol11">{{cite journal |title=Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008: Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Wall, M.M.; Poh, E.; Cerdá, M. |volume=21 |issue=9 |pages=714–716 |year=2011 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.06.001 |pmid=21820632 |pmc=PMC3358137}}</ref><ref name="HarperDoMed12">{{cite journal |title=Do Medical Marijuana Laws Increase Marijuana Use? Replication Study and Extension |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Harper, S.; Strumpf, E.C.; Kaufman, J.S. |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=207–212 |year=2012 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.12.002 |pmid=22285867}}</ref> Regardless, with 28 U.S. states now having some type of legalization law on the books<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" />, the number of marijuana users isn't likely to decrease any time soon in the U.S.<br />
<br />
===Cultivation and distribution===<br />
At the federal level, marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug and remains illegal.<ref name="GPO21USC812">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title21/html/USCODE-2011-title21-chap13-subchapI-partB-sec812.htm |title=§812. Schedules of controlled substances |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LegerMari16" /> (Federal regulation of cannabis is discussed in detail later under "Regulation and standardization.") This doesn't leave a lot of options for researchers and the like. In fact, the only federally-granted grow operation (grow-op) as of this writing is the University of Mississippi, contracted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to grow marijuana for approved research studies.<ref name="BajajHowThe14">{{cite web |url=https://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/how-the-federal-government-slows-marijuana-research/ |title=How the Federal Government Slows Marijuana Research |author=Bajaj, V. |work=Taking Note: The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=30 July 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CheslerGov15">{{cite web |url=http://weedrush.news21.com/government-restrictions-lack-of-funding-slow-progress-on-medical-marijuana-research/ |title=Government restrictions, lack of funding slow progress on medical marijuana research |author=Chesler, J.; Ard, A. |work=News21: America's Weed Rush |publisher=Carnegie Corporation of New York; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation |date=15 August 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/10/marijuana-medical-research-dea/ |title=DEA decision keeps major restrictions in place on marijuana research |author=Joseph, A. |work=STAT |publisher=Boston Globe Media |date=10 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RudroffMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/marijuana-regulation-blocks-vital-ms-research-544886 |title=Marijuana Regulation Blocks Vital Multiple Sclerosis Research |author=Rudroff, T. |work=Newsweek |publisher=IBT Media, Inc |date=21 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (That may change for the better in 2017; see the next section on testing and research for more.)<br />
<br />
On the state level, the growth, testing, and distribution of cannabis depends on state law, which can vary from state to state. This topic is discussed further in the "Regulation and standardization" section, but here are the key points:<br />
<br />
* Federal law makes it illegal to cultivate and distribute marijuana, even in a state that has legalized such activity. However, while there's no legally binding guarantee cultivators and distributors won't be pursued by federal law enforcement, they can limit their chances of such federal enforcement by following to the letter state and local law.<br />
<br />
* Despite some of the variances among state laws, one aspect largely remains consistent: it's illegal to distribute marijuana over state lines, even when distributing between two states with similar laws.<ref name="BelvilleCanI16">{{cite web |url=http://www.weednews.co/can-i-take-marijuana-from-one-legal-state-to-another/ |title=Can I Take Marijuana From One Legal State To Another? |work=Weed News |author=Belville, R. |publisher=WN Media, LLC |date=28 November 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
* Regulations on the personal and commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana vary significantly from state to state. Some states make a limited pool of available licenses available; others don't offer them or instead have specific alternative treatment or non-profit centers that handle growth and distribution.<ref name="FindLawMari">{{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LeaflyHome">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="ProCon28Legal16">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Testing and research===<br />
[[File:Juan Velez- Planta Cannabis.jpg|left|250px]]One area that continues to expand — while taking advantage of new scientific research and techniques — is the laboratory sphere, particularly in research, regulation, and standardization activities. According to July 2016 testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Division Director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) alone supported 281 cannabinoid research projects totaling more than $111 million in 2015.<ref name="WeissTestimony16">{{cite web |url=https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/asl/testimony/2016-09/the-state-of-the-science-on-the-therapeutic-potential-of-marijuana-and-cannabinoids/index.html |title=Testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Ph.D. on The State of the Science on the Therapeutic Potential of Marijuana and Cannabinoids before Judiciary Committee |author=Weiss, S.R.B. |work=ASL Testimony |publisher=U.S. Department of Health & Human Services |date=13 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
While the research, analysis, and processing of cannabis has been ongoing for centuries<ref name="DeitchHemp03" />, it wasn't until 1896 that Wood ''et al.'' conducted one of the first documented chemical experiments to determine the constituents of cannabis. Several years later, the researchers were able to correctly identify the extracted and isolated cannabinol from the exuded resin of Indian hemp as C<sub>21</sub>H<sub>26</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.<ref name="WoodCann1899">{{cite journal |title=III.—Cannabinol. Part I |journal=Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions |author=Wood, T.B.; Newton Spivey, W.T.; Easterfield, T.H. |volume=75 |pages=30–36 |year=1899 |doi=10.1039/CT8997500020}}</ref> As of mid-2015, 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' have been identified as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15">{{cite journal |title=Isolation and pharmacological evaluation of minor cannabinoids from high-potency ''Cannabis sativa'' |journal=Journal of Natural Products |author=Radwan, M.M.; ElSohly, M.A.; El-Alfy, A.T. et al. |volume=78 |issue=6 |pages=1271-6 |year=2015 |doi=10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00065 |pmid=26000707 |pmc=PMC4880513}}</ref>, "a class of diverse chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in cells that modulate neurotransmitter release in the brain."<ref name="WHOTheHealth16">{{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}</ref><br />
<br />
Yet in the United States, when it comes to 1. enacting the broad level of testing required to ensure public safety — whether it be medical, recreational, or industrial use of cannabis — and 2. researching and better understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (medical use and benefit) of cannabinoids in the human population, many have argued that laboratory testing of cannabis is still in its infancy<ref name="HazekampCanna12">{{cite journal |title=Cannabis - from cultivar to chemovar |journal=Drug Testing and Analysis |author=Hazekamp, A.; Fischedick, J.T. |volume=4 |issue=7–8 |pages=660–7 |year=2012 |doi=10.1002/dta.407 |pmid=22362625}}</ref><ref name="BushWorlds15">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/worldrsquos-strongest-weed-potency-testing-challenged/ |title=World’s strongest weed? Potency testing challenged |author=Bush, E. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=18 February 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RutschQuality15">{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/24/395065699/quality-testing-legal-marijuana-strong-but-not-always-clean |title=Quality-Testing Legal Marijuana: Strong But Not Always Clean |author=Rutsch, P. |work=Shots |publisher=National Public Radio |date=24 March 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15">{{cite journal |title=Unraveling the Cannabinome |journal=The Analytical Scientist |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Lipps, W. |issue=0915 |year=2015 |url=https://theanalyticalscientist.com/issues/0915/unraveling-the-cannabinome/ |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CrombieMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2016/07/marijuana_labs_prepping_for_st.html |title=Marijuana labs prepping for regulation and oversight; no lab licenses issued yet |author=Crombie, N. |work=The Oregonian |publisher=Oregon Live LLC |date=25 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16">{{cite web |url=http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170210234439/http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Closer Look at Cannabis Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Clifford, R.; Winkler, P.; Bankert, W. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=December 2016 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref> and evidence-based research of marijuana continues to be slow and bogged down in regulation.<ref name="BajajHowThe14" /><ref name="CheslerGov15" /><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="RudroffMari17" /> In regards to the first issue, as some form of legalization continues to sweep across states, regulators, users, and industry are recognizing the need for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana; the current state of improper labeling and potentially harmful contaminants<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /> will only serve to hinder the industry. To the second issue, some within the federal government seem to recognize the roadblocks to improved evidence-based research and are working to slowly improve how researchers can legally acquire and test marijuana in the U.S.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis/post/2016-08-15/the-silver-lining-in-the-dea-s-refusal-to-reclassify-cannabis |title=The silver lining in the DEA’s refusal to reclassify cannabis |work=Tracking Cannabis |author=Romza-Kutz, D.; Roth V., F. |publisher=Thompson Coburn LLP |date=15 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
An excerpt from the previously mentioned testimony of NIDA's Dr. Weiss summates this well:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The current state of the research on marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids suggests the potential for therapeutic value for a number of conditions; however, more evidence is needed before marijuana or cannabinoid products (beyond those already approved through the Food and Drug Administration [FDA]) are ready for medical use. Promising preclinical findings do not always prove to be clinically relevant, and even fewer lead to new treatments. Moreover, clinical studies of sufficient quality to meet FDA standards for drug approval are currently lacking for most conditions. Among the factors that impact this research are the specific statutory requirements and treaty obligations that govern research on marijuana. NIH is working closely with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and FDA to explore ways to streamline these processes to facilitate research.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /></blockquote> <br />
<br />
In the meantime, government entities such as the National Institutes of Health and non-profits such as jCanna push forward with scientific conferences, summits, and roundtables that bring scientists and interested parties together to share existing knowledge and testing techniques.<ref name="NIHMari16">{{cite web |url=http://apps1.seiservices.com/nih/mj/2016/ |title=The Marijuana and Cannabinoids: A Neuroscience Research Summit |publisher=National Institutes of Health |date=23 March 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="jCannaCSC17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Other areas of concern===<br />
When examining the current state of the U.S. cannabis industry, it's important to note a few additional areas of concern that impact it, again tightly linked to federal regulations (which are discussed extensively in the next section): banking and advertising. Issues related to both of these topics continue to limit how state-based grow-ops, dispensaries, and testing laboratories are funded and operated. <br />
<br />
====Banking====<br />
Since the U.S. federal government still considers marijuana to be illegal, by extension banks and credit unions — which are regulated by a patchwork collection of federal (and state) laws — put themselves into potentially dangerous territory by accepting money from depositors engaging in federally illegal activities; the bank can be punished by federal institutions such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).<ref name="HillBanks15">{{cite journal |title=Banks, Marijuana, and Federalism |journal=Case Western Reserve Federal Law Review |author=Hill, J.A. |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=597–647 |year=2015 |url=http://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrev/vol65/iss3/7}}</ref> In an attempt to ease the concerns of industry players as well as banks in states that had implemented legalization efforts, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released a guidance document in February 2014 that "does not grant immunity from prosecution or civil penalties to banks that serve legal marijuana businesses" but rather "directs prosecutors and regulators to give priority to cases only where financial institutions have failed to adhere to the guidance."<ref name="KovaleskiUS14">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/us/us-issues-marijuana-guidelines-for-banks.html |title=U.S. Issues Marijuana Guidelines for Banks |author=Kovaleski, S.F. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Corporation |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FinCEN_BSA14">{{cite web |url=https://www.fincen.gov/resources/statutes-regulations/guidance/bsa-expectations-regarding-marijuana-related-businesses |title=BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses |author=Financial Crimes Enforcement Network |publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, the guidance has remained just that: guidance; it doesn't prevent federal law enforcement or regulating agencies from taking action. An August 2016 attempt to reclassify marijuana into a lower classification than Schedule I failed<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" />, keeping the FinCEN guidance in place as a recommendation for how federal authorities should enforce existing law. <br />
<br />
According to an Associated Press report in April 2016, the guidance has had some sort of impact, with banks and credit unions willing to handle any money associated with marijuana increasing from 51 in March 2014 to 301 in March 2016.<ref name="HansenBanking16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/804ae396daab4ba98f814b186f872ef6/banking-woes-easing-some-legal-pot-businesses |title=Banking woes easing for some legal pot businesses |author=Hansen, K.; Johnson, G. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=20 April 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, this hasn't prevented those in states with newly minted medical and recreational marijuana legalization laws from being worried about how cannabis money will be handled, particularly with the new Trump administration taking the reigns of government. California, which in November 2016 legalized recreational use of marijuana beginning in 2018, has already petitioned that administration to clarify its policy early on. "We have a year to develop a system that works in California and which addresses the many issues that exist as a result of the federal-state legal conflict," wrote California Treasurer John Chiang to Trump. "Uncertainty about the position of your administration creates even more of a challenge."<ref name="BloodCali16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d54ea614db274238986a8e0d77dbb147/california-treasurer-asks-trump-guidance-pot-banking |title=California treasurer asks Trump for guidance on pot, banking |author=Blood, M.R. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=02 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Similar legalization changes in Massachusetts prompted its senator, Elizabeth Warren, along with nine other senators, to write to FinCEN in early 2017 requesting even clearer, more friendly guidance for marijuana vendors.<ref name="LeBlancUSSen17">{{cite web |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/jan/02/us-sen-warren-seeks-to-pull-pot-shops-out-of-banki/ |title=US Sen. Warren seeks to pull pot shops out of banking limbo |author=LeBlanc, S. |work=Las Vegas Sun |publisher=Greenspun Media Group |date=02 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> Yet it remains to be seen if entities outside of grow-ops and dispensaries will see banking relief. In particular, testing laboratories continue to struggle with managing cash flow and acquiring bank lending for their operations<ref name="LampachQA13">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/qa-with-steep-hill-lab-ceo-david-lampach-cannabis-testing-market-could-hit-40m-in-2-years/ |title=Q&A With CEO of Steep Hill Halent: US Cannabis Testing Market Could Hit $40M by 2016 |work=Marijuana Business Daily |author=Lampach, D. |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=20 November 2013 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MartinProfit16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ |title=Profitability in the Cannabis Laboratory Industry |work=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |author=Martin, R.W. |publisher=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |date=May 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="TulsiABright16">{{cite web |url=http://www.labmanager.com/research-specific-labs/2016/10/today-s-cannabis-research-market |title=A Bright Future for Cannabis Testing Services |work=Lab Manager |author=Tulsi, B.B. |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=03 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>, causing some to believe consolidation of such labs will occur before the industry can really even take off.<ref name="LampachQA13" /><ref name="DigiPathAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Digipath-Company-Report.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |date=October 2016 |pages=36 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Advertising====<br />
Advertising of marijuana products is another area of concern, though the regulations and laws regarding it are less clear. When it comes to television and radio broadcasting and its associated advertising, a federally granted broadcasting license stands to be lost, care of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The trouble is, it's not clear if the FCC would act against broadcasters; the FCC hasn't issued guidance in the same way FinCEN has. "I don’t think anybody knows, and that’s the problem," said California Broadcasters Association President Joe Berry in an August 2016 report published by the The Sacramento Bee. "Without a clear indication [from the FCC on marijuana advertising], the vast majority of broadcasters are going to stay away from this issue."<ref name="WhiteIfCali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article96040082.html |title=If California legalizes pot, will TV ads be far behind? |author=White, J.B. |work=The Sacramento Bee |publisher=The McClatchy Company |date=17 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> California, of course, made recreational marijuana legal, and its proposed law sought to address the issue of advertising, including "a provision restricting TV and radio ads so they are not targeted to minors," while also addressing the authority of the FCC to enforce regardless.<ref name="McGreevyQA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-proposition-64-marijuana-legalization-qa-20161030-snap-20161029-story.html |title=Q&A: Proposition 64 would legalize recreational use of marijuana though it's illegal under federal law. How will that work? |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=30 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Other forms of advertising also remain problematic. In late November 2015, the United States Postal Service (USPS) out of Portland, Oregon published its interpretation of federal law regarding "mailpieces containing advertisements about marijuana," regarding it illegal to distribute certain forms of marijuana advertisement while citing 21 U.S. Code § 843(c).<ref name="ReinThePot15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/12/21/the-pot-business-may-be-legal-but-newspapers-cant-run-ads-for-it-the-u-s-postal-service-says/ |title=The pot business may be legal, but newspapers can’t run ads for it, the U.S. Postal Service says |author=Rein, L. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=21 December 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has, controversially, also gotten involved, stating that trademarking of a "brand controlled substances or related paraphernalia that are illegal to possess or sell" legally doesn't fit within a trademark's commercial viability because at the federal level marijuana is not legal for commerce.<ref name="OxenfordAccepting16">{{cite web |url=http://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2016/12/articles/accepting-advertising-for-marijuana-or-marijuana-paraphernalia-the-trademark-office-rules-on-a-related-issue-that-provides-more-reason-for-caution/ |title=Accepting Advertising for Marijuana or Marijuana Paraphernalia: The Trademark Office Rules on a Related Issue that Provides More Reason For Caution |author=Oxenford, D. |work=Broadcast Law Blog |date=13 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (Legal experts such as Dariush Adli suggest "creative ways" of getting around this, from registering trademarks in multiple states to registering "non-cannabis merchandise in order to generate some federal protection for their mark."<ref name="AdliObtain16">{{cite web |url=http://adlilaw.blogspot.com/2016/12/obtaining-trademark-protection-for_9.html |title=Obtaining Trademark Protection for Cannabis Businesses |author=Adli, D. |publisher=ADLI Law Group |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>) Even billboards are an issue, with state lawmakers proposing new regulations on billboard-based marijuana advertising weeks after the state passed its recreational legalization laws.<ref name="McGreevyPotAds16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-pot-ads-snap-20161221-story.html |title=Pot ads along highways? Lawmakers wrangle over legalization's consequences |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> And state laws, such as those found in Alaska, can create their own set of challenges in staying legal with marijuana advertising.<ref name="AndrewsGaps16">{{cite web |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-marijuana/2016/12/26/gaps-in-alaska-marijuana-advertising-rules-cause-worry/ |title=Gaps in Alaska marijuana ad rules cause worry |author=Andrews, L. |work=Alaska Dispatch News |publisher=Alaska Dispatch Publishing |date=27 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Despite all this, at least one financial consultant believes marijuana marketing will become more prevalent: GreenWave Advisors' Matthew Karnes estimates spending will jump to $75 million by 2021.<ref name="StilsonWhyMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/why-marijuana-marketing-will-be-bigger-ever-year-175246 |title=Why Marijuana Marketing Will Be Bigger Than Ever This Year |author=Stilson, J. |work=Adweek |publisher=Adweek, LLC |date=03 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Regulation and standardization==<br />
===Federal regulation of cannabis===<br />
[[File:Dea color logo.svg|right|250px]]On October 27, 1970, the Controlled Substances Act put into place five schedules or classifications of drugs that would be regulated in some fashion, and drugs were initially classified into those schedules, followed by annual reviews and updates.<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> Marijuana was initially placed under Schedule I<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> and remains there today.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/alex-grubbs/dea-declines-request-reclassify-marijuana-citiing-its-high-potential-abuse |title=DEA Declines Request to Reclassify Marijuana, Citiing Its 'High Potential for Abuse' |author=Grubbs, A. |work=CNSNews |publisher=Media Research Center |date=13 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> As a Schedule I drug, the federal government is indicating marijuana has<ref name="GPO21USC812" />:<br />
<br />
* "a high potential for abuse";<br />
* "no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States"; and<br />
* "a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision".<br />
<br />
Then came the Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973, which took existing enforcement entities such as the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and placed them into a new, unified entity called the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).<ref name="GPO5USCApp">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title5/html/USCODE-2011-title5-app-reorganiz-other-dup96.htm |title=Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973 |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="DEAHist7075">{{cite web |url=https://www.dea.gov/about/history/1970-1975.pdf |format=PDF |title=Drug Enforcement Administration: 1970–1975 |work=DEA History In Depth |publisher=U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Then President Richard Nixon said of the transition<ref name="GPO5USCApp" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The enforcement work could benefit significantly, however, from consolidation of our anti-drug forces under a single unified command. Right now the Federal Government is fighting the war on drug abuse under a distinct handicap, for its efforts are those of a loosely confederated alliance facing a resourceful, elusive, worldwide enemy.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The DEA was given numerous responsibilities, including but not limited to the development of enforcement strategy; investigation and prosecution preparation of suspects violating federal law; regulation of drugs and other controlled substances; and coordination and cooperation with state and local government drug enforcement efforts.<ref name="GPO5USCApp" /> Since then the DEA has taken various steps — with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<ref name="HamiltonTheFDA16">{{cite web |url=https://news.vice.com/article/dea-fda-marijuana-schedule-1-status-decision |title=The FDA told the DEA whether pot is medicine — but it won't tell the public |author=Hamilton, K. |work=Vice News |publisher=Vice Media, LLC |date=27 June 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> — to regulate and enforce the availability and use of controlled substances such as marijuana. As the decriminalization and legalization efforts of states have increased in past decades, this has brought federal regulation and enforcement conflicts to those states that have decriminalized and legalized, largely due to the federal government's insistence on maintaining marijuana as a Schedule I drug.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /><ref name="HudakTheCon15">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/conflict-between-federal-and-state-marijuana-laws-claims-victim-345099 |title=The Conflict Between Federal and State Marijuana Laws Claims a Victim |author=Hudak, J. |work=Newsweek |publisher=Newsweek, LLC |date=20 June 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Numerous changes in policy and controversies have occurred since the Controlled Substance Act and DEA were implemented, including a 22-year-long effort by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) to have marijuana rescheduled (1972–1994).<ref name="DPAMAPSTheDEA14">{{cite web |url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/DPA-MAPS_DEA_Science_Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=The DEA: Four Decades of Impeding And Rejecting Science |author=Drug Policy Alliance; MAPS |publisher=Drug Policy Alliance |date=June 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> However, the following talking points represent the most recent important federal-level changes and rulings that impact federal regulation of and enforcement of laws relating to cannabis.<br />
<br />
'''October 19, 2009: The Ogden Memorandum'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden issued a memorandum "intended solely as a guide to the exercise of investigative and prosecutorial discretion" in regards to state-based laws allowing medical cannabis.<ref name="OgdenMemor09">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/blog/memorandum-selected-united-state-attorneys-investigations-and-prosecutions-states |title=Memorandum for Selected United State Attorneys on Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana |author=Ogden, D.W. |work=Justice Blogs |publisher=Department of Justice |date=19 October 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The guidance essentially told U.S. attorneys to not prosecute those entities complying fully with state cannabis laws. Researchers generally agree that this memo acted "as a catalyst for expansion of [state-sanctioned and gray market] cannabis supply in states with poorly defined regulations," though the degree to which it influenced such growth remains poorly documented and requires further investigation.<ref name="CambronState16">{{cite journal |title=State and National Contexts in Evaluating Cannabis Laws: A Case Study of Washington State |journal=Journal of Drug Issues |author=Cambron, C.; Guttmannova, K.; Fleming, C.B. |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=74–90 |year=2017 |doi=10.1177/0022042616678607}}</ref> To be sure, it likely had some effect, as the number of licensed patients using medical marijuana in the state of Colorado increased from 4,800 in 2008 to 41,000 in 2009, and operating dispensaries jumped to more than 900 by mid-2010.<ref name="HIDTATheLeg13">{{cite web |url=http://www.rmhidta.org/html/final%20legalization%20of%20mj%20in%20colorado%20the%20impact.pdf |format=PDF |title=The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact |author=Rocky Mountain HIDTA |volume=1 |date=August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''June 29, 2011: The Cole Memorandum 1'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a memo as a follow-up to the Ogden Memo, muddying the waters in the process. While stating that the stance of efficiently using department resources as outlined in the Ogden Memo still stood, Cole also made it clear that large grow-ops that didn't qualify as "caregivers" had sprung up since.<ref name="ColeMemo11">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/oip/legacy/2014/07/23/dag-guidance-2011-for-medical-marijuana-use.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 June 2011 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The language of the memo essentially said "get off your butts and nail those suckers."<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13">{{cite web |url=https://blog.simplejustice.us/2013/08/30/the-cole-memo-2-0-this-changes-everything/ |title=The Cole Memo 2.0: This Changes Everything |work=Simple Justice |author=Greenfield, S.H. |date=30 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> Cambron ''et al.''<ref name="CambronState16" /> and Fairman<ref name="FairmanTrends16">{{cite journal |title=Trends in registered medical marijuana participation across 13 US states and District of Columbia |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Fairman, B.J. |volume=159 |pages=72–9 |year=2016 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.015 |pmid=26686277}}</ref> suggest this memo had some impact as evidenced by declines in cannabis patient registration from 2011–2013 in Colorado, Michigan, and Montana.<br />
<br />
'''August 29, 2013: The Cole Memorandum 2'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a follow-up memo to his original two years later, following 1. on the heels of then President Obama reiterating publicly that the Department of Justice (DoJ) was to not focus unnecessarily on states that had passed legalization laws and 2. Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational use of cannabis.<ref name="CambronState16" /> The second memorandum sought to reduce the emphasis on the size of the grow-op and increase emphasis on — by a case-by-case basis — "whether the operation is demonstrably in compliance with a strong and effective state regulatory system."<ref name="ColeMemo13">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/3052013829132756857467.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for All United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The memo also clarified specific cases where federal enforcement would be warranted, including distribution to minors, interstate transport, and preventing drugged driving (though it didn't state how). Generally speaking, states saw little federal intervention except in the case of state law being broken or requiring dispensaries to move further away from schools.<ref name="MPPFederal16">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/federal-enforcement-policy-on-state-marijuana-laws/ |title=Federal Marijuana Enforcement Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=2016 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CambronState16" /> Despite the memo, some attorneys continued to see Cole Memorandum 2 as nothing more than unclear language that had no legal weight for anxious growers and distributors in states where cannabis was legalized.<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13" /><br />
<br />
'''December 16, 2014 to current: Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment'''<br />
<br />
A tenuous truce of sorts arrived with the passage of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment in December 2014. The amendment prohibited the DoJ from spending funds to prevent or enforce against state laws that allow for medical marijuana cultivation, distribution, and use, particularly when those actions are performed consistently with those state laws.<ref name="ArmentanoPres14">{{cite web |url=http://blog.norml.org/2014/12/16/president-to-sign-federal-spending-bill-protecting-state-sanctioned-medical-marijuana-programs/ |title=President Signs Federal Spending Bill Protecting State Sanctioned Medical Marijuana Programs |author=Armentano, P. |work=NORML Blog |publisher=NORML Foundation |date=16 December 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Before being passed in December 2014, the amendment had actually been introduced and defeated six times in the previous 10 years.<ref name="BrekkeHouse14">{{cite web |url=https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/05/30/house-votes-to-block-medical-pot-prosecution/ |title=House Votes to End Medical Marijuana Prosecutions |author=Brekke, D. |work=KQED News |publisher=KQED, Inc |date=30 May 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> The DoJ later went on to challenge the amendment on several occasions, from ''U.S. v. Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana'' in 2015 to a collection of 10 different cases from California and Washington in 2016. In both cases, the courts ruled against the DoJ, setting precedent against further department action.<ref name="IngrahamFed15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/10/20/federal-court-tells-the-dea-to-stop-harassing-medical-marijuana-providers/ |title=Federal court tells the DEA to stop harassing medical marijuana providers |author=Ingraham, C. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=20 October 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FermerTheLargest16">{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/medical-marijuana-9th-circuit_us_57b36a31e4b04ff883990337 |title=The Largest Federal Appeals Court Tells DOJ To Back Off State-Legal Medical Marijuana |author=Fermer, M. |work=The Huffington Post |publisher=TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc |date=16 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
One of the downsides of Rohrabacher-Farr is that it has essentially acted as a short-term rider attached to several spending bills since December 2014. As of March 2017, it was last renewed through April 28, 2017; however, with the new Trump administration coalescing — including Trump's demonstrably anti-drug U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions — some in the industry are concerned the amendment may not be renewed, opening the door again for the DoJ to implement stronger enforcement.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /><ref name="SwerdlowApril17">{{cite web |url=http://www.marijuananews.org/afraid |title=April 28, 2017 - Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid + IRS FU |author=Swerdlow, L. |publisher=Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project |date=22 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="YakowiczThePerfect17">{{cite web |url=http://www.inc.com/will-yakowicz/perfect-storm-regulations-could-cripple-marijuana-industry.html |title=The Perfect Storm That Could Cripple the Marijuana Industry Under Trump |author=Yakowicz, W. |work=Inc |publisher=Mansueto Ventures, LLC |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RohrabacherRohr17">{{cite web |url=https://rohrabacher.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rohrabacher-praises-sessions-urges-ag-nominee-to-respect-federal |title=Rohrabacher praises Sessions, urges AG nominee to respect federal marijuana law |author=Rohrabacher, D. |publisher=State of California |date=11 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MuiTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/14/donald-trump-and-jeff-sessions-anti-legal-pot-industry.html |title=Trump and his attorney general are freaking out the $7 billion pot industry |author=Mui, Y. |work=CNBC |publisher=CNBC, LLC |date=14 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref> Alternative bills are continuing to be proposed, including a more permanent version of Rohrabacher-Farr introduced by Representative Dana Rohrabacher of California; however, Speaker Paul Ryan has implemented rules prohibiting amendments to budgetary legislation, and the fact remains that Congress remains reluctant of hearing bills that would change the country's marijuana laws.<ref name="AdamsMari17">{{cite web |url=https://thefreshtoast.com/cannabis/marijuana-bills-currently-congress-can-change-game/ |title=Marijuana Bills Currently In Congress: How They Can Change The Game |author=Adams, M. |work=The Fresh Toast |publisher=Project Coco, Inc |date=13 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="RuskinSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/news/chemtales/sessions-hints-at-a-war-on-marijuana-now-what/ |title=Sessions Hints at a War on Marijuana. Now What? |author=Ruskin, Z. |work=SF Weekly |publisher=San Francisco Media Co |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''August 11, 2016: DEA denies petition to reschedule marijuana out of Schedule I'''<br />
<br />
A request made by two governors and a psychiatric nurse practitioner to the DEA asking it to reschedule marijuana into any other schedule other than Schedule I was denied, as had been done with previous attempts in 2009 and 2011.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16" /> Reasons included known health issues such as prenatal exposure and negative impacts on several biological systems, as well as limited research data and new drug applications.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> At the same time, however, the DEA also recognized the need for further research and the lack of legal marijuana sources for researchers, publishing a policy statement stating intent "to increase the lawful supply of marijuana available to researchers."<ref name="81FR53846">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-17955/applications-to-become-registered-under-the-controlled-substances-act-to-manufacture-marijuana-to |journal=Federal Register |title=Applications To Become Registered Under the Controlled Substances Act To Manufacture Marijuana To Supply Researchers in the United States |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53846–8 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===State and local regulation===<br />
As of January 2017, 28 states have some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization laws for cannabis on the books.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /> In October 1973, Oregon became the first state to enact decriminalization laws for marijuana, imposing a $100 fine for possession of less than an ounce. Eleven other states followed a similar path within five years.<ref name="SingleTheImp81">{{cite book |chapter=The Impact of Marijuana Decriminalization |title=Research Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems |author=Single, E.W. |editor=Israel, Y.; Glaser, F.B.; Kalant, H. et al. |publisher=Springer US |year=1981 |pages=405–424 |doi=10.1007/978-1-4615-7740-9_12 |isbn=9781461577409}}</ref> The next wave of changes began with the passage of medical marijuana legislation in California — the Compassionate Use Act — in November 1996, followed by similar legislation in Oregon and Alaska in 1998, Maine in 1999, and Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada in 2000.<ref name="CambronState16" /><ref name="Alaska98Results">{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/98GENR/results.htm |title=Election Summary Report, State of Alaska 1998 General Election: Official Results |work=Election Results |publisher=State of Alaska Division of Elections |date=1 December 1998 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> Other states continued to add decriminalization and medical marijuana laws in the 2000s. But it wasn't until 2012 that Colorado and Washington became the first states to make recreational marijuana legal, followed by Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia in 2014.<ref name="CambronState16" /> Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada followed suit in 2016.<ref name="BurkeFour17">{{cite web |url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/four-more-states-pass-new-marijuana-laws-california-maine-massachusetts-nevada |title=Four More States Pass New Marijuana Laws: California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada |author=Burke, C. |work=National Law Review |publisher=National Law Forum, LLC |date=04 January 2017 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As shown by Cambron ''et al.'' in 2016 (before the November election results)<ref name="CambronState16" />, dispensaries, possession limits, and interstate ID card acceptance can vary significantly among affected states. California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington lead in number of dispensaries; Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington in maximum possession limits; and Arizona plus five others allowed ID cards from other states. Yet allowed dispensaries can number in the single digits, possession limits can be as low as one ounce, and numerous states still don't honor ID cards from other states.<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Then there's the matter of state differences in testing, enforcement, advertising allowances, etc. It helps to turn to professional associations and organizations — who often lead the charge for improved, more relevant standards — to sort through the variances. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), for example, has published its ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs'' to help sort through the confusing tangle of existing testing laws, where they exist. They exemplify this variation of law in their document<ref name="APHLGuide16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>As with most programs in the United States, every state takes a different approach. For example as of January 2016, New Jersey’s Public Health & Environmental Laboratories only test cannabis plant material. Just across the Hudson, however, New York’s Public Health Laboratory will not be testing any plant material, only cannabis extracts. In addition, the New York Department of Health will provide an oversight role for commercial cannabis laboratories that are licensed by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and approved for testing cannabis products. On the other hand, New Jersey state government does all testing in-house for the medical cannabis program.</blockquote><br />
<br />
As such, unlike their federal counterpart, it's difficult to make broad generalizations about cannabis regulations and their enforcement in the states. It becomes even more difficult when examining states that don't have clear, well-considered regulations or strong enforcement powers. Cambron ''et al.'' emphasized this issue in regards to the supply side, saying: "States without clearly defined regulations for medical cannabis supply have fostered gray markets for cannabis whereby individuals without documented medical conditions are able to easily obtain medical cannabis authorizations. This scenario has created substantial challenges for law enforcement in multiple states."<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Cole ''et al.'' argue that in the end, it will take pressure on the federal government "to set up policy guardrails to steer state regulatory systems" in a more unified and safe direction. Drugged driving, use by minors, interstate distribution, relation to crime and firearms, consumer safety, and advertising are all issues the government should be tackling towards that goal, they say. Not that states aren't addressing these regulatory concerns; they are, but not in consistent ways.<ref name="ColeAll16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thirdway.org/report/all-state-marijuana-laws-are-not-created-equal |title=All State Marijuana Laws Are Not Created Equal |work=Third Way |author=Cole, T.; Trumble, S.; Hatalsky, L.E. |date=17 February 20116 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Standardization===<br />
While federal, state, and local governments wrestle with the regulatory frameworks surrounding cannabis, scientists and government officials are carrying on, doing what they can to harmonize those regulations with emerging industry standards and guidelines. For example, state officials from Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington teamed up to give a presentation called "State Regulatory Approaches to Cannabis Testing, Operations and Product Logistics" at the July 2016 Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit. That presentation focused on the harmonization of regulatory standards and frameworks across states, as well as discussions of what scientific efforts are required to support those standards and frameworks.<ref name="CQSSS16">{{cite web |url=http://chernislaw.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NEW-Cannabis-Quality-Summit-Main-Summit-Agenda.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit - Agenda |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=July 2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, organizations such as Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), and the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) have been developing standards, methods, and certifications for analysis, extraction, labeling, and laboratory operations surrounding medical (and recreational) marijuana.<ref name="InfocastNew16">{{cite web |url=http://infocastinc.com/industries/new-certification-program-brings-quality-assurance-to-the-medical-marijuana-industry/ |title=New Certification Program Brings Quality Assurance to the Medical Marijuana Industry |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AHPARecomm16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="AHPCanna14">{{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}</ref><ref name="MarcuJahan16">{{cite web |url=https://www.projectcbd.org/article/jahan-marcu-cannabis-lab-testing-safety-protocols |title=Jahan Marcu: Cannabis Lab Testing & Safety Protocols |work=Project CBD |author=Project CBD; Marcu, J. |publisher=Project CBD |date=16 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Notable among those organizations is the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS), which has been working to produce internationally applicable voluntary consensus standards for various parts of the cannabis business chain, including cultivation, extraction, laboratory testing, and packaging. FOCUS completed its public review process and finalized its standards in July 2016, though at that time it wasn't clear how to gain access to them.<ref name="FOCUSPublic16">{{cite web |url=http://www.focusstandards.org/public-review-of-cannabis-standards/ |title=Public Review Completes Development Process |publisher=FOCUS |date=2016 |accessdate=16 February 2016}}</ref> New information came to light in March 2017, when FOCUS and ASTM International announced a collaboration between the two entities, which will, pending April 2017 ASTM board approval, see the formation of volunteer committee D37 at ASTM and the further adaptation of FOCUS' standards for a future ASTM release.<ref name="BirosASTM17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/news_article/astm-international-launches-cannabis-committee/ |title=ASTM International Launches Cannabis Committee |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ASTMD37">{{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Laboratory testing of cannabis==<br />
[[File:Juan Velez y Sebastian Cortes - Investigadores del Cannabis Medicinal.jpg|right|300px]]The overview mentioned how regulators, users, and industry are calling for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana. Without proper testing, several issues are bound to arise<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="CANORMLHow11">{{cite web |url=http://canorml.org/news/ringtest.html |title=How Accurate Is Cannabis Potency Testing? |publisher=California NORML |date=21 September 2011 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* label claims may not match actual contents;<br />
* contaminants may linger, causing illness or even death;<br />
* chemical properties and medicinal benefits of specific strains and their unique cannabinoid-turpene profiles can't be isolated; and<br />
* research on potential therapeutic qualities can't be replicated, hindering scientific progress.<br />
<br />
In 2011 — a year before any U.S. state had enacted broad legalization of recreational marijuana — California NORML reported that its assessment of analytical cannabis testing laboratories' accuracy found that while California labs broadly reached +/- 20 percent consistency from a replicate sample, three out of 10 provided unfavorable results on at least half of their tests. Similar wide-ranging discrepancies were also found among edibles, extracts, and tinctures, and NORML found that none of the labs could reach two decimal points precision of cannabinoid results despite laboratory claims stating otherwise.<ref name="CANORMLHow11" /> Another report out of Washington State in January 2015, not long after recreational marijuana sales to the public (requiring accredited lab testing prior) began<ref name="WLCBFAQ">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/mj2015/faqs_i-502 |title=FAQs on I-502 |publisher=Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>, found blind tests of recreational marijuana at dispensaries could range as much as 7.5 percent in accuracy from its corresponding label.<ref name="BushWorlds15" /> Further issues in 2016 with alleged partiality by some Washington testing laboratories prompted emergency proficiency testing rules to be enacted.<ref name="YoungSome16">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/marijuana/some-pot-labs-in-state-failed-no-pot-at-all-says-scientist/ |title=Some pot labs in state failed no pot at all, says scientist |author=Young, B. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=05 January 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/to-combat-claims-of-inconsistency-washington-testing-labs-turn-to |title=To Combat Inconsistency, Washington Testing Labs Turn to Self-Policing |work=Leafly - Politics |author=Coughlin-Bogue, T. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=11 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> (Proficiency testing essentially requires a laboratory in question to test a sample with known properties, and then those results are compared to those of a neutral third-party lab testing the same sample.)<br />
<br />
These discrepancies and deficiencies highlight the growing need for homogenization of testing methods and procedures, if not nationally at least across an entire state. Such homogenization would, in theory, not only positively affect the quality of product but also provide greater consumer confidence that label and product match. As Marketing Director Scott Kuzdzal of Shimadzu pointed out during a January 2017 webinar on analytic testing of cannabis, poor sample preparation, lack of thorough testing, and the manual process itself — which can introduce user error, particularly when good laboratory practices aren’t used — all can contribute to discrepancies between label and product.<ref name="KuzdzalOpp17">{{cite web |url= http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170119200158/http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |title=Webinar: Opportunities & Challenges in Cannabis Analytical Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.A. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=19 January 2017 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=03 February 2017 |quote=Source is actual webinar.}}</ref> When dispensaries, edible manufacturers, and supplement companies perform insufficient lab testing or overstate claims on labels, it reduces consumer confidence, and both state and federal authorities — including the FDA — have to interject.<ref name="YoungSome16" /><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16" /><ref name="FDAWarn16">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm484109.htm |title=2016 Warning Letters and Test Results for Cannabidiol-Related Products |work=Public Health Focus |publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration |date=31 August 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As was mentioned at the end of the previous section on state regulation, efforts to improve testing methods and procedures, with the goal of seeing the best of them become standards, are ongoing. Where are those efforts now, and where are they going? Before we can examine that, we first need to briefly look at what aspects of cannabis are actually being analyzed.<br />
<br />
===Analytical aspects of cannabis===<br />
====Cannabinoids====<br />
As of mid-2015, researchers have identified 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15" />, active chemical compounds that act in a similar way to compounds our body naturally produces. Many of our body's cells have cannabinoid receptors capable of modulating neurotransmitter release in the brain and other areas.<ref name="WHOTheHealth16" /> The plant's cannabinoids vary, with each bonding to specific receptors in our body, providing differing effects. From a theoretical and medical standpoint, crafting a strain of cannabis that has specific cannabinoids that can aid with a particular malady, while also carefully reproducing the grow conditions to consistently make that strain in the future, is a desirable but difficult goal to achieve.<ref name="RahnCannab14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/cannabinoids-101-what-makes-cannabis-medicine |title=Cannabinoids 101: What Makes Cannabis Medicine? |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=22 January 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabinoids is done primarily as a measure of psychoactive "potency," though cannabinoids have many other potential therapeutic uses. Current laboratory testing looks at only a handful of cannabinoids; more research and development of analytical techniques that can quickly and accurately detect and separate the the rest is required.<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> Some of the major cannabinoids tested for include<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/understanding-cannabis-testing |title=Understanding Cannabis Testing: A Guide to Cannabinoids and Terpenes |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=09 October 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''THC (∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)''': This is the most commonly known cannabinoid found in cannabis, notable for its strong psychoactive effects and ability to aid with pain, sleep, and appetite issues. Included is its analogue ∆8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (which shows notably less strong psychoactive effects than ∆9<ref name="NIHDelta8">{{cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug?cdrid=485262 |title=delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol |work=NCI Drug Dictionary |publisher=National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>) and its homologue THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), which tends to appear in trace amounts and has a more pronounced psychoactive effect, but for a shorter duration. THCV shows promise in fighting anxiety, tremors from neurological disorders, appetite issues, and special cases of bone loss. Also notable is Δ9-THCA (Δ9-Tethrahydrocannibinolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to THC. <br />
<br />
* '''CBC (Cannabichromene)''': This non-psychoactive cannabinoid is found in trace amounts; however, it tends to be markedly more effective at treating anxiety and stress than CBD (see next). It's also notable for its anti-inflamatory properties and potential use for bone deficiencies. <br />
<br />
* '''CBD (Cannabidiol)''': CBD is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, typically accounting for up to 35 to 40 percent of cannabis extracts. It acts as a counter-balance to THC, regulating its psychoactivity. It's been researched as a treatment for anxiety, sleep loss, inflammation, stress, pain, and epilepsy, among other afflictions. Included is its homologue CBDV (Cannabidivarin), which is also non-psychoactive and demonstrates promise as a treatment for epileptic seizures. Also notable is CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBD.<br />
<br />
* '''CBG (Cannabigerol)''': This cannabinoid is also non-psychoactive but only appears in trace amounts of cannabis. If has potential as a sleep aid, anti-bacterial, and cell growth stimulant. Also notable is CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid ), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBG.<br />
<br />
* '''CBN (Cannabinol)''': CBN is mildly psychoactive at best and appears only in trace amounts in ''Cannabis sativa'' and ''Cannabis indica''. It occurs largely as a metabolite of THC and tends to have one of the strongest sedative effects among cannabinoids. It shows promise as a treatment for insomnia, glaucoma, and certain types of pain.<br />
<br />
====Terpenes====<br />
Mandated lab testing of terpenes — volatile organic compounds that distinctly affect cannabis aroma and taste — is done primarily as a way to ensure proper labeling of cannabis and related products, including extracts and concentrates, so buyers have confidence in what they are purchasing.<ref name="HabibTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1c-Testing-for-Psychoactive-Agents-Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing for Psychoactive Agents |author=Habib, R.; Finighan, R.; Davenport, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=24 August 2013 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CMTLabs">{{cite web |url=http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/test-services/tests-offered/ |title=Tests Offered |publisher=CMT Laboratories |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="WercShop">{{cite web |url=http://thewercshop.com/services/terpene-profiling-services/ |title=Terpene Profiling Services |publisher=The Werc Shop |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> However, additional lab research goes into terpenes as they also show potentially useful pharmacological properties<ref name="HabibTesting13" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16">{{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}</ref>, and they demonstrate synergies (referred to at times as the "entourage effect") with cannabinoids that largely still require further exploration.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="WachsbergerTerpene16">{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomcityclub.com/terpine-testing-the-future-of-cannabis-is-here/ |title=Terpene Testing: The future of Cannabis is here |author=Wachsberger, K. |work=Bloom Blog |publisher=Bloom City Club |date=02 February 2016 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> Testing for specific terpenes (discussed later) is less of a standardized practice, though it's rapidly improving.<ref name="HabibTesting13" /> Commonly tested terpenes by third-party testing labs include<ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="CMTLabs" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14" /><ref name="SCLabs">{{cite web |url=http://sclabs.com/terpene-analysis/ |title=Terpene Analysis |publisher=SC Labs, Inc |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Bisabolol<br />
* Caryophyllene<br />
* Cymene<br />
* Humulene<br />
* Limonene<br />
* Linalool<br />
* Myrcene<br />
* Phytol<br />
* Pinene<br />
* Terpinolene<br />
<br />
====Contaminates====<br />
Generally speaking, a contaminate is an unwanted substance that may show up in the final product, be it recreational marijuana or a pharmaceutical company's therapeutic tincture. The following are examples of contaminates that laboratories may test for in cannabis products. <br />
<br />
'''Pesticides''': Pesticides represent the Wild West of not only growing cannabis but also performing analytical testing on it. One of the core issues, again, is the fact that on the federal level marijuana is illegal. Because it's illegal, government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) don't test and create standards or guidelines for what's safe when it comes to residual pesticides, let alone how to best test for them.<ref name="BorelTheWild15">{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/08/pot-marijuana-pesticide-legalization/401771/ |title=The Wild West of Marijuana Pesticides |author=Borel, B. |work=The Atlantic |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group |date=31 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ZhangNobody15">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/nobody-knows-pesticides-legal-marijuana// |title=Nobody Knows What to Do About Pesticides in Legal Marijuana |author=Zhang, S. |work=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |date=07 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, researchers face their fair share of difficulties obtaining product to test. The end result is we don't know much about how inhalation of pesticide-coated marijuana smoke affects long-term health<ref name="BorelTheWild15" /><ref name="ZhangNobody15" />, and we don't have standards for pesticide application and testing.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> With numerous pesticide products and little oversight on what growers apply to their plants, combined with the technical difficulty of testing for pesticides in the lab, pesticides remain one of the most difficult contaminates to test for.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> That said, several classes of of pesticides are commonly applied during cannabis cultivation and can be tested for by labs<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/PreventionWellness/marijuana/Documents/oha-8964-technical-report-marijuana-contaminant-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Technical Report: Oregon Health Authority’s Process to Determine Which Types of Contaminants to Test for in Cannabis Products, and Levels for Action |author=Farrer, D.G. |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |date=December 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''avermectins''': functions as an insecticide that is useful against mites, which are a common problem for cultivators<br />
* '''carbamates''': functions as an insecticide, similar to organophosphates, but with decreased dermal toxicity and higher degradation<br />
* '''organophosphates''': functions as the base of many insecticides and herbicides, valued for its easy organic bonding<br />
* '''pyrethroids''': functions as the base of most household insecticides and exhibits insect repellent properties<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': In 2003, Canadian Rick Simpson published a recipe of sorts for preparing cannabis extract via the use of solvents such as naphtha or petroleum ether. Claiming the resulting oil helped cure his skin cancer, others hoping for a cure tried it, and the solvent method of preparation grew in popularity. Dubious healing claims aside, the solvent extraction method remains viable, though it has evolved over the years to include less harmful solvents such as supercritical carbon dioxide, which has low toxicity, low environmental impact, and beneficial extraction properties.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RomanoCannabis13">{{cite journal |url=http://www.stcm.ch/en/files/hazekamp_cann-oil_2013.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis oil: Chemical evaluation of an upcoming cannabis-based medicine |journal=Cannabinoids |author=Romano, L.L.; Hazekamp, A. |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1–11 |year=2013}}</ref><ref name="PeachSuper14">{{cite journal |title=Supercritical carbon dioxide: A solvent like no other |journal=Journal of Organic Chemistry |author=Peach, J.; Eastoe, J. |volume=10 |pages=1878-95 |year=2014 |doi=10.3762/bjoc.10.196 |pmid=25246947 |pmc=PMC4168859}}</ref> However, chemical solvents are still used, and if not evaporated out properly, the remaining solvents can be particularly harmful to sick patients using the extract. As for what solvents should be tested for, it gets a bit trickier, though Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'', the Oregon Health Authority's December 2015 technical report on contaminant testing of cannabis, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's response to public comments on cannabis testing provide helpful guidance. Listed solvents include benzene, butane, cumene, dimethoxyethane, hexane, and pentane, among others.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="USPNF467">{{cite web |url=https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/USPNF/generalChapter467Current.pdf |format=PDF |title=<467> Residual Solvents |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="MDPHResponse">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/external-comment-response-020416-final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Response to Public Comments |author=Bureau of Healthcare Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |date=12 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': 2013 research on contaminant testing on the behalf of Washington State provides insights into heavy metals and why they're looked for in cannabis testing. That research, as well as other sources, tell us<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DaleyTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Heavy metals contribute to several health problems, including those of a neurological nature.<br />
* Cannabis can "hyperaccumulate metals from contaminated soils."<br />
* Research parallels can be found in tobacco research and how the FDA regulates heavy metal content in foods.<br />
* The most prominently tested heavy metals include arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni).<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': "The ideal conditions for cannabis growth are also ideal for the growth of potentially harmful bacteria and fungi, including yeast and molds," say Shimadzu's Scott Kuzdzal and William Lipps, "therefore microbial contamination poses health risks to consumers and immunocompromised individuals."<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> In truth, these concerns have already borne out; most recently the University of California, Davis reported in February 2017 one of its patients had contracted an incurable fungal infection from inhaling aerosolized marijuana. They later tested 20 marijuana samples from Northern California dispensaries — using specialized techniques — and found a wide variety of potentially hazardous microorganisms.<ref name="UCDavis17">{{cite web |url=http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/11791 |title=UC Davis study finds mold, bacterial contaminants in medical marijuana samples |publisher=UC Davis |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The degree to which such contaminates commonly appear in grown and stored cannabis material and to which microbiological contaminates should be tested is not clear, however. As mentioned previously, neither the U.S. EPA or neighboring Health Canada provide any significant guidance on cannabis testing, including microbiological contaminates.<ref name="KennardYouAre16">{{cite web |url=https://tantaluslabs.com/populace/you-are-probably-smoking-mouldy-weed-why-does-quality-assurance-matter/ |title=You are Probably Smoking Mouldy Weed - Why Does Quality Assurance Matter? |work=Populace |author=Kennard, M. |publisher=Tantalus Labs |date=02 June 2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> Like heavy metal testing, parallels are drawn from microbial testing guidelines and standards relating to tobacco and food, where they exist.<ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> As warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, maintaining stable moisture levels during cultivation and storage is essential. Regularly measuring water activity — how moist something is — is particularly useful as a front-line preventative tool to better ensure microbial growth is limited.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> Regardless, testing of some kind is still required by many U.S. states, including for organisms such as<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="UCDavis17" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="CANNAMicro14">{{cite web |url=http://www.fundacion-canna.es/en/microbiological-study-cannabis-samples |title=Microbiological study of Cannabis samples |publisher=Fundación CANNA |date=2014 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RussoCann13">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qH-2Lj9x7L4C&pg=PT457&lpg=PT457 |chapter=Chapter 30: Contaminants and Adulterants in Herbal Cannabis |title=Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential |author=McPartland, J.M. |editor=Russo, E.B. |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |pages=478 |isbn=9781136614934}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Aflatoxin<br />
* ''Alternaria''<br />
* ''Aspergillus''<br />
* ''Cryptococcus''<br />
* ''E. coli''<br />
* ''Mucor''<br />
* ''Penicillium''<br />
* ''Salmonella''<br />
<br />
===Methods and guidelines===<br />
Now that we've addressed what's being tested for, we can move on to how they're being tested and what's being done to improve testing methods and procedures, including associated guidelines and recommendations. It would be beyond the scope of this guide to include every state's laws and guidelines on cannabis testing; entities such as [https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations Leafly Holdings]<ref name="RoughLeaflysState">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}</ref> and [http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ CannaGuard Security]<ref name="CSCanna16">{{cite web |url=http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ |title=CannaBiz Resources |publisher=CannaGuard Security |date=2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> provide such online resources. Instead, this section will focus on current and promising techniques using generalizations based on information from multiple sources. If any guidelines and recommendations are known, they'll be included.<br />
<br />
====Sampling====<br />
Random, representative sampling is encouraged. When dealing with solid cannabis, BOTEC Analysis recommends a "quartering" method that divides the sample into four equal parts and takes portions from opposite sections of a square-shaped arrangement of the sample. For liquid cannabis products, remembering to stir before sample collection is advised.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> When deriving a sample from a cannabis-laden edible, the QuEChERS approach used by food safety labs for pesticide testing has practical use.<ref name="RigdonExtract16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=25790 |title=Extraction Method for Cannabinoid Analysis in Edibles: Too Much of a Good Thing |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> In fact, a variety of parallels have been drawn from the food and herbal medicine industries' sampling guidelines, including from the Codex Alimentarius Commission's ''CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling'' as well as various chapters of the ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary''.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CACGL50-2004">{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCAC%2BGL%2B50-2004%252FCXG_050e.pdf |format=PDF |author=Codex Alimentarius Commission |title=CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling |pages=69 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> As the APHL points out, "[g]ood sampling is key to improving analytical data equivalency among organizations," and it provides a solid base for any future testing and standardization efforts.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> <br />
<br />
Additional sampling insight can be found by examining other states' guidelines, e.g., Massachusetts' ''Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries''.<ref name="DPHMassProto16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Cannabinoid testing====<br />
Quantifying cannabinoids for label accuracy is a major goal of testing, though calculation and testing processes may vary slightly from state to state. Despite any differences, laboratorians generally agree that when testing for cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, as well as their respective biosynthetic precursors THCA and CBDA, the methodology used must be scrutinized. The naturally occurring THCA of cannabis isn't psychoactive; it requires decarboxylation (a chemical reaction induced by drying/heating that releases carbon dioxide) to convert itself into the psychoactive cannabinoid THC. Chemical calculations show that the process of decarboxylation results in approximately 87.7 percent of the THCA's mass converting to THC, with the other 12.3 percent bubbling off as CO<sub>2</sub> gas.<ref name="CAWhy1">{{cite web |url=http://conflabs.com/why-0-877/ |title=Why 0.877? |publisher=Confidence Analytics |date=10 February 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> The problem with this in the testing domain is gas chromatography (GC) involves heating the sample solution. If you, the lab technician, require precise numbers of both THCA and THC, then GC analysis poses the risk of under-reporting THC total values.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> As such, liquid chromatography-diode array detection (LC-DAD) may be required if a concise profile of all cannabinoids must be made, primarily because it provides environmental stability for them all during analysis. If GC is used, the analysis requires extra considerations such as sample derivatization.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RigdonAccurateJuly15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=14961 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids by GC – Is it Possible? |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 July 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RigdonAccurateSept15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=15135 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids and Neutrals by GC – Derivatives without Calculus |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=09 September 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The APHL briefly describes analysis methods of cannabinoids using both LC and GC on pages 31–32 of their May 2016 ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs''. They also point to New York Department of Health - Wadsworth Center's various guidance documents (MML-300, -301, and -303) for methodologies when testing sample types other than solids, particularly using high-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA).<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MML-300">{{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> Overall, methods used in cannabinoid testing include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="MML-300" /><ref name="SCCann16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/docs/Sigma-Aldrich/General_Information/1/cannabis-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing: Quality You Can Trust |publisher=Sigma-Aldritch Co. LLC |date=2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AdamsNear16">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/column/near-infrared-gc-and-hplc-applications-in-cannabis-testing/ |title=Near Infrared, GC and HPLC Applications in Cannabis Testing |author=Adams, T.; Bertone, M. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=30 November 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR; has limitations, such as requiring standard samples tested w/ other methods)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like 5α-cholestane, docosane, and tetracosane)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like deuterated cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA; stable for all forms of cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography UV detection (HPLC-UV)<br />
* Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
* Thin-layer chromatography (TLC; older, less common technology)<br />
* Ultra-performance chromatography (UPC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
<br />
====Terpene testing====<br />
Identifying and quantifying terpenes is one of the more difficult tasks facing laboratorians<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Terpenes present an analytical challenge because they are nonpolar and structurally similar, and many structural isomers exist. Mass spectrometry (MS) cannot distinguish terpenes that co-elute from a GC column because many have the same molecular weight and share fragment ions.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Of course, types of gas chromatography work; but like cannabinoids, terpenes can degrade with the high heat of gas chromatography.<ref name="AdamsNear16" /> Combined with the problems mentioned above, highly specialized gas chromatography processes that include additional steps — such as full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID) — can be used to produce cleaner results, particularly for volatile components.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> It's less clear if high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used frequently; some entities such as Eurofins Experchem Laboratories claim HPLC works best for them<ref name="AdamsNear16" />, while others such as Restek Corporation claim the method is problematic at best.<ref name="HerringCanHP16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=33071 |title=Can HPLC-UV Be Used For Terpenes Analysis In Cannabis? |author=Herring, T. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 December 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Overall, methods for terpene identification and analysis include<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="SCLabs" /><ref name="SCCann16" /><ref name="AdamsNear16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/life_science/shimadzu_cannabis_brochure.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Solutions |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID; tends to be semi-quantitative)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; may have limitations due to coelution of terpenes and cannabinoids at certain ranges<ref name="HerringCanHP16" />)<br />
<br />
====Contaminate testing====<br />
[[File:LC MS pic.jpg|right|400px]]'''Pesticides''': Gas and liquid chromatography methods are by and large the staple of testing methods for pesticides, which remain "the hardest analyses that are going to be done in the cannabis industry."<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Notably, high-performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) tends to be one of the most thorough methods says Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon. "Ninety-five percent of the pesticides out there can be analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS, although there are some that you would need a GC-MS/MS for," she says.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Testing methods that have been used include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Gas chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of pesticides in cannabis, the EPA's Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) or FDA's Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) provide guidance to labs.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="FDA_PAM">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': Testing for solvents is largely standardized into a couple of options, which have parallels to existing pharmaceutical testing standards outlined in Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'' (USP <467>)<ref name="USPNF467" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS)<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID)<br />
<br />
Massachusetts and Oregon — and likely other states — have used a variety of guidance documents such as USP <467>, reports from the Commission of the European Communities' Scientific Committee on Food (now the European Food Safety Authority), and the International Conference on Harmonization's (ICH) Q3C(R5)<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MDPHResponse" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /> to set their action level testing values for particular solvents.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': The methods used for quantifying levels of highly toxic metals in plants depend on ease-of-use, level of accuracy, and overall cost. The following methods are most common for testing cannabis and other plants<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DavisAnalysis15">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/aas/ssi-icp-002.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of "The Big Four" Heavy Metals in Cannabis by USN-ICP-OES |author=Davis, D.; Long, K.; Masone, J.; Firmin, P. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=August 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), sometimes called inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) (at times coupled with an ultrasonic nebulizer)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma tandem-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of metals in cannabis, the U.S. FDA's ICP-MS methodology document is often used.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': A standard method of testing for the existence of microorganisms is through the process of culturing a sample in a Petri dish, a common diagnostic method in microbiology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is also used, particularly to identify mycotoxins. However, Petri culture analysis isn't rigorous, and ELISA can be time consuming, as it's limited to one mycotoxin per test.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> The following are other, more precise techniques that are improving laboratorians' analyses, particularly using DNA snippets of microbiological contaminates<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="ThompsonAMicro16">{{cite journal |title=A microbiome assessment of medical marijuana |journal=Clinical Microbiology and Infection |author=Thompson III, G.R.; Tuscano, J.M.; Dennis, M. et al. |pages=S1198-743X(16)30605-X |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.cmi.2016.12.001 |pmid=27956269}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)<br />
* Whole metagenome shotgun (WMGS) sequencing<br />
* Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
The extent of mycotoxin testing required remains in question by several entities. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) claims "[t]here is no readily available evidence to support the contention that cannabis harbors significant levels of mycotoxins."<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> The Oregon Health Authority takes a more middle-ground approach, noting that testing for ''E. coli'' and ''Salmonella'' will "protect public health," though ''Aspergillus'' only deserves a warning for people with suppressed immune systems due to its prevalence in the environment.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> USP <561> recommendations largely limit mycotoxin testing of botanical products to those borne from root or rhizome material<ref name="USPNF561">{{cite web |url=https://hmc.usp.org/sites/default/files/documents/HMC/GCs-Pdfs/c561.pdf |format=PDF |title=<561> Articles of Botanical Origin |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>, "which THC-containing cannabis products presumably do not possess," emphasizes the APHL.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Regardless, U.S. Pharmacopeia's Chapter 561 remains a useful document for testing guidelines and limits regarding microbials.<ref name="USPNF561" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> In the less common case of dealing with powdered cannabis — a relatively new THC extract form — Chapter 2023 provides at least some testing parallels, though Dr. Tony Cundell, a microbiologist consulting for the pharmaceutical industry, suggests USP <2023> doesn't go far enough for immunocompromised patients.<ref name="CundellMicro15">{{cite web |url=http://www.americanpharmaceuticalreview.com/Featured-Articles/177487-Microbiological-Attributes-of-Powdered-Cannabis/ |title=Microbiological attributes of powdered cannabis |work=American Pharmaceutical Review |author=Cundell, T. |publisher=CompareNetworks, Inc |date=31 July 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Somewhat related and worth mentioning is moisture content testing. As previously mentioned, warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, and regularly measuring water activity is useful for the prevention of microbial growth.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> The APHL references specifications from the Dutch Office of Medical Cannabis that recommend water content be between five to ten percent in cannabis.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><br />
<br />
===Reports===<br />
There's little in the way of standardization for lab reporting of cannabis test results, though some U.S. states have outlined requirements for what must be included in such reports. The Oregon Health Authority's ''Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 333, Division 64, Section 0100: Marijuana Item Sampling Procedures and Testing'' stipulates that any report must include total THC and total CBD (by dry weight) and, if discovered, "up to five tentatively identified compounds (TICS) that have the greatest apparent concentration." It also lays out requirements for pesticides, failed tests, limits of quantification, and specimen identifiers such as test batch number.<ref name="OHA333-064-0100">{{cite web |url=http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_300/oar_333/333_064.html |title=Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, Division 64, Accreditation of Laboratories |work=Oregon Administrative Rules |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In late January 2017, Pennsylvania released its temporary regulations in support of its new medical marijuana program (28 Pa. Code Chapter 1171), which includes a section on test results and reporting (1171.31). The regulations stipulate reporting by electronic tracking system, with stipulations on using certificates of analysis which include lot/batch number and the specific compounds and contaminates tested.<ref name="28PA1171">{{cite journal |url=http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/M-P/MedicalMarijuana/Documents/Chapter%201171%20Laboratories%201-26-17.pdf |format=PDF |title=Title 28 - Health and Safety, Department of Health - 28 Pa. Code Ch. 1171 |journal=Pennsylvania Bulletin |author=Pennsylvania Department of Health |volume=46 |issue=52 |pages=8036–8041 |date=24 December 2016}}</ref> Regulations aside, it's largely up to the laboratory — and often by extension, the software they're using — to decide how a report is formatted. Some labs like Seattle-based Analytical 360 offer clean, color-based certificates of analysis, with high-magnification photographs, the chromatogram, potency, cannabinoid content, contaminate content, and explanation of limits, with the name of the approving analyst.<ref name="CC_A360">{{cite web |url=http://cannabis-chronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/Godzilla.pdf |format=PDF |title=Certificate of Analysis - Sample: Godzilla |publisher=Cannabis Chronicles |date=07 July 2014 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="C360Results">{{cite web |url=http://analytical360.com/testresults |title=Current Test Results |publisher=Analytical 360, LLC |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Others may simply generate a computer printout with the basic data and a legend.<ref name="HydrioCan16">{{cite web |url=http://beyondchronic.com/question/can-you-help-me-analyze-lab-reports-of-cannabis-oil/ |title=Can you help me analyze lab reports of cannabis oil? |author=Hydrio |work=Beyond Chronic: Ask Old Hippie |date=August 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Reports may originate from the measuring device itself (e.g., an integrator in a chromatography device), a middleware or data station attached to the instrument, or a laboratory information management system that accepted data from the instrument.<ref name="McKennaSetting15">{{cite web |url=http://www.slideshare.net/GenTechScientific/ica2015-cannabis-presentation |title=Setting Up Your Cannabis Lab for Potency Testing |author=McKenna, M. |work=SlideShare |publisher=GenTech |date=18 June 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Though not directly related to laboratory testing, it's worth noting states also have their own reporting requirements for growers, processors, and dispensaries. Both Oregon and Washington, for example, require monthly reports related to medical marijuana transfers.<ref name="OMMPReporting">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/ChronicDisease/MedicalMarijuanaProgram/Pages/reporting.aspx |title=Reporting Requirements for Tracking Medical Marijuana |author=Public Health Division |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="314-55 WAC">{{cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=314-55&full=true |title=Chapter 314-55 WAC: Marijuana Licenses, Application Process, Requirements, and Reporting |work=Washington Administrative Code |publisher=Washington State Legislature |date=16 November 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Lab equipment===<br />
As indicated in previous sections, spectrometry and chromatography have played and will continue to play an important role in cannabis laboratory testing. This should not be surprising: "mass spectrometry is superior to other spectral techniques in such features as sensitivity, selectivity, generation possibility of molecular mass/formula, and combinability with chromatography."<ref name="MilmanTech10">{{cite book |chapter=Chapter 2: Techniques and Methods of Identification |title=Chemical Identification and its Quality Assurance |author=Milman, B.L. |publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg |year=2010 |pages=23–39 |isbn=9783642153617 |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-15361-7_2}}</ref> Analyzing complex chemical compounds that have many features and which are at times difficult to differentiate from each other proves challenging, but these technologies excel in meeting that task.<ref name="MilmanTech10" /> Refer to the previous "Methods and guidelines" section to note the specific technology associated with each molecule and contaminate. Aside from spectrometry and chomatography equipment, the analysis of microorganisms in cannabis may turn to DNA analysis methods that require additional equipment such as a thermal cycler (qPCR) or sequencer (WMGS), or ELISA, which utilizes a photometer or spectrophotometer. Of course, preparing and storing samples requires equipment as well, such as microplates, centrifuges, comparison standards, capillaries, chemicals, columns, Petri dishes, scales, and disposable gloves. Software-based data management systems may also constitute as equipment and are discussed in the next section.<br />
<br />
When it comes to purchasing lab equipment specifically for cannabis testing, a 2015 interview with Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon (then with Restek Corporation) provides good advice<ref name="TaylorCanna15">{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/article/2015/06/cannabis-testing-opens-whole-new-market |title=Cannabis Testing Opens Up a Whole New Market |author=Taylor, M. |work=Laboratory Equipment |publisher=Advantage Business Media |date=23 June 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Industry-specific instrumentation isn't needed in most cases as most of the techniques and equipment used in food and herbal medicine testing have strong parallels to cannabis testing.<br />
* That said, some sample preparation tools, standards, and consumables specifically marketed to the industry may very well make the job quicker and more reliable.<br />
* Appropriate sample preparation techniques are just as vital as the equipment you use.<br />
* Do your research; many instrument companies are examining methodologies usable on conventional equipment, lessening the need for more expensive devices.<br />
* If buying used equipment, make sure the original manufacturer is still in-business and producing consumables and replacement parts. Make sure your planned methods match the equipment, and make sure it's not so old that it can't be serviced by a qualified technician.<br />
<br />
===Software===<br />
Laboratories increasingly depend on software to analyze, store, and share critical data from instruments and experiments.<ref name="VI11">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150425070143/http://virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |title=Laboratory Informatics |publisher=virtualinformatics.com |date=09 April 2011 |archivedate=25 April 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> This has led to the development of laboratory-specific software like the [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS), [[electronic laboratory notebook]] (ELN), and [[chromatography data management system]] (CDMS; sometimes simply CDS). These and other software systems such as "seed-to-sale" programs can also play an important role in the cannabis testing laboratory.<br />
<br />
====LIMS====<br />
Laboratories of all types use LIMS software to manage the wide variety of data, testing and analysis workflows, and other enterprise activities typical of them. This generally includes — but is not limited to — sample reception, workflow management, sample tracking and analysis, quality control, instrument data management, data storage, reporting, and document management.<ref name="SkobelevLab11">{{cite journal |title=Laboratory information management systems in the work of the analytic laboratory |journal=Measurement Techniques |author=Skobelev, D.O.; Zaytseva, T.M.; Kozlov, A.D. et al. |volume=53 |issue=10 |pages=1182–1189 |year=2011 |doi=10.1007/s11018-011-9638-7}}</ref> The cannabis testing laboratory is no exception, though its activities differ slightly from, for example, a clinical pathology laboratory. As such, a few additional features outside of what's typically found in a generic LIMS are required.<br />
<br />
Features that may be incorporated into a cannabis testing LIMS that you might not necessarily find in an all-purpose LIMS include<ref name="BirosUsing15">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/feature_article/using-lims-in-cannabis-laboratories/ |title=Using LIMS in Cannabis Laboratories |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=23 October 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PromiumELIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=https://www.promium.com/main/element-lims-cannabis |title=LIMS for Managing Cannabis Testing |publisher=Promium, LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PharmWareHome">{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmware.net/ |title=PharmWare |publisher=PharmLabs LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LLLIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynxpress.com/index.php?title=LabLynx_LIMS_-_Cannabis |title=LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* sample loading screens optimized for the industry, including differentiation between medical and recreational marijuana<br />
* pre-loaded compliant test protocols, labels, and reports optimized and readily adjustable for a rapidly changing industry<br />
* tools for creating new, compliant test protocols, labels, and reports<br />
* a web API to integrate with state-required compliance reporting systems<br />
* chain-of-custody (CoC) tracking, when necessary<br />
* support for inventory reconciliation<br />
<br />
As previously discussed, industry-specific test protocols largely focus on cannabinoids, terpenes, and a wide variety of contaminates, including excess water. However, as regulations continue to be in a state of flux and not particularly standardized, most LIMS developers are including the ability for users to adjust their protocols and even add new ones. And while CoC functionality is not entirely foreign to generic LIMS, it's particularly important in an industry where currently transporting even a cannabis test sample across state lines can create huge problems.<br />
<br />
In cases where daily sample processing is infrequent and only a couple of chromatography machines are used, laboratories may weigh a decision between a LIMS and a chromatography-specific CDMS.<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
Scientists on the research side of cannabis are certainly using CDMSs from Agilent, Thermo Scientific, Waters, and other to manage the data coming out of their chromatography equipment<ref name="PurschkeDevelop16">{{cite journal |title=Development and validation of an automated liquid-liquid extraction GC/MS method for the determination of THC, 11-OH-THC, and free THC-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) from blood serum |journal=Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry |author=Purschke, K.; Heinl, S.; Lerch, O. et al. |volume=408 |issue=16 |pages=4379-88 |year=2016 |doi=10.1007/s00216-016-9537-5 |pmid=27116418 |pmc=PMC4875941}}</ref><ref name="AlbertiniDeterm15">{{cite web |url=http://tools.thermofisher.com/content/sfs/posters/PO-GC-MS-THC-Metabolites-Triple-Quad-EN.pdf |format=PDF |title=Determination of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Its Main Metabolites Using GC Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry |author=Albertini, T.; Caruso, A. |publisher=Thermo Fisher Scientific |date=2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LaytonAnalysis17">{{cite web |url=https://www.perkinelmer.com/lab-solutions/resources/docs/APP_Analysis-of-Cannabinoids-in-Hemp-Seed-Oils-by-HPLC-012317_01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Cannabinoids in Hemp Seed Oils by HPLC Using PDA Detection |author=Layton, C.; Reuter, W.M. |publisher=PerkinElmer, Inc |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>, and slowly but surely some of those CDMSs are beginning to also support spectrometer data management in a similar way.<ref name="DaviesCentral16">{{cite web |url=http://www.spectroscopyeurope.com/articles/tony-davies-column/3676-central-spectroscopic-data-systems-why-are-chromatographers-so-much-better-equipped |title=Central spectroscopic data systems: Why are chromatographers so much better equipped? |author=Davies, A.N. |work=Spectroscopy Europe |publisher=John Wiley & Sons Ltd; IM Publications LLP |date=12 April 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, some chromatography system developers will collaborate with CDMS vendors to develop software drivers — code that essentially acts as a translator between a device and a program — so chromatography devices can interact fully with the CDMS.<ref name="ShimadzuWaters">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/product.cfm?product=gcdriver |title=Waters Empower Shimadzu GC Driver Version 2 |publisher=Shimadzu Scientific Instruments |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The CDMS likely has a place in the cannabis testing lab as well, though it may depend on the lab's data management needs and goals. In more complex labs with multiple instruments and significant daily processing workflows, a LIMS may make more practical sense.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
The use of seed-to-sale software is an emerging trend that is only tangentially related to laboratory testing of cannabis. Rather than at testing laboratories, seed-to-sale software is found at cultivation sites, production facilities, and dispensaries, and that software is typically designed to be able to integrate with testing laboratory or other software. The goal: create a complete record of transaction, from the grown plant to the lab, producer, and seller. This sort of tracking is mandated in various ways by many U.S. states with legalization laws. "It’s there to prevent the diversion of marijuana, which the federal government still lists as a Schedule I substance, the most dangerous class of drugs," wrote Daniel Rothberg of the ''Las Vegas Sun'' in December 2015. "Tracking also ensures product safety, assists with audits and helps facilitate recalls."<ref name="RothbergSoft15">{{cite web |url=http://www.govtech.com/state/Software-Firms-Benefit-from-Governments-Seed-to-Sale-Marijuana-Tracking.html |title=Software Firms Benefit from Government’s Seed-to-Sale Marijuana Tracking |author=Rothberg, D. |work=Government Technology |publisher=e.Republic, Inc |date=29 December 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref> This type of software is able to track plant yields, attempted theft or diversion, patient preferences, extraction methods, batch weights, and various financial statistics for analysis.<ref name="SmythTrack16">{{cite web |url=https://mjfreeway.com/blog/track-and-trace-vs-seed-to-sale |title=Track and Trace vs. Seed to Sale |author=Smyth, H. |work=MJ Freeway Blog |publisher=MJ Freeway, LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RothbergSoft15" /><br />
<br />
==Future of cannabis regulation, testing, and market trends==<br />
===Regulation and market===<br />
[[File:Medical cannabis demo 2.JPG|right|250px]]On February 23, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer indicated for the first time that the Trump administration would indeed be ramping up enforcement in states that have legalized recreational marijuana use, stating "I do believe that you’ll see greater enforcement," adding that "there’s a big difference between the medical use ... that’s very different than the recreational use, which is something the Department of Justice will be further looking into."<ref name="KumarTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article134608704.html |title=Trump administration plans crackdown on recreational marijuana |author=Kumar, A.; Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Five days later, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions continued to send pessimistic signals, stating he was "dubious about marijuana," and that "[w]e have a responsibility to use our best judgment ... and my view is we don’t need to be legalizing marijuana."<ref name="WheelerSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/321525-sessions-we-dont-need-to-be-legalizing-marijuana |title=Sessions: 'We don't need to be legalizing marijuana' |author=Wheeler, L. |work=The Hill |publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp |date=28 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Several days later, seemingly in response to both Spicer's and Sessions' comments, 11 U.S. senators sent a letter to Sessions asking him to keep in mind Trump's campaign promises of letting states decide their own fate on legalization efforts.<ref name="HotokainenEleven17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article135996463.html |title=11 senators call on Trump team to allow sale of recreational marijuana |author=Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Until demonstrably intrusive federal enforcement actions take place in states with legalized recreational marijuana, it won't be clear if the administration is simply making an implied, noisy threat in order to bring more in the industry to heel. More certain is mounting evidence that a growing majority of U.S. voters believe the federal government should not be enforcing its laws in such states: 64 percent agreed on this in 2012<ref name="NewportAmericans12">{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/159152/americans-federal-gov-state-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=Americans Want Federal Gov't Out of State Marijuana Laws |author=Newport, F. |publisher=Gallup, Inc |date=10 December 2012 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>, rising to 71 percent in 2017.<ref name="QuinnipiacRepublicans17">{{cite web |url=https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2432 |title=Republicans Out Of Step With U.S. Voters On Key Issues, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Most Voters Support Legalized Marijuana |publisher=Quinnipiac University |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Despite such support, it may largely be up to the states in the future to twist the arm of the federal government. Legal representatives at Thompson Coburn expressed this idea well in a blog post in November 2016<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry may have to consider forcing the federal hand by providing credible data on the safety of cannabis as it was invited to do in the DEA decision, in addition to the continuing to support the groundswell of approval at the state level. At some point, in the near future, the state regulatory position and the federal position will have to be reconciled. The industry can and should prompt that reconciliation by a clear united message to federal lawmakers. Without that, it remains unlikely that agencies, such as the FDA, will change its position on cannabis. A lack of change will inhibit market growth and prevent the cannabis industry from reaching its potential.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The obvious issue with expanding research and testing on cannabis and of its safety is acquiring the product within a legal framework and a reasonable time frame. As mentioned previously, the DEA has recognized the need for more federally approved growers than the NIDA center at the University of Mississippi (which came under fire in March 2017 for not testing its provided samples for mold and other contaminants in any standardized fashion<ref name="HellermanScientists17">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/scientists-say-governments-pot-farm-moldy-samples-no-guidelines/ |title=Scientists say the government’s only pot farm has moldy samples — and no federal testing standards |author=Hellerman, C. |work=PBS NewsHour |publisher=NewsHour Productions, LLC |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref>), and they've begun accepting applications for additional entities looking to grow marijuana for researchers.<ref name="81FR53846" /> Assuming the Trump administration doesn't force the DEA to change course — and signs point to the administration at least being on spoken record of supporting medical marijuana and associated research<ref name="MPPTrumpMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/trump-marijuana-policy/ |title=Trump on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=12 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — researchers will optimistically have more options for acquiring research-quality cannabis in the future. This should in turn allow researchers a shot at more focused studies that provide efficacy and safety data related to the medical use of cannabis.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> In fact, this has been a goal of Dr. Susan Weiss, Division Director of Extramural Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for some time. In July 2016 testimony to the U.S. Judiciary Committee<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /> and in a February 2017 research paper set to be published in ''The International Journal of Drug Policy''<ref name="WeissBuilding17">{{cite journal |title=Building smart cannabis policy from the science up |journal=International Journal of Drug Policy |author=Weiss, S.R.B.; Howlett, K.D.; Baler, R.D. |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.01.007 |pmid=28189459}}</ref>, Weiss cautiously recognizes and promotes the need for further evidence-based cannabis research, emphasizing both the healthy and detrimental effects evident so far in the plant and its constituents. She said of recent federal actions towards this goal<ref name="WeissTestimony16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Multiple agencies (NIH, ONDCP, DEA, and FDA) are working together to find ways to streamline the process to facilitate research while meeting international and legislative obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the Controlled Substances Act. In addition to actions taken by the Department of Health and Humans Services to eliminate the Public Health Services (PHS) committee review for non-federally funded marijuana research, the DEA recently streamlined the administrative process for CBD research to allow researchers to obtain a waiver of the requirement for review of changes to an approved protocol in their DEA research registrations, and is attempting to address the marijuana diversity and product development concern by licensing additional manufacturers.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Another recent and significant body of research that may have future influence on cannabis research itself is a massive January 2017 cannabis literature review published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This 440-page report detailed the National Academies' findings after reviewing more than 10,700 abstracts related to cannabis. Among its final recommendations, the authors called for<ref name="NASEMTheHealth17">{{cite web |url=http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/reports/2017/health-effects-of-cannabis-and-cannabinoids.aspx |title=The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research |author=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine |publisher=The National Academies Press |pages=440 |doi=10.17226/24625 |date=12 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* public and private entities to fund and support a national cannabis research initiative that looks to fill key knowledge gaps;<br />
* government agencies to develop research methods and standards that may act as a guide towards higher-quality cannabis research;<br />
* government agencies, non-profit associations, and state and local health departments to fund and support efforts to improve federal, state, and local public health surveillance systems and efforts; and<br />
* government, non-government, and industry entities to work together towards developing a report on existing regulatory barriers to research and how to overcome them.<br />
<br />
However, some researchers such as Mayo Clinic psychiatrist and researcher Michael Bostwick are less convinced that the barriers will fall — claiming federal entities shift too much focus on the detrimental effects and not enough on the potential benefits — and aren't optimistic about the direction the Trump administration will take.<ref name="GrantMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/48122/title/Marijuana-Research-Still-Stymied-by-Federal-Laws/ |title=Marijuana Research Still Stymied by Federal Laws |author=Grant, B. |work=The Scientist |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Despite this pessimism, predictions of substantial revenues in states where recreational marijuana is legalized or could be legalized persist.<ref name="MorrisTheNext16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/21/the-next-big-billion-dollar-cannabis-markets-investors-are-rushing-to.html |title=The next big billion-dollar cannabis markets investors are rushing to |author=Morris, C. |work=CNBC |date=21 October 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ThomasBigPot17">{{cite web |url=http://ctmirror.org/2017/02/07/big-pot-of-money-waiting-if-ct-legalizes-marijuana-analysts-say/ |title=Big pot of money waiting if CT legalizes marijuana, analysts say |author=Thomas, J.R. |work=The CT Mirror |publisher=The Connecticut News Project |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="HoughtonTown17">{{cite web |url=http://www.capenews.net/mashpee/news/town-manager-marijuana-shops-could-boost-tax-revenue/article_c27b9b71-fb63-52de-bc24-fda320f38a32.html |title=Town Manager: Marijuana Shops Could Boost Tax Revenue |author=Houghton, S. |work=The Mashpee Enterprise |publisher=Enterprise Newspapers |date=14 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> The latest national estimates by market research and analytics company New Frontier Data put the U.S. marijuana industry at $24 billion by 2025, with 255,000 total jobs by 2019.<ref name="WallaceReport17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/02/22/report-united-states-marijuana-sales-projections-2025/74059/ |title=Report: America’s marijuana industry headed for $24 billion by 2025 |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Yet entities such as the Denver-based Marijuana Policy Group and cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg LLC preach caution when dealing with tax revenue estimates and economic projections in the U.S. cannabis market<ref name="WallaceReport17" />, pointing to CIBC World Markets' grossly inflated tax revenue estimate of $142 CAD ($106 USD) per resident in January 2016, an overshot of about 300 percent.<ref name="WallaceWhat16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/12/22/marijuana-sales-pot-taxes-colorado-estimates-projections/69831/ |title=What legal states need to know about sketchy pot tax predictions |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 December 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> "This is a fast-paced, changing market with varying different dynamics that have more to do based on governmental and regulatory dynamics than they do on consumer dynamics," said Vicente Sederberg's director of economics and research Andrew Livingston.<ref name="WallaceReport17" /> <br />
<br />
Indeed, current and future regulatory dynamics seem to be the biggest wildcards in making market-based predictions, with predicted tax and associated revenue estimates capable of both being significantly too high (by inadequately taking into account local and regional cultural and economic statuses) or too low (by not anticipating new states legalization efforts, research breakthroughs, or ties to other mainstream but related industries).<ref name="WallaceReport17" /><ref name="WallaceWhat16" /> Additionally, too much regulation can put a stranglehold on a state's cannabis program development — as it has done in Minnesota<ref name="PotterBig16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/08/12/big-losses-for-minn-medical-marijuana-providers |title=Big losses for Minn. medical marijuana providers |author=Potter, K. |work=MPR News |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=12 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — causing related grow-ops and laboratories to take significant losses or even go out of business.<br />
<br />
===Lab testing===<br />
Future-looking estimates on cannabis lab testing are more difficult to find. The primary numbers being floated around originate from a June 2015 market report published by GreenWave Advisors titled ''Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays''. GreenWave suggested that if the U.S. were to quickly legalize cannabis at the federal level, lab testing revenues alone would be $553 million by 2020, $866 million including related activities such as data analysis and consulting.<ref name="DPAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DigiPath-Investor-Presentation-11.3.pdf |format=PDF |title=DigiPath, Inc.: A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |pages=28 |date=November 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SBSignal15">{{cite web |url=https://signalbay.com/company-news/signal-bay-makes-strategic-acquisition-in-the-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=Signal Bay Makes Strategic Acquisition in the $850M Cannabis Testing Market |publisher=Signal Bay, Inc |date=24 September 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="GWMari15">{{cite web |url=https://www.greenwaveadvisors.com/research/marijuana-lab-testing-an-in-depth-analysis-of-investing-in-one-of-the-industrys-most-attractive-plays/ |title=Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays |publisher=GreeenWave Advisors, LLC |date=June 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
As for advances in cannabis lab testing, Kuzdzal ''et al.'' of Shimadzu envision a future where improvements in standardization, quality control, and research will shift what is tested and how its tested<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry and cannabis testing are in their infancies. As the need for better quality control continues and standardization is introduced, it is likely that lower limits for the various cannabis contaminants will be established and regulations will be introduced. Mass spectrometry will likely play a greater role in quantitation as detection levels are lowered and confirmatory tests are required. The health benefits of terpenes present in cannabis will also provide a fertile area of scientific research. CBD, CBG and other compounds appear to have a synergistic relationship with each other as well as with various THC forms and terpenes. This field needs much more investigation to determine mechanisms of action, bioavailability and health benefits.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabis should continue to provide more exact and useful results as methods and standards continue to evolve. Disparity of results between two labs for the same sample are continuing to narrow as states increasingly add testing requirements to their cannabis legislature.<ref name="NelsonHas16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/has-lab-testing-turned-a-corner/ |title=Has Lab Testing Turned A Corner? |author=Nelson, S. |work=Cannabis Business Times |publisher=GIE Media, Inc |date=03 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Those testing requirements are increasingly based off a growing body of recommendations, guidance, and standards developed by the likes of the Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS), and the Association of Public Health Laboratories.<ref name="InfocastNew16" /><ref name="AHPARecomm16" /><ref name="AHPCanna14" /><ref name="MarcuJahan16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Proficiency tests such as the Emerald Test<ref name="EmeraldTest">{{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>, which allows multiple labs to test an anonymous sample and compare results, should also continue to drive improved performance from cannabis testing labs.<ref name="NelsonHas16" /><br />
<br />
Another potential trend to keep an eye on with these testing laboratories: consolidation. Currently there's not a lot of data on the extent consolidation has affected the number of cannabis testing labs or how they operate; the industry is arguably still in its infancy. Regardless, mentions in press and practical examples demonstrate that consolidation is a real concern for the industry, if not now in the future. Suggestion of such came from Steep Hill Halent's CEO David Lampach in late 2013, anticipating "huge consolidation in general and fewer companies as a result."<ref name="LampachQA13" /> The previously mentioned GreenWave Advisors as well as CannaSafe Analytics have also lent their voices to this idea in recent years.<ref name="TMIDigiPath15">{{cite web |url=http://marijuanaindex.com/digipath-digp-well-positioned-to-take-advantage-of-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=DigiPath (DIGP) Well Positioned To Take Advantage of $850M Cannabis Testing Market |work=The Marijuana Index |author=CannabisFN |publisher=MJIC, Inc |date=16 July 2015 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SchroyerIndustry16">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizmagazine.com/industry-snapshot-testing-labs/ |title=Industry Snapshot: Testing Labs |author=Schroyer, J. |work=Marijuana Business Magazine |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=January 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Production===<br />
Outside the lab, on the production side, resides a glimpse of technology that ties several of the previously mentioned ideas together: growing cannabis as an environmentally modified organism (EMO). A June 2016 article published in <em>Motherboard</em> references the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) in Canada and its effort to apply innovations in growing plants in closed environments (such as on spaceships) to cannabis production.<ref name="OwensHow16">{{cite web |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/how-space-technology-will-produce-the-best-weed-marijuana-cannabis-pot |title=How Space Technology Will Produce the Best Weed Ever |author=Owens, B. |work=Motherboard |publisher=Motherboard-IPTV LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref> Specifically, the researchers see promise in being able to precisely control grow conditions to produce a plant with a particular ratio of active chemicals. As such, the previously mentioned synergistic relationship of cannabis' chemicals can be more carefully studied, and the end product, once studied and methodically tested, could potentially "achieve the status of a conventional pharmaceutical commodity that a doctor can rely on and prescribe."<ref name="OwensHow16" /> CESRF isn't alone in developing grow technology that can tailor the necessary conditions for a particular strain. Several Israeli-linked start-ups (see the last section "Non-U.S. policy" for more) like Corsica Innovations (LEAF) and Flux (Eddy) have been developing similar grow technology that may transform future research.<ref name="GustafsonStartup16">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinegustafson/2016/12/07/it-just-became-incredibly-easy-to-grow-marijuana-at-home-meet-leaf/print/ |title=Startup Launches Automated System It Claims Makes It Easy To Grow Marijuana At Home |author=Gustafson, K. |work=Forbes |publisher=Forbes.com LLC |date=07 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SolomonIsreali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startup-creates-idiots-guide-to-home-grown-food/ |title=Israeli startup creates idiot’s guide to home-grown food |author=Solomon, S. |work=The Times of Israel |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="PressFive17">{{cite web |url=https://www.israel21c.org/5-reasons-israel-is-dominating-the-cannabis-industry/ |title=5 reasons Israel is dominating the cannabis industry |author=Press, V.S. |work=ISREAL21c |date=13 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
With better research, more definitive fact-based decisions can be made in the regulatory sphere, better guiding medical and recreational marijuana policy. That said, keep an eye on developments in controllable production methods; advances in this area stand to improve many of the other facets of research and testing discussed.<br />
<br />
===Big Marijuana===<br />
Both U.S. states and the federal government have a long, sometimes torturous history with regulating and controlling the production and sale of drug-containing products such as pharmaceuticals, tobacco, beer, wine, and spirits. As such, it seems intuitive to examine the successes and failures of those past efforts when considering what to do with cannabis. One aspect of that examination that raises concern among some is the likelihood of a narrow group of commercial interests taking over all aspects of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales. Taking from "Big Pharma," "Big Tobacco," and "Big Alcohol," some fear a similar "Big Marijuana" industry will develop.<ref name="HudakWorry16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana—not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These fears can be found among small private growers at the hyper-local level<ref name="SolovitchHow16">{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/marijuana-legalization-big-business-alcohol-214198 |title=How Big Alcohol Is About to Get Rich Off California Weed |author=Solovitch, S. |work=POLITICO |publisher=POLITICO, LLC |date=29 August 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>, all the way up to the state government level.<ref name="SteeringPathways15">{{cite web |url=https://www.aclunc.org/sites/default/files/20150721-brc_pathways_report.pdf |format=PDF |title=Pathways Report: Policy Options for Regulating Marijuana in California |author=Steering Committee of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |date=22 July 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In fact, in a 2015 Pathways Report, the state of California — including its Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom — expressed this very concern in regards to how best to regulate marijuana in the state. When considering the marijuana industry structure, they found that controls should be put in place to better incentivize smaller industry players, stating "[t]he goal should be to prevent the growth of a large, corporate marijuana industry dominated by a small number of players, as we see with Big Tobacco or the alcohol industry."<ref name="SteeringPathways15" /> Despite that advice, major California-based industry players such as Steve DeAngelo — who owns one of the largest medical marijuana dispensaries in the world and co-founded Steep Hill Labs — remain concerned that mandates for distribution, which mirror alcohol regulations, will only undermine small cannabis businesses in the state.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><br />
<br />
Anti-marijuana alliances such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and corporation-friendly pro-cannabis Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) act as opposing special interest groups, one fighting against Big Marijuana, the other borrowing from a libertarian approach proposing regulation of marijuana in a way similar to alcohol.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><ref name="WallachBoot16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="CRPTheMoney15">{{cite web |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/issues/marijuana/ |title=The Money in Marijuana: The political landscape |work=OpenSecrets.org |publisher=Center for Responsive Politics |date=November 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These and other special interest groups inevitably bring about the perception that, as the Brookings Institution puts it, "the marijuana industry is as self-serving as any other commercial lobby," further propelling worries of Big Marijuana.<ref name="WallachBoot16" /><br />
<br />
If worries of large corporations taking over significant portions of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales markets actually come to fruition, how will they potentially manifest? The previously mentioned concern of increased consolidation of testing labs is arguably one sign, as is DeAngelo's concern of forced distribution contracts taking away from smaller businesses. Brookings also points out concerns of large firms gaining hold over the evolving regulatory status as well as upward trends in antisocial marketing, though they also argue against undue alarmism of commercialization at the same time.<ref name="HudakWorry16" /><br />
<br />
Another manifestation of how Big Marijuana may be taking hold is through the patenting of cannabis strains and methods. PBS' ''Nova'' reported in October 2016 that a group of California growers were granted a patent for "compositions and methods for the breeding, production, processing and use of specialty cannabis,"<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/evolution/patenting-pot/ |title=The Rise of Marijuana™ (Patent Pending) |author=Arnold, C. |work=Nova Next |publisher=PBS |date=19 October 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> raising concerns about how Big Pharma could capitalize. Mowgli Holmes — founder of Phylos Biosciences, a genetics testing laboratory for cannabis — says as much: "Everyone is terrified of some big corporation with deep pockets coming in and taking over ... and they should be." To fight against the misappropriation of patents for "public domain" cannabis strains, he and others have developed Phylos Galaxy to better track relations between existing cannabis strains and the creation of new strains. From a lab testing perspective, a small but increasing number of qualified labs could test not only for potency, terpenes, and pesticides but also genetically verify in a standardized format that a unique strain is actually what it is claimed to be, providing slight competitive advantage.<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16" /> As the patenting trend continues (most recently a patent was issued to a Florida company for an "apparatus and methods for biosynthetic production of cannabinoids"<ref name="LivniTheUS17">{{cite web |url=https://qz.com/927649/the-us-government-grants-cannabis-patents-though-weed-is-illegal/ |title=The US government grants cannabis patents even though weed is illegal |author=Livni, E. |work=Quartz |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group, Inc |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>) the intellectual property war over strains and methods is bound to get more heated; as such, the development of accurate and open genetic and other laboratory testing methods may become increasing vital.<br />
<br />
===Non-U.S. policy===<br />
[[File:Treaty decades.png|right|800px]]Aside from a few mentions of Canada and European regulation, this guide has focused solely on the state of cannabis and related lab testing in the United States. However, it would be remiss to not look at how policy elsewhere may potentially impact the U.S. cannabis market, if nothing else at least indirectly. Broadly speaking, other countries like the Netherlands and Portugal have put more emphasis on decriminalization and recreational legalization of marijuana than on researching and providing marijuana for medical purposes.<ref name="JohnsonPast15">{{cite journal |title=Past 15-year trends in adolescent marijuana use: Differences by race/ethnicity and sex |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Johnson, R.M.; Fariman, B.; Gilreath, T. et al. |volume=155 |pages=8–15 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.025 |pmid=26361714 |pmc=PMC4582007}}</ref> Israel has been one of the major exceptions to this generalization, arguably "up to 10 years ahead of other countries in innovation in the cannabis industry."<ref name="PressFive17" /> The country has been involved with cannabis research since the 1960s, and today it has its hands in many medical research-based initiatives (though recreational marijuana is still illegal), including<ref name="PressFive17" /><ref name="KershnerIsrael16">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/middleeast/israel-a-medical-marijuana-pioneer-is-eager-to-capitalize.html?_r=0 |title=Israel, a Medical Marijuana Pioneer, Is Eager to Capitalize |author=Kershner, I. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=17 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* The Green Book, a set of written protocols and policy detailing how doctors should work with medical marijuana (still in draft phase as of March 2017) as well as how it would be commercialized across the country; includes training and certification of 100 doctors for prescribing it<ref name="EfratiIsraeli16">{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.747985 |title=Israeli Pharmacies Prepare to Sell Medical Cannabis |author=Efrati, I. |work=Haaretz |publisher=Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd |date=20 October 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="iCANIsrael16">{{cite web |url=http://journal.cannabislaw.report/israel-a-peek-inside-the-israeli-knessets-special-committee-on-medical-cannabis/ |title=Israel: A Peek Inside the Israeli Knesset’s Special Committee on Medical Cannabis |author=iCAN Israel |work=Cannabis Law Journal |date=01 September 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
* the creation of the Medical Cannabis Unit, a government agency that regulates medical cannabis research and use<br />
* the development of significant investment and infrastructure for clinical trials involving medical cannabis<br />
* the development of a national institute for medical marijuana research<br />
* the discussion of potentially exporting cannabis and/or cannabis-related extracts and derivatives<br />
* several higher education facilities offering courses and research opportunities on cannabis<br />
* several start-ups developing improved cultivation, pharmaceutical, and medical device technology<br />
<br />
Another major country challenging traditional cannabis regulation is Uruguay, which in December 2013 adopted the first stages of regulatory legislation that will ultimately make the cultivation, sale, and use (recreational and medical) of cannabis in the country legal and government-controlled. In part due to concerns regarding gang-related violence and a tentative but not proven connection to black-market cannabis, the country has since carefully and methodically implemented the laws and regulations with the goal of keeping in mind evidence-based research and the potential social impact.<ref name="RamseyGetting16">{{cite web |url=https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Getting-Regulation-Right-WOLA-Uruguay.pdf |format=PDF |title=Getting Regulation Right: Assessing Uruguay's Historic Cannabis Initiative |author=Ramsey, G. |publisher=WOLA |date=November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> In fact, a late February 2017 press release from Canadian company Emblem Corp. stated it and Uruguayan ICC International Cannabis Corporation would, pending finalization of regulatory processes between the two countries, begin a partnership that would have Emblem import CBD (cannabidiol) from ICC "to help fulfill the demand in the Canadian market."<ref name="NCVEmblem17">{{cite web |url=https://www.newcannabisventures.com/emblem-to-import-cbd-from-uruguay-into-canada/ |title=Emblem to Import CBD from Uruguay into Canada |work=New Cannabis Ventures |publisher=NCV Media, LLC |date=27 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The reality of all this — combined with the legalization momentum in the U.S. and other countries — means that new pressures are being applied to organizers of international treaties and policy, and any future changes to those treaties and policy may inversely apply pressure back on the U.S. government to update its stance on cannabis. An October 2014 Brookings Institution interview revealed some of the issues "straining the limits of an international drug control regime that most participants, including the United States, have long understood to be quite strict."<ref name="RauchMari14">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2014/10/16/marijuana-legalization-poses-a-dilemma-for-international-drug-treaties/ |title=Marijuana Legalization Poses a Dilemma for International Drug Treaties |author=Rauch, J. |work=Brookings FIXGOV: Making Government Work |publisher=The Brookings Institution |date=16 October 2014 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> Drug treaties such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988) represent hard policy that the U.S. government (as well as other federal governments) has followed steadfastly for years. However, a dichotomy begins to form when federal governments bend those treaties either through outright legalization or, as is the case in the U.S., by allowing the states power to determine their own laws.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><br />
<br />
As a result of these stresses, policy experts around the world are shining light on the need for not only federal governments but also international agencies such as the United Nations' World Health Organisation (WHO) to move forward with critical reviews of existing cannabis research in the social and medical domains and determine if revising cannabis' scheduling is appropriate. Additionally, policy experts urge United Nations members to discuss and amend existing treaties, even if such amendments only provide greater flexibility in regards to marijuana.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><ref name="HamiltonWhyWHO16">{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/why-who-needs-a-radical-rethink-of-its-draconian-approach-to-cannabis-68209 |title=Why WHO needs a radical rethink of its draconian approach to cannabis |author=Hamilton, I.; Monaghan, M.; Rolles, S. et al. |work=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation US, Inc |date=23 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Whether or not the decriminalization and legalization efforts of Israel, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and other foreign governments has a noticeable impact on international and U.S. federal law remains to be seen. However, it would be foolish to entirely ignore foreign policy when considering the future of cannabis — and by extension its laboratory testing — in the United States.<br />
<br />
==Final thoughts==<br />
This guide has attempted to provide insight into various aspects of the current status of laboratory testing of cannabis in the U.S. By extension, it has required a closer look at many non-testing or tangentially related aspects of cannabis, including history, regulations, standards, methods, equipment, and software. The guide has also attempted to look at the potential future of testing, a more difficult feat that has required inspection of — and speculation on — a mix of statistics and politics, as well as government and social policy and how they may all affect the future of cannabis testing. We learned that many point fingers at the U.S. federal government for being responsible for several cannabis-related issues, including lack of clear government support for cannabis research, lack of standardization of testing and analysis methods for said research, and wavering policy that remains inconsistent at best. At root is the fact that the federal government maintains cannabis (and its constituents) as a Schedule I drug, by extension declaring that it has no respectable medical use. This and related decisions have slowed down the academic study of cannabis, including its analysis, quality testing, and research and use as a medical treatment. The development, implementation, and reassessment of cultivation and testing standards and methods have largely been piecemeal; additionally, those efforts have been enacted in an environment where, despite the legal status in a state, fear that the federal government will inevitably intervene slows progress even further.<br />
<br />
Despite these barriers, the speed at which U.S. states have adopted some form of legalization of cannabis has pushed scientists and researchers to collaborate and improve standards and methods. Necessity continues to be the mother of invention, driving those in the industry to adapt or perish in a difficult, inconsistent market. State officials are teaming up at industry conferences and sharing ideas. Non-profit organizations are joining forces with major standards agencies to expand and improve good laboratory practices. Researchers — whether on their own or with the help of others internationally — are learning more about the cannabinoid and its interaction with terpenes, driving new insight into potential therapeutic remedies. Overall public perception about marijuana consumption and use is gradually shifting towards a positive light, even when so little is still understood about the long-term ramifications of its use. Commercial interests are taking notice, and so are international treaty makers. All of this adds up to forward momentum in the cannabis industry, with warts and all.<br />
<br />
Many factors will affect the future of cannabis regulation, testing, and research in the future; in the process, we're certain to see both ups and downs as political and social climates continue to change. However, as marijuana consumption and hemp-based manufacturing methods continue to see expanded support, consumers and manufacturers, as well as all those involved in between, will always clamor for a safer product that is "as advertised." Laboratory analysis will play an important role in that effort, whether it's in the medical research lab, the quality control lab, or the manufacturer's lab. It will be imperative for all interested parties to further work together to ensure methods are sound and standardized in a realistic and beneficial way to ensure that in the end consumers will get the best possible product available.<br />
<br />
==Resources==<br />
===Key reading===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana — not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Reference material===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/bookstore/state-legislatures-magazine/marijuana-deep-dive.aspx |title=Marijuana Deep Dive |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170117133745/https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |title=Marijuana Resource Center |author=Office of National Drug Control Policy |archivedate=17 January 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Law and regulation====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=State Medical Marijuana Laws |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=09 November 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Publications and blogs====<br />
<br />
* ''[http://www.liebertpub.com/overview/cannabis-and-cannabinoid-research/633/ Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research]''<br />
* ''[https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/ Cannabis Industry Journal]''<br />
* ''[http://mjbizdaily.com/ Marijuana Business Daily]''<br />
* ''[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7570_supp/index.html Nature Outlook: Cannabis]''<br />
* ''[http://www.beyondthc.com/ O’Shaughnessy’s]''<br />
* ''[http://terpenesandtesting.com/ Terpenes and Testing Magazine]''<br />
* ''[http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis Tracking Cannabis]'' - Thomas Coburn LLP<br />
<br />
<br />
====Standards and guidance====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Accreditation and certification====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientfocusedcertification.org/ |title=Patient Focused Certification |author=Americans for Safe Access Foundation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://certified-kind.com/ |title=Certified Kind: Certification for Responsibly Grown Cannabis |author=Certified Kind, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cleangreencert.org/ |title=Clean Green Certified |author=Clean Green Certified}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |author=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.pjlabs.com/accreditation-programs/medical-marijuana-testing |title=Accreditation Programs: Medical Marijuana Testing |author=Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Testing====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.a2la.org/appsweb/cannabis_testing.cfm |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Accreditation |author=American Association of Laboratory Accreditation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/ST-NAR-40-Ebook.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of cannabis and cannabis products |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=September 2009}} (Note year; still provides historical perspective)<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/STNAR48_Synthetic_Cannabinoids_ENG.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in seized materials |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=June 2013}}<br />
<br />
'''New York State Department of Health''':<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/359205661/MML-303-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Mycotoxins by LC-MS/MS, NYS DOH MML-303 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=43 |date=18 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/1495494332/MML-301-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medical marijuana sample preparation protocols for potency analysis, NYS DOH MML-301 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=13 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* For all other methods documents, see [https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana].<br />
<br />
<br />
===Scientific conferences and trade shows===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://2017.canntencon.com/ |title=Cann10 |publisher=Paragon Israel}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesssummit.com/oakland-2017/ |title=Cannabis Business Summit and Expo |publisher=National Cannabis Industry Association}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.canna-tech.co/ |title=CannaTech |publisher=iCAN Israel Cannabis}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldconference.com/ |title=Emerald Conference |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.csupueblo.edu/institute-of-cannabis-research/2017-conference/ |title=Institute of Cannabis Research Conference |publisher=Colorado State University - Pueblo}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://internationalcbc.com/ |title=International Cannabis Business Conference |publisher=International Conferences Group, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://mjbizconference.com/ |title=Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientsoutoftime.org/2017-national-clinical-conference-on-cannabis-therapeutics/ |title=National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics |publisher=Patients Out of Time}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.compassionatecertificationcenters.com/conference-overview/ |title=World Medical Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Present Syndikos LLC}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Associations, organizations, and interest groups===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agriculturalgenomics.org/ Agricultural Genomics Foundation]<br />
* [http://americancannabisnursesassociation.org/ American Cannabis Nurses Association]<br />
* [https://www.aocs.org/ American Oil Chemists Society]<br />
* [http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ Americans for Safe Access]<br />
* [http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories]<br />
* [http://www.australiancannabisindustry.org/ Australian Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.chascience.com/ Cannabis Horticultural Association]<br />
* [http://cannabissafetyinstitute.org/ Cannabis Safety Institute]<br />
* [https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/organization/workgroups-interest-groups-consortia/cannabis-science-interest-csi-group Cannabis Science Interest (CSI) Group], part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse<br />
* [http://cannabisandsocialpolicy.org/ Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy]<br />
* [http://www.cocannabischamber.com/ Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce]<br />
* [http://dfcr.org/ Doctors for Cannabis Regulation]<br />
* [https://www.cannabis-med.org/ International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines]<br />
* [http://icrs.co/ International Cannabinoid Research Society]<br />
* [http://thecannabisindustry.org/ National Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.nvcla.org/ Nevada Coalition Laboratory Association for Public Safety]<br />
* [http://norml.org/ NORML]<br />
* [http://patientsoutoftime.org/ Patients Out of Time]<br />
* [https://www.projectcbd.org/ Project CBD]<br />
* [https://learnaboutsam.org/ Smart Approaches to Marijuana]<br />
* [http://cannabisclinicians.org/ Society of Cannabis Clinicians]<br />
* [https://themedicalcannabisinstitute.org/ The Medical Cannabis Institute]<br />
* [http://www.vetscp.org/ Veterans Cannabis Project]<br />
* [http://womengrow.com/ Women Grow]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Testing labs and pricing info===<br />
<br />
The prevalence of testing laboratories in any given state depends on a few factors: legalization status, state laws regarding testing, and strictness of regulations. Labs typically appear as stand-alone, third-party entities. Though not common, some testing laboratories are located within dispensaries (e.g., Champlain Valley Dispensary in Vermont<ref name="CVDOurQuality">{{cite web |url=http://www.cvdvt.org/products/quality-commitment/ |title=Our Quality Commitment |publisher=Champlain Valley Dispensary, Inc |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>) and treatment centers (e.g., Sanctuary ATC in New Hampshire.<ref name="SATCAnalysis">{{cite web |url=http://www.sanctuaryatc.org/laboratory-analysis-nh.php |title=New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Laboratory Analysis — Therapeutic Uses |publisher=Sanctuary ATC |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>).<br />
<br />
The following are known active cannabis testing labs (those currently in the licensing process are not included):<br />
<br />
'''Alaska'''<br />
<br />
* [http://www.canntest.com/ Canntest] ($70–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/alaska Steep Hill Alaska] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arizona''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.arizonaanalytical.com/ Arizona Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.c4lab.com/ C4 Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.deltaverdelaboratory.com/ Delta Verde Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://desertvalleytesting.com/ Desert Valley Testing] ($15–$360, single and package tests)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arkansas''':<br />
<br />
* Laboratory testing requirements being drafted<br />
<br />
<br />
'''California''':<br />
<br />
* [http://anresco.com/ Anresco Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://budgenius.com Bud Genius] ($50/sample)<br />
* [https://www.cannalysislabs.com/ Cannalysis] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [https://coastalanalytical.com/ Coastal Analytical] ($77–$249, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.cblabstesting.com/ CS Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cwanalytical.com/ CW Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.flowertesting.com/ Flower Potency Testing] ($65–80/test type)<br />
* [http://greenherbanalytics.com/ GreenHerb Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenstyleconsulting.com/ Green Style Analytics] ($55–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.harrenslab.com/ Harrens Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.sdpharmlabs.com PharmLabs] ($40–$569, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://pureanalytics.net/ Pure Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.sequoia-labs.com Sequoia Analytical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/california Steep Hill California] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Colorado''':<br />
<br />
* [http://agricorlabs.com/ Agricor Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.aurum-labs.com/ Aurum Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://bonafideslab.com/ Bonafides Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/ CMT Laboratories] ($15–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://gobianalytical.net/ Gobi Labs] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [https://greenlabsolutionscompany.com/ Green Lab Solutions Company] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenhilllab.com/ GreenHill Laboratories] ($45–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://www.nordicanalytic.com Nordic Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phytatech.com/ PhytaTech CO] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rm3.us/ Rm3 Labs] ($35–$237, single and package tests)<br />
* Shilo Labs (Licensed<ref name="COLGovMLab16">{{cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/MLab%2007012016%20%20%20this%20one%20.pdf |format=PDF |title=MLab 07012016 this one |publisher=State of Colorado |date=01 July 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://www.teqanalyticallabs.com/ TEQ Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://goodlabcolorado.com/ The Good Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Connecticut''':<br />
<br />
* [http://altascilabs.com/ AltaSci Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Delaware''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agrolab.us/ Agrolab Organics] (State-contracted<ref name="FloodState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.capegazette.com/article/state-contracts-medical-marijuana-tester/120159 |title=State contracts medical marijuana tester |author=Flood, C. |work=Cape Gazette |date=15 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''District of Columbia''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Florida''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis Testing Lab Florida, LLC (Active but no website?)<br />
* [http://www.marijinc.com/ MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] (Mobile lab; pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.moderncanna.com/ Modern Canna Science (MCS)] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Hawaii''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hitestmedicallabs.com/ HI Test Medical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.hipharmlabs.com/ PharmLabs Hawaii] ($50–$775, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/hawaii Steep Hill Hawaii] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Illinois''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.gracelabinc.com/ Grace Analytical Laboratory, Inc.] ([https://www.agr.state.il.us/medical-cannabis-pilot-program/ Approved by state], but not advertised on website)<br />
* [http://www.lkpurelabs.com/ LK Pure Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maine''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.testedlabs.com/ Tested Labs] ($25–35/sample)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maryland''':<br />
<br />
* [http://steephill.com/maryland Steep Hill Maryland] (Pricing not public; plans on expanding here)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Massachusetts''':<br />
<br />
* [http://mcrlabs.com/ MCR Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Michigan''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.greatlakeslabservices.com/ Great Lakes Lab Services] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–$430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://micannalabs.com/ MI Canna Labs] ($60–$100/test package)<br />
* [https://www.psilabs.org/ PSI Labs] ($30–$85, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.steadfastlab.com/ Steadfast] ($25–$90/test)<br />
* [http://mispott.com/ The Spott] ($40–$90/test w/o membership; cheaper with, and can access package test prices)<br />
* [http://www.truenorthlaboratory.com/ True North Laboratory] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://upgclabs.com/ UPGC Labs] ($35/sample for potency testing)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Minnesota''':<br />
<br />
* Not clear; independent labs must be approved by Commissioner of Health.<ref name="KlarqvistMinnesota16">{{cite web |url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/MCTRA.pdf |format=PDF |title=Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research Act |author=Klarqvist, E. |publisher=Minnesota House of Representatives |date=August 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Two labs — Aspen Research and Legend Technical Services — were approved to do testing in 2015, but neither lists those services on their website.<ref name="MDHPublic16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2016/other/160894.pdf |format=PDF |title=Public Health Laboratory Annual Report: Fiscal Year 2015 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory |date=2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Montana''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buboanalytics.com/ Bubo Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://cannabanalysis.com/ Cannabanalysis Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://fidimt.com/ Fidelity Diagnostics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://montanabiotech.com/ Montana BioTech] (From $60)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Nevada''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.374labs.com/ 374 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://certifiedaglab.com/ Certified AgLab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://dblabslv.com/ DB Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://digipath.com/ Digipath] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://g3labsllc.com/ G3 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mmlabtesting.com/ MM Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.newheightslaboratory.com/ New Heights Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.nvcann.com/ NV Cann Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rsrlabs.com/ RSR Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.testlablasvegas.com/ Test Lab Las Vegas] (Pricing not public]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Hampshire''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates testing, but it's not clear which independent laboratories are approved to do so.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Jersey''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis testing is performed by the Department of Health and Senior Services.<ref name="HSS_NJAC8-64">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/documents/final_rules.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medicinal Marijuana Program Rules |publisher=New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services |date=23 November 2011 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Mexico''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.scientificbasesolutions.com/ Scientific Base Solutions] (Pricing not public]<br />
* [http://steephill.com/new-mexico Steep Hill New Mexico] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New York''':<br />
<br />
* "The Department's Wadsworth Center Laboratory will perform initial testing and analysis of final medical marijuana products until independent laboratories receive certification from the New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP)."<ref name="NYSFAQ">{{cite web |url=https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/faq.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |work=New York State Medical Marijuana Program |publisher=New York State Department of Health |date=March 2016 |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''North Dakota''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates that its compassion centers must test cannabis in-house or have it done by a contracted facility, though it's not clear what labs are performing such testing.<ref name="NDPetitionMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Measures%20Info/2016%20General/Measure%205.pdf |format=PDF |title=Initiated Constitutional Amendment No. 5 |publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State |date=2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Ohio''':<br />
<br />
* Licensing requirements for testing labs will become clearer in September 2017.<ref name="OMMCPTesting">{{cite web |url=http://www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/testing |title=Testing: Frequently Asked Questions |work=Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program |publisher=State of Ohio |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Oregon'''<br />
<br />
* Anova Laboratory (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ktvz.com/news/olcc-oks-26-recreational-pot-licenses-3-are-in-bend/101328364 |title=OLCC OKs 26 recreational pot licenses, 4 in Bend |work=News Channel 21 KTVZ |publisher=NPG of Oregon, Inc |date=30 September 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://cascadia-labs.com/ Cascadia Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://chemhistory.com/ ChemHistory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.easternoregonanalytical.com/ Eastern Oregon Analytical] ($50–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public; also see [http://www.kenevirresearch.com/ Kenevir Research], [http://oregonanalyticalservices.com/ Oregon Analytical Services], and [http://www.ghalabs.com/ GreenHaus Analytical Labs])<br />
* [http://www.greenleaflab.org/ Green Leaf Lab] ($50–$355, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://www.juniperanalyticsllc.com/ Juniper Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://lightscale.com/ Lightscale Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mrxlabs.com/ MRX Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://oganalytical.com/ Oregon Growers Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phlabsoregon.com/ pH Labs] (($60–$375, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.phylosbioscience.com/ Phylos Bioscience] ($15–$295; sexing and genotyping only)<br />
* [http://pixislabs.com/ Pixis Labs] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
* [http://www.rosecitylabs.com Rose City Laboratories] ($25–$360, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://spartananalytics.com/ Spartan Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.synpestlab.com/ Synergistic Pesticide Lab] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Pennsylvania''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here. Laboratory testing rules will become clearer later in 2017.<ref name="SchmittPA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.pamcs.org/pa-health-department-asks-public-input-medical-pot-rules/ |title=Pa. Health Department asks public for input on medical pot rules |author=Schmitt, B. |publisher=Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Rhode Island''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.bpanalytical.com/ Baseline Precision Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.ecltesting.com/ East Coast Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Vermont''':<br />
<br />
* The Department of Public Safety "may require laboratory testing of cannabis produced by a registered dispensary. The Department may specify the testing methodology. The registered dispensary shall bear the costs of any testing required by the Department."<ref name="DPSRulesReg15">{{cite web |url=http://vcic.vermont.gov/sites/vcic/files/files/marijuana-registry/MR-Rules-Regulating-Cannabis-for-Symptom-Relief.pdf |format=PDF |title=Rules Regulating Cannabis for Symptom Relief |publisher=Vermont Department of Public Safety |date=30 November 2015 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Washington''':<br />
<br />
* [http://analytical360.com/ Analytical 360] ($70–$120, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.anateklabs.com/ Anatek Labs] (Pricing for cannabis QA testing not clear)<br />
* [http://www.cannalyticsqc.com/ Cannalytics QC] ($35–$70/test)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://conflabs.com/ Confidence Analytics] ($40–$250, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.dragonlaboratory.com/ Dragon Analytical Laboratory] ($25–$1600, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.greengrowerlabs.com/ Green Grower Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.herbalanalytics.com/ Herbal Analytics] ($15–$70/test; contact for test package pricing)<br />
* [http://integritylabsolympia.com/ Integrity Labs] ($40–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.medicinecreekanalytics.com/ Medicine Creek Analytics] ($20–$100, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.peakanalyticslab.com/ Peak Analytics] ($50–$75/test)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/washington Steep Hill Washington] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://traceanalytics.com/ Trace Analytics] ($40–$350, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://tnwlab.com/ True Northwest] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
====Support services====<br />
The following entities are known to provide consulting and support services of various types to cannabis testing labs (as well as cultivators, dispensaries, etc.):<br />
<br />
* [http://www.3ccannabis.com/ 3C Consulting]<br />
* [http://www.americancannabisconsulting.com/ American Cannabis Company]<br />
* [http://c3analytical.com/ C3 Labs]<br />
* [http://cannabisconsultantsfl.com/ Cannabis Business Services (of Florida)]<br />
* [http://michigan-marijuana-lawyer.com/ Cannabis Legal Group]<br />
* [http://www.carbonblueconsulting.com/ Carbon Blue Consulting]<br />
* [https://www.hypur.com/ Hypur]<br />
* [http://www.phytoscienceinstitute.com/ Phytoscience Institute]<br />
* [http://www.phytosciences.com/ PhytoSciences Consultants]<br />
* [http://signoto.com/ Signoto] (Canada)<br />
* [http://steephilllab.com/consulting/ Steep Hill Halent]<br />
* [http://www.vitalescientific.com/services/cannabis/ Vitale Scientific Associates]<br />
<br />
===Testing hardware and supplies vendors===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buchi.com/en/ BÜCHI Labortechnik AG]<br />
* [http://www.emeraldscientific.com/ Emerald Scientific, LLC]<br />
* [http://www.fritsch-international.com/ Fritsch GmbH]<br />
* [http://gentechscientific.com/cannabis-testing/index.php GenTech Scientific]<br />
* [https://us.lgcstandards.com/US/en LGC Standards]<br />
* [http://www.orangephotonics.com/ Orange Photonics, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.restek.com/Landing-Pages/Medical-Marijuana Restek Corporation]<br />
* [http://sageanalytics.com/ Sage Analytics]<br />
* [http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/industry/industry_cannabistesting.cfm Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.spexcertiprep.com/products/cannabis SPEX CertiPrep]<br />
* [http://www.srigc.com/ SRI Instruments]<br />
* [http://vicam.com/ VICAM]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Software vendors===<br />
====Cannabis-oriented LIMS====<br />
<br />
* [http://www.atlab.com/industries/medical-marijuana Accelerated Technology Laboratories, Inc. - Various]<br />
* [[Bika LIMS|Bika Lab Systems (Pty) Ltd. - Bika LIMS]]<br />
* [[CannaSys, Inc.|CannaSys, Inc. - CannaLIMS]] <br />
* [[Guardian Data Systems, LLC|Guardian Data Systems, LLC - ROAR Cannabis Lab Software]]<br />
* [[lablynxwiki:LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis|LabLynx, Inc. - LabLynx LIMS]]<br />
* [[PharmLabs, LLC|PharmLabs, LLC - PharmWare]]<br />
* [[TheraCann International Benchmark Corporation|TheraCann International Corporation - TheraCannSYSTEM]]<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
<br />
See the [[CDMS vendor]] page.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
<br />
This is a representative sample of solutions and not a directory of all available solutions:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.biotrack.com/government-seed-to-sale-tracking/ Bio-Tech Medical Software, Inc. - BioTrackTHC]<br />
* [http://www.chetu.com/agriculture/seed-to-sale.php Chetu, Inc. - Custom software solutions]<br />
* [http://www.traceweed.com/ Dauntless Software, Inc. - TraceWeed]<br />
* [http://viridiansciences.com/ Far-From-Groove'N, Inc. dba Viridian Sciences - Viridian Sciences]<br />
* [https://www.metrc.com/the-system Franwell, Inc. - Metrc]<br />
* [https://mmjmenu.com/ Ghost Management Group, LLC - MMJMenu]<br />
* [https://www.greenbits.com/ Green Bits, Inc. - Green Bits]<br />
* [http://growone.com/ Grow One Software (US), LLC - Grow One]<br />
* [http://kind.financial/agrisoft-seed-to-sale-software/ KindManage, LLC - Agrisoft]<br />
* [https://www.motagistics.com/ Motagistics, LLC - 4S]<br />
* [https://www.proteus420.com/ Proteus Business Solutions, Inc. - PROTEUS420]<br />
* [http://www.webjoint.com/ Pyrotree, Inc. - WebJoint]<br />
* [http://theracanncorp.com/our-products-2/theracannsystem/ TheraCann International Corporation – TheraCannSYSTEM]<br />
* [https://weedtraqr.com/ WeedTraQR, LLC - WeedTraQR]<br />
<br />
===LIMSpec===<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel4&diff=29686User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel42017-03-30T15:10:52Z<p>Avaughan: /* Banking */</p>
<hr />
<div><br />
<br />
==Overview of the cannabis industry in the United States==<br />
'''Author, for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas<br />
<br />
The following is a brief overview of the cannabis industry in the United States. It's meant to give a quick and concise review of where cannabis use, regulation, testing, and research have been and where they are now. Many of the topics touched upon here will be expanded upon later in this guide.<br />
<br />
===Brief history of cannabis in the U.S.===<br />
[[File:Drug bottle containing cannabis.jpg|right|140px]]''Cannabis'' is a rapid-growing, flowering plant that has been used for centuries for industrial, medicinal, and recreational purposes. The plant includes three species or subspecies: ''indica'', ''ruderalis'', and ''sativa''.<ref name="GRINCannabis11">{{cite web |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomygenus.aspx?id=2034 |title=Genus: Cannabis L. |work=U.S. National Plant Germplasm System |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture |date=01 January 2011 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Both industrial hemp and recreational marijuana are derived from cannabis plants, but with important differences in biochemical composition. Hemp — which has historically been used to create clothing, food and feed, paper, textiles, and other industrial items — tends to have lower levels of the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and higher levels of the non-psychoactive component cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="SwansonControlled15">{{cite journal |title=Controlled Substances Chaos: The Department of Justice's New Policy Position on Marijuana and What It Means for Industrial Hemp Farming in North Dakota |journal=North Dakota Law Review |author=Swanson, T.E. |volume=90 |issue=3 |pages=599–622 |year=2015 |url=https://law.und.edu/_files/docs/ndlr/pdf/issues/90/3/90ndlr599.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="DeitchHemp03">{{cite book |title=Hemp – American History Revisited |author=Deitch, R. |publisher=Algora Publishing |location=New York City |year=2003 |pages=232 |isbn=9780875862262}}</ref> Some cannabis strains have intentionally been bred to produce low levels of THC, while others have been bred with the intent to maximize the psychoactive component. <br />
<br />
Cannabis cultivation began in England's Jamestown colony of America in earnest around 1611, via formal orders. Several years later those orders turned into a royal decree, enacted by the Virginia Company, asking colonists to each grow 100 hemp plants for export to England.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Colonial America continued its growth, use, and exportation of hemp, even beyond the formal founding of the United States. During that time, growers undoubtedly were using the female plant (which flowers and has higher levels of THC) to treat aches and pains as well as enjoy it recreationally. By the time the U.S. Civil War arrived in the 1860s, however, the growth and use of industrial hemp declined as increased cotton and wood use took away much of the profitability of hemp.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Around the same time, local governments began recognizing tonics, tinctures, and extracts from cannabis plants as potentially dangerous substances, labeling them as hypnotics, narcotics, or even poisons.<ref name="Senate1860">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1860/02/16/news/senate-88150825.html |title=Senate |author=U.S. Senate |work=The New York Times |date=15 February 1860 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> In the early twentieth century, U.S. labeling and prescription laws — such as the the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 at the federal level as well as various state laws — saw further restrictions put on cannabis, effectively culminating in the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. With the passage of those acts, hemp and marijuana essentially became illegal, controlled substances.<ref name="WaltonMari38">{{cite book |author=Walton, R.F. |title=Marijuana, America’s New Drug Problem |location=Philadelphia |publisher=B. Lippincott |year=1938 |page=37}}</ref><ref name="WoodwardTax37">{{cite web |url=http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/woodward.htm |title=Taxation of Marihuana |author=Woodward, W.C.; House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means |work=Schaffer Library of Drug Policy |date=04 May 1937 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CaversTheFood39">{{cite journal |title=The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938: Its Legislative History and its Substantive Provisions |journal=Law and Contemporary Problems |author=Cavers, D.F. |volume=6 |pages=2–42 |year=1939 |url=http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/lcp/vol6/iss1/2/}}</ref><br />
<br />
State efforts to decriminalize marijuana were somewhat successful in the early 1970s, though progress towards that goal slowed again with the Reagan Administration's war on drugs.<ref name="MeierPolitics16">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4wYDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT58 |title=The Politics of Sin: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy |author=Meier, K.J. |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2016 |page=58 |isbn=9781315287270}}</ref> Progress picked up steam again in the late 1990s into the 2000s, particularly in states such as California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, and Colorado.<br />
<br />
As of March 2017, twenty-eight U.S. states have approved some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization of medicinal and/or recreational marijuana.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16">{{cite web |url=http://time.com/4559278/marijuana-election-results-2016/ |title=These States Just Legalized Marijuana |author=Steinmetz, K. |work=Time |publisher=Time, Inc |date=08 November 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Industrial hemp has also been addressed in some regard, with 16 states having legalized commercialized industrial hemp production and the federal government making certain concessions on it (''Cannabis sativa'' containing no more than 0.3 percent THC, grown under a state-sanctioned agricultural pilot program).<ref name="NCSLState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/agriculture-and-rural-development/state-industrial-hemp-statutes.aspx |title=State Industrial Hemp Statuses |publisher=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=19 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="81FR53395">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-19146/statement-of-principles-on-industrial-hemp |journal=Federal Register |title=Statement of Principles on Industrial Hemp |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53395–6 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> However, cannabis, including industrial hemp, remains a Schedule I controlled substance, as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<ref name="LegerMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/11/dea-marijuana-remains-illegal-under-federal-law/88550804/ |title=Marijuana to remain illegal under federal law, DEA says |author=Leger, D.L. |work=USA. Today |publisher=Gannett Company |date=11 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref>, including extracts and other derivatives such as cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="WallaceLegal17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/01/13/hemp-dea-extracts-marijuana-cbd-judicial-review/71387/ |title=Legal challenge filed against DEA’s new marijuana extract rule |work=The Cannabist |author=Wallace, A. |publisher=The Denver Post |date=13 January 2017 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> This federal classification continues to clash with changing state laws and regulations at an increasing pace, creating both opportunities and difficulties for involved citizens at all points along the industrial, economic, and social chain.<br />
<br />
===Medical and recreational use===<br />
In its 2016 World Drug Report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that 3.8 percent of the global population — roughly 183 million people — used cannabis in 2014.<ref name="UNODCWorld16">{{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/doc/wdr2016/WORLD_DRUG_REPORT_2016_web.pdf |format=PDF |title=World Drug Report 2016 |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |publisher=United Nations |isbn=9789210578622 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Focusing in on the United States, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that in 2014 the country had 35.1 million past-year marijuana users.<ref name="SAMHSAResults16">{{cite web |url=https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.pdf |format=PDF |title=Results from The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use And Health: Detailed Tables |author=Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |editor=RTI International |page=178 |date=08 September 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> It's not clear if that total includes legal medical marijuana users, which numbered roughly 2.4 million that year according to non-profit ProCon.org.<ref name="ProConNumber14">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=006445 |title=Number of Legal Medical Marijuana Patients (as of Oct. 27, 2014) |publisher=ProCon.org |date=27 October 2014 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref> When compared to SAMHSA's estimate of 11.1 million users in 1997<ref name="RabkinDrug99">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvzBdlolKrQC&pg=PA16 |title=Drug Control: DEA's Strategies and Operations in the 1990s |author=Rabkin, N.J. |publisher=U.S. General Accounting Office |year=July 1999 |pages=172 |isbn=9780788184833}}</ref>, it becomes clear that reported marijuana use has increased in the United States over the past few decades, whether it's through legalization efforts or otherwise. Some have pointed to the expansion of medical marijuana laws acting as gateways for increased adolescent use; however, multiple studies have tried but failed to find such a cause and effect relationship.<ref name="HasinMedical15">{{cite journal |title=Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the USA from 1991 to 2014: Results from annual, repeated cross-sectional surveys |journal=The Lancet Psychiatry |author=Hasin, D.S.; Wall, M.; Keyes, K.M. et al. |volume=2 |issue=7 |pages=601–608 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00217-5}}</ref><ref name="WallAdol11">{{cite journal |title=Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008: Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Wall, M.M.; Poh, E.; Cerdá, M. |volume=21 |issue=9 |pages=714–716 |year=2011 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.06.001 |pmid=21820632 |pmc=PMC3358137}}</ref><ref name="HarperDoMed12">{{cite journal |title=Do Medical Marijuana Laws Increase Marijuana Use? Replication Study and Extension |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Harper, S.; Strumpf, E.C.; Kaufman, J.S. |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=207–212 |year=2012 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.12.002 |pmid=22285867}}</ref> Regardless, with 28 U.S. states now having some type of legalization law on the books<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" />, the number of marijuana users isn't likely to decrease any time soon in the U.S.<br />
<br />
===Cultivation and distribution===<br />
At the federal level, marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug and remains illegal.<ref name="GPO21USC812">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title21/html/USCODE-2011-title21-chap13-subchapI-partB-sec812.htm |title=§812. Schedules of controlled substances |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LegerMari16" /> (Federal regulation of cannabis is discussed in detail later under "Regulation and standardization.") This doesn't leave a lot of options for researchers and the like. In fact, the only federally-granted grow operation (grow-op) as of this writing is the University of Mississippi, contracted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to grow marijuana for approved research studies.<ref name="BajajHowThe14">{{cite web |url=https://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/how-the-federal-government-slows-marijuana-research/ |title=How the Federal Government Slows Marijuana Research |author=Bajaj, V. |work=Taking Note: The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=30 July 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CheslerGov15">{{cite web |url=http://weedrush.news21.com/government-restrictions-lack-of-funding-slow-progress-on-medical-marijuana-research/ |title=Government restrictions, lack of funding slow progress on medical marijuana research |author=Chesler, J.; Ard, A. |work=News21: America's Weed Rush |publisher=Carnegie Corporation of New York; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation |date=15 August 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/10/marijuana-medical-research-dea/ |title=DEA decision keeps major restrictions in place on marijuana research |author=Joseph, A. |work=STAT |publisher=Boston Globe Media |date=10 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RudroffMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/marijuana-regulation-blocks-vital-ms-research-544886 |title=Marijuana Regulation Blocks Vital Multiple Sclerosis Research |author=Rudroff, T. |work=Newsweek |publisher=IBT Media, Inc |date=21 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (That may change for the better in 2017; see the next section on testing and research for more.)<br />
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On the state level, the growth, testing, and distribution of cannabis depends on state law, which can vary from state to state. This topic is discussed further in the "Regulation and standardization" section, but here are the key points:<br />
<br />
* Federal law makes it illegal to cultivate and distribute marijuana, even in a state that has legalized such activity. However, while there's no legally binding guarantee cultivators and distributors won't be pursued by federal law enforcement, they can limit their chances of such federal enforcement by following to the letter state and local law.<br />
<br />
* Despite some of the variances among state laws, one aspect largely remains consistent: it's illegal to distribute marijuana over state lines, even when distributing between two states with similar laws.<ref name="BelvilleCanI16">{{cite web |url=http://www.weednews.co/can-i-take-marijuana-from-one-legal-state-to-another/ |title=Can I Take Marijuana From One Legal State To Another? |work=Weed News |author=Belville, R. |publisher=WN Media, LLC |date=28 November 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
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* Regulations on the personal and commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana vary significantly from state to state. Some states make a limited pool of available licenses available; others don't offer them or instead have specific alternative treatment or non-profit centers that handle growth and distribution.<ref name="FindLawMari">{{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LeaflyHome">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="ProCon28Legal16">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Testing and research===<br />
[[File:Juan Velez- Planta Cannabis.jpg|left|250px]]One area that continues to expand — while taking advantage of new scientific research and techniques — is the laboratory sphere, particularly in research, regulation, and standardization activities. According to July 2016 testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Division Director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) alone supported 281 cannabinoid research projects totaling more than $111 million in 2015.<ref name="WeissTestimony16">{{cite web |url=https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/asl/testimony/2016-09/the-state-of-the-science-on-the-therapeutic-potential-of-marijuana-and-cannabinoids/index.html |title=Testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Ph.D. on The State of the Science on the Therapeutic Potential of Marijuana and Cannabinoids before Judiciary Committee |author=Weiss, S.R.B. |work=ASL Testimony |publisher=U.S. Department of Health & Human Services |date=13 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
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While the research, analysis, and processing of cannabis has been ongoing for centuries<ref name="DeitchHemp03" />, it wasn't until 1896 that Wood ''et al.'' conducted one of the first documented chemical experiments to determine the constituents of cannabis. Several years later, the researchers were able to correctly identify the extracted and isolated cannabinol from the exuded resin of Indian hemp as C<sub>21</sub>H<sub>26</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.<ref name="WoodCann1899">{{cite journal |title=III.—Cannabinol. Part I |journal=Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions |author=Wood, T.B.; Newton Spivey, W.T.; Easterfield, T.H. |volume=75 |pages=30–36 |year=1899 |doi=10.1039/CT8997500020}}</ref> As of mid-2015, 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' have been identified as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15">{{cite journal |title=Isolation and pharmacological evaluation of minor cannabinoids from high-potency ''Cannabis sativa'' |journal=Journal of Natural Products |author=Radwan, M.M.; ElSohly, M.A.; El-Alfy, A.T. et al. |volume=78 |issue=6 |pages=1271-6 |year=2015 |doi=10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00065 |pmid=26000707 |pmc=PMC4880513}}</ref>, "a class of diverse chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in cells that modulate neurotransmitter release in the brain."<ref name="WHOTheHealth16">{{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}</ref><br />
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Yet in the United States, when it comes to 1. enacting the broad level of testing required to ensure public safety — whether it be medical, recreational, or industrial use of cannabis — and 2. researching and better understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (medical use and benefit) of cannabinoids in the human population, many have argued that laboratory testing of cannabis is still in its infancy<ref name="HazekampCanna12">{{cite journal |title=Cannabis - from cultivar to chemovar |journal=Drug Testing and Analysis |author=Hazekamp, A.; Fischedick, J.T. |volume=4 |issue=7–8 |pages=660–7 |year=2012 |doi=10.1002/dta.407 |pmid=22362625}}</ref><ref name="BushWorlds15">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/worldrsquos-strongest-weed-potency-testing-challenged/ |title=World’s strongest weed? Potency testing challenged |author=Bush, E. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=18 February 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RutschQuality15">{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/24/395065699/quality-testing-legal-marijuana-strong-but-not-always-clean |title=Quality-Testing Legal Marijuana: Strong But Not Always Clean |author=Rutsch, P. |work=Shots |publisher=National Public Radio |date=24 March 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15">{{cite journal |title=Unraveling the Cannabinome |journal=The Analytical Scientist |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Lipps, W. |issue=0915 |year=2015 |url=https://theanalyticalscientist.com/issues/0915/unraveling-the-cannabinome/ |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CrombieMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2016/07/marijuana_labs_prepping_for_st.html |title=Marijuana labs prepping for regulation and oversight; no lab licenses issued yet |author=Crombie, N. |work=The Oregonian |publisher=Oregon Live LLC |date=25 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16">{{cite web |url=http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170210234439/http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Closer Look at Cannabis Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Clifford, R.; Winkler, P.; Bankert, W. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=December 2016 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref> and evidence-based research of marijuana continues to be slow and bogged down in regulation.<ref name="BajajHowThe14" /><ref name="CheslerGov15" /><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="RudroffMari17" /> In regards to the first issue, as some form of legalization continues to sweep across states, regulators, users, and industry are recognizing the need for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana; the current state of improper labeling and potentially harmful contaminants<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /> will only serve to hinder the industry. To the second issue, some within the federal government seem to recognize the roadblocks to improved evidence-based research and are working to slowly improve how researchers can legally acquire and test marijuana in the U.S.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis/post/2016-08-15/the-silver-lining-in-the-dea-s-refusal-to-reclassify-cannabis |title=The silver lining in the DEA’s refusal to reclassify cannabis |work=Tracking Cannabis |author=Romza-Kutz, D.; Roth V., F. |publisher=Thompson Coburn LLP |date=15 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
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An excerpt from the previously mentioned testimony of NIDA's Dr. Weiss summates this well:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The current state of the research on marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids suggests the potential for therapeutic value for a number of conditions; however, more evidence is needed before marijuana or cannabinoid products (beyond those already approved through the Food and Drug Administration [FDA]) are ready for medical use. Promising preclinical findings do not always prove to be clinically relevant, and even fewer lead to new treatments. Moreover, clinical studies of sufficient quality to meet FDA standards for drug approval are currently lacking for most conditions. Among the factors that impact this research are the specific statutory requirements and treaty obligations that govern research on marijuana. NIH is working closely with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and FDA to explore ways to streamline these processes to facilitate research.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /></blockquote> <br />
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In the meantime, government entities such as the National Institutes of Health and non-profits such as jCanna push forward with scientific conferences, summits, and roundtables that bring scientists and interested parties together to share existing knowledge and testing techniques.<ref name="NIHMari16">{{cite web |url=http://apps1.seiservices.com/nih/mj/2016/ |title=The Marijuana and Cannabinoids: A Neuroscience Research Summit |publisher=National Institutes of Health |date=23 March 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="jCannaCSC17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Other areas of concern===<br />
When examining the current state of the U.S. cannabis industry, it's important to note a few additional areas of concern that impact it, again tightly linked to federal regulations (which are discussed extensively in the next section): banking and advertising. Issues related to both of these topics continue to limit how state-based grow-ops, dispensaries, and testing laboratories are funded and operated. <br />
<br />
====Banking====<br />
Since the U.S. federal government still considers marijuana to be illegal, by extension banks and credit unions — which are regulated by a patchwork collection of federal (and state) laws — put themselves into potentially dangerous territory by accepting money from depositors engaging in federally illegal activities; the bank can be punished by federal institutions such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).<ref name="HillBanks15">{{cite journal |title=Banks, Marijuana, and Federalism |journal=Case Western Reserve Federal Law Review |author=Hill, J.A. |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=597–647 |year=2015 |url=http://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrev/vol65/iss3/7}}</ref> In an attempt to ease the concerns of industry players as well as banks in states that had implemented legalization efforts, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released a guidance document in February 2014 that "does not grant immunity from prosecution or civil penalties to banks that serve legal marijuana businesses" but rather "directs prosecutors and regulators to give priority to cases only where financial institutions have failed to adhere to the guidance."<ref name="KovaleskiUS14">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/us/us-issues-marijuana-guidelines-for-banks.html |title=U.S. Issues Marijuana Guidelines for Banks |author=Kovaleski, S.F. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Corporation |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FinCEN_BSA14">{{cite web |url=https://www.fincen.gov/resources/statutes-regulations/guidance/bsa-expectations-regarding-marijuana-related-businesses |title=BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses |author=Financial Crimes Enforcement Network |publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, the guidance has remained just that: guidance; it doesn't prevent federal law enforcement or regulating agencies from taking action. An August 2016 attempt to reclassify marijuana into a lower classification than Schedule I failed<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" />, keeping the FinCEN guidance in place as a recommendation for how federal authorities should enforce existing law. <br />
<br />
According to an Associated Press report in April 2016, the guidance has had some sort of impact, with banks and credit unions willing to handle any money associated with marijuana increasing from 51 in March 2014 to 301 in March 2016.<ref name="HansenBanking16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/804ae396daab4ba98f814b186f872ef6/banking-woes-easing-some-legal-pot-businesses |title=Banking woes easing for some legal pot businesses |author=Hansen, K.; Johnson, G. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=20 April 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, this hasn't prevented those in states with newly minted medical and recreational marijuana legalization laws from being worried about how cannabis money will be handled, particularly with the new Trump administration taking the reigns of government. California, which in November 2016 legalized recreational use of marijuana beginning in 2018, has already petitioned that administration to clarify its policy early on. "We have a year to develop a system that works in California and which addresses the many issues that exist as a result of the federal-state legal conflict," wrote California Treasurer John Chiang to Trump. "Uncertainty about the position of your administration creates even more of a challenge."<ref name="BloodCali16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d54ea614db274238986a8e0d77dbb147/california-treasurer-asks-trump-guidance-pot-banking |title=California treasurer asks Trump for guidance on pot, banking |author=Blood, M.R. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=02 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Similar legalization changes in Massachusetts prompted its senator, Elizabeth Warren, along with nine other senators, to write to FinCEN in early 2017 requesting even clearer, more friendly guidance for marijuana vendors.<ref name="LeBlancUSSen17">{{cite web |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/jan/02/us-sen-warren-seeks-to-pull-pot-shops-out-of-banki/ |title=US Sen. Warren seeks to pull pot shops out of banking limbo |author=LeBlanc, S. |work=Las Vegas Sun |publisher=Greenspun Media Group |date=02 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> Yet it remains to be seen if entities outside of grow-ops and dispensaries will see banking relief. In particular, testing laboratories continue to struggle with managing cash flow and acquiring bank lending for their operations<ref name="LampachQA13">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/qa-with-steep-hill-lab-ceo-david-lampach-cannabis-testing-market-could-hit-40m-in-2-years/ |title=Q&A With CEO of Steep Hill Halent: US Cannabis Testing Market Could Hit $40M by 2016 |work=Marijuana Business Daily |author=Lampach, D. |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=20 November 2013 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MartinProfit16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ |title=Profitability in the Cannabis Laboratory Industry |work=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |author=Martin, R.W. |publisher=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |date=May 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="TulsiABright16">{{cite web |url=http://www.labmanager.com/research-specific-labs/2016/10/today-s-cannabis-research-market |title=A Bright Future for Cannabis Testing Services |work=Lab Manager |author=Tulsi, B.B. |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=03 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>, causing some to believe consolidation of such labs will occur before the industry can really even take off.<ref name="LampachQA13" /><ref name="DigiPathAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Digipath-Company-Report.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |date=October 2016 |pages=36 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Advertising====<br />
Advertising of marijuana products is another area of concern, though the regulations and laws regarding it are less clear. When it comes to television and radio broadcasting and its associated advertising, a federally granted broadcasting license stands to be lost, care of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The trouble is, it's not clear if the FCC would act against broadcasters; the FCC hasn't issued guidance in the same way FinCEN has. "I don’t think anybody knows, and that’s the problem," said California Broadcasters Association President Joe Berry in an August 2016 report published by the The Sacramento Bee. "Without a clear indication [from the FCC on marijuana advertising], the vast majority of broadcasters are going to stay away from this issue."<ref name="WhiteIfCali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article96040082.html |title=If California legalizes pot, will TV ads be far behind? |author=White, J.B. |work=The Sacramento Bee |publisher=The McClatchy Company |date=17 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> California, of course, made recreational marijuana legal, and its proposed law sought to address the issue of advertising, including "a provision restricting TV and radio ads so they are not targeted to minors," while also addressing the authority of the FCC to enforce regardless.<ref name="McGreevyQA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-proposition-64-marijuana-legalization-qa-20161030-snap-20161029-story.html |title=Q&A: Proposition 64 would legalize recreational use of marijuana though it's illegal under federal law. How will that work? |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=30 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Other forms of advertising also remain problematic. In late November 2015, the United States Postal Service (USPS) out of Portland, Oregon published its interpretation of federal law regarding "mailpieces containing advertisements about marijuana," regarding it illegal to distribute certain forms of marijuana advertisement while citing 21 U.S. Code § 843(c).<ref name="ReinThePot15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/12/21/the-pot-business-may-be-legal-but-newspapers-cant-run-ads-for-it-the-u-s-postal-service-says/ |title=The pot business may be legal, but newspapers can’t run ads for it, the U.S. Postal Service says |author=Rein, L. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=21 December 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has, controversially, also gotten involved, stating that trademarking of a "brand controlled substances or related paraphernalia that are illegal to possess or sell" legally doesn't fit within a trademark's commercial viability because at the federal level marijuana is not legal for commerce.<ref name="OxenfordAccepting16">{{cite web |url=http://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2016/12/articles/accepting-advertising-for-marijuana-or-marijuana-paraphernalia-the-trademark-office-rules-on-a-related-issue-that-provides-more-reason-for-caution/ |title=Accepting Advertising for Marijuana or Marijuana Paraphernalia: The Trademark Office Rules on a Related Issue that Provides More Reason For Caution |author=Oxenford, D. |work=Broadcast Law Blog |date=13 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (Legal experts such as Dariush Adli suggest "creative ways" of getting around this, from registering trademarks in multiple states to registering "non-cannabis merchandise in order to generate some federal protection for their mark."<ref name="AdliObtain16">{{cite web |url=http://adlilaw.blogspot.com/2016/12/obtaining-trademark-protection-for_9.html |title=Obtaining Trademark Protection for Cannabis Businesses |author=Adli, D. |publisher=ADLI Law Group |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>) Even billboards are an issue, with state lawmakers proposing new regulations on billboard-based marijuana advertising weeks after the state passed its recreational legalization laws.<ref name="McGreevyPotAds16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-pot-ads-snap-20161221-story.html |title=Pot ads along highways? Lawmakers wrangle over legalization's consequences |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> And state laws, such as those found in Alaska, can create their own set of challenges in staying legal with marijuana advertising.<ref name="AndrewsGaps16">{{cite web |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-marijuana/2016/12/26/gaps-in-alaska-marijuana-advertising-rules-cause-worry/ |title=Gaps in Alaska marijuana ad rules cause worry |author=Andrews, L. |work=Alaska Dispatch News |publisher=Alaska Dispatch Publishing |date=27 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Despite all this, at least one financial consultant believes marijuana marketing will become more prevalent: GreenWave Advisors' Matthew Karnes estimates spending will jump to $75 million by 2021.<ref name="StilsonWhyMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/why-marijuana-marketing-will-be-bigger-ever-year-175246 |title=Why Marijuana Marketing Will Be Bigger Than Ever This Year |author=Stilson, J. |work=Adweek |publisher=Adweek, LLC |date=03 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Regulation and standardization==<br />
===Federal regulation of cannabis===<br />
[[File:Dea color logo.svg|right|250px]]On October 27, 1970, the Controlled Substances Act put into place five schedules or classifications of drugs that would be regulated in some fashion, and drugs were initially classified into those schedules, followed by annual reviews and updates.<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> Marijuana was initially placed under Schedule I<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> and remains there today.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/alex-grubbs/dea-declines-request-reclassify-marijuana-citiing-its-high-potential-abuse |title=DEA Declines Request to Reclassify Marijuana, Citiing Its 'High Potential for Abuse' |author=Grubbs, A. |work=CNSNews |publisher=Media Research Center |date=13 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> As a Schedule I drug, the federal government is indicating marijuana has<ref name="GPO21USC812" />:<br />
<br />
* "a high potential for abuse";<br />
* "no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States"; and<br />
* "a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision".<br />
<br />
Then came the Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973, which took existing enforcement entities such as the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and placed them into a new, unified entity called the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).<ref name="GPO5USCApp">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title5/html/USCODE-2011-title5-app-reorganiz-other-dup96.htm |title=Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973 |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="DEAHist7075">{{cite web |url=https://www.dea.gov/about/history/1970-1975.pdf |format=PDF |title=Drug Enforcement Administration: 1970–1975 |work=DEA History In Depth |publisher=U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Then President Richard Nixon said of the transition<ref name="GPO5USCApp" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The enforcement work could benefit significantly, however, from consolidation of our anti-drug forces under a single unified command. Right now the Federal Government is fighting the war on drug abuse under a distinct handicap, for its efforts are those of a loosely confederated alliance facing a resourceful, elusive, worldwide enemy.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The DEA was given numerous responsibilities, including but not limited to the development of enforcement strategy; investigation and prosecution preparation of suspects violating federal law; regulation of drugs and other controlled substances; and coordination and cooperation with state and local government drug enforcement efforts.<ref name="GPO5USCApp" /> Since then the DEA has taken various steps — with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<ref name="HamiltonTheFDA16">{{cite web |url=https://news.vice.com/article/dea-fda-marijuana-schedule-1-status-decision |title=The FDA told the DEA whether pot is medicine — but it won't tell the public |author=Hamilton, K. |work=Vice News |publisher=Vice Media, LLC |date=27 June 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> — to regulate and enforce the availability and use of controlled substances such as marijuana. As the decriminalization and legalization efforts of states have increased in past decades, this has brought federal regulation and enforcement conflicts to those states that have decriminalized and legalized, largely due to the federal government's insistence on maintaining marijuana as a Schedule I drug.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /><ref name="HudakTheCon15">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/conflict-between-federal-and-state-marijuana-laws-claims-victim-345099 |title=The Conflict Between Federal and State Marijuana Laws Claims a Victim |author=Hudak, J. |work=Newsweek |publisher=Newsweek, LLC |date=20 June 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Numerous changes in policy and controversies have occurred since the Controlled Substance Act and DEA were implemented, including a 22-year-long effort by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) to have marijuana rescheduled (1972–1994).<ref name="DPAMAPSTheDEA14">{{cite web |url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/DPA-MAPS_DEA_Science_Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=The DEA: Four Decades of Impeding And Rejecting Science |author=Drug Policy Alliance; MAPS |publisher=Drug Policy Alliance |date=June 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> However, the following talking points represent the most recent important federal-level changes and rulings that impact federal regulation of and enforcement of laws relating to cannabis.<br />
<br />
'''October 19, 2009: The Ogden Memorandum'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden issued a memorandum "intended solely as a guide to the exercise of investigative and prosecutorial discretion" in regards to state-based laws allowing medical cannabis.<ref name="OgdenMemor09">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/blog/memorandum-selected-united-state-attorneys-investigations-and-prosecutions-states |title=Memorandum for Selected United State Attorneys on Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana |author=Ogden, D.W. |work=Justice Blogs |publisher=Department of Justice |date=19 October 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The guidance essentially told U.S. attorneys to not prosecute those entities complying fully with state cannabis laws. Researchers generally agree that this memo acted "as a catalyst for expansion of [state-sanctioned and gray market] cannabis supply in states with poorly defined regulations," though the degree to which it influenced such growth remains poorly documented and requires further investigation.<ref name="CambronState16">{{cite journal |title=State and National Contexts in Evaluating Cannabis Laws: A Case Study of Washington State |journal=Journal of Drug Issues |author=Cambron, C.; Guttmannova, K.; Fleming, C.B. |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=74–90 |year=2017 |doi=10.1177/0022042616678607}}</ref> To be sure, it likely had some effect, as the number of licensed patients using medical marijuana in the state of Colorado increased from 4,800 in 2008 to 41,000 in 2009, and operating dispensaries jumped to more than 900 by mid-2010.<ref name="HIDTATheLeg13">{{cite web |url=http://www.rmhidta.org/html/final%20legalization%20of%20mj%20in%20colorado%20the%20impact.pdf |format=PDF |title=The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact |author=Rocky Mountain HIDTA |volume=1 |date=August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''June 29, 2011: The Cole Memorandum 1'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a memo as a follow-up to the Ogden Memo, muddying the waters in the process. While stating that the stance of efficiently using department resources as outlined in the Ogden Memo still stood, Cole also made it clear that large grow-ops that didn't qualify as "caregivers" had sprung up since.<ref name="ColeMemo11">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/oip/legacy/2014/07/23/dag-guidance-2011-for-medical-marijuana-use.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 June 2011 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The language of the memo essentially said "get off your butts and nail those suckers."<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13">{{cite web |url=https://blog.simplejustice.us/2013/08/30/the-cole-memo-2-0-this-changes-everything/ |title=The Cole Memo 2.0: This Changes Everything |work=Simple Justice |author=Greenfield, S.H. |date=30 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> Cambron ''et al.''<ref name="CambronState16" /> and Fairman<ref name="FairmanTrends16">{{cite journal |title=Trends in registered medical marijuana participation across 13 US states and District of Columbia |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Fairman, B.J. |volume=159 |pages=72–9 |year=2016 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.015 |pmid=26686277}}</ref> suggest this memo had some impact as evidenced by declines in cannabis patient registration from 2011–2013 in Colorado, Michigan, and Montana.<br />
<br />
'''August 29, 2013: The Cole Memorandum 2'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a follow-up memo to his original two years later, following 1. on the heels of then President Obama reiterating publicly that the Department of Justice (DoJ) was to not focus unnecessarily on states that had passed legalization laws and 2. Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational use of cannabis.<ref name="CambronState16" /> The second memorandum sought to reduce the emphasis on the size of the grow-op and increase emphasis on — by a case-by-case basis — "whether the operation is demonstrably in compliance with a strong and effective state regulatory system."<ref name="ColeMemo13">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/3052013829132756857467.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for All United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The memo also clarified specific cases where federal enforcement would be warranted, including distribution to minors, interstate transport, and preventing drugged driving (though it didn't state how). Generally speaking, states saw little federal intervention except in the case of state law being broken or requiring dispensaries to move further away from schools.<ref name="MPPFederal16">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/federal-enforcement-policy-on-state-marijuana-laws/ |title=Federal Marijuana Enforcement Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=2016 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CambronState16" /> Despite the memo, some attorneys continued to see Cole Memorandum 2 as nothing more than unclear language that had no legal weight for anxious growers and distributors in states where cannabis was legalized.<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13" /><br />
<br />
'''December 16, 2014 to current: Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment'''<br />
<br />
A tenuous truce of sorts arrived with the passage of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment in December 2014. The amendment prohibited the DoJ from spending funds to prevent or enforce against state laws that allow for medical marijuana cultivation, distribution, and use, particularly when those actions are performed consistently with those state laws.<ref name="ArmentanoPres14">{{cite web |url=http://blog.norml.org/2014/12/16/president-to-sign-federal-spending-bill-protecting-state-sanctioned-medical-marijuana-programs/ |title=President Signs Federal Spending Bill Protecting State Sanctioned Medical Marijuana Programs |author=Armentano, P. |work=NORML Blog |publisher=NORML Foundation |date=16 December 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Before being passed in December 2014, the amendment had actually been introduced and defeated six times in the previous 10 years.<ref name="BrekkeHouse14">{{cite web |url=https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/05/30/house-votes-to-block-medical-pot-prosecution/ |title=House Votes to End Medical Marijuana Prosecutions |author=Brekke, D. |work=KQED News |publisher=KQED, Inc |date=30 May 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> The DoJ later went on to challenge the amendment on several occasions, from ''U.S. v. Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana'' in 2015 to a collection of 10 different cases from California and Washington in 2016. In both cases, the courts ruled against the DoJ, setting precedent against further department action.<ref name="IngrahamFed15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/10/20/federal-court-tells-the-dea-to-stop-harassing-medical-marijuana-providers/ |title=Federal court tells the DEA to stop harassing medical marijuana providers |author=Ingraham, C. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=20 October 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FermerTheLargest16">{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/medical-marijuana-9th-circuit_us_57b36a31e4b04ff883990337 |title=The Largest Federal Appeals Court Tells DOJ To Back Off State-Legal Medical Marijuana |author=Fermer, M. |work=The Huffington Post |publisher=TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc |date=16 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
One of the downsides of Rohrabacher-Farr is that it has essentially acted as a short-term rider attached to several spending bills since December 2014. As of March 2017, it was last renewed through April 28, 2017; however, with the new Trump administration coalescing — including Trump's demonstrably anti-drug U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions — some in the industry are concerned the amendment may not be renewed, opening the door again for the DoJ to implement stronger enforcement.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /><ref name="SwerdlowApril17">{{cite web |url=http://www.marijuananews.org/afraid |title=April 28, 2017 - Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid + IRS FU |author=Swerdlow, L. |publisher=Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project |date=22 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="YakowiczThePerfect17">{{cite web |url=http://www.inc.com/will-yakowicz/perfect-storm-regulations-could-cripple-marijuana-industry.html |title=The Perfect Storm That Could Cripple the Marijuana Industry Under Trump |author=Yakowicz, W. |work=Inc |publisher=Mansueto Ventures, LLC |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RohrabacherRohr17">{{cite web |url=https://rohrabacher.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rohrabacher-praises-sessions-urges-ag-nominee-to-respect-federal |title=Rohrabacher praises Sessions, urges AG nominee to respect federal marijuana law |author=Rohrabacher, D. |publisher=State of California |date=11 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MuiTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/14/donald-trump-and-jeff-sessions-anti-legal-pot-industry.html |title=Trump and his attorney general are freaking out the $7 billion pot industry |author=Mui, Y. |work=CNBC |publisher=CNBC, LLC |date=14 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref> Alternative bills are continuing to be proposed, including a more permanent version of Rohrabacher-Farr introduced by Representative Dana Rohrabacher of California; however, Speaker Paul Ryan has implemented rules prohibiting amendments to budgetary legislation, and the fact remains that Congress remains reluctant of hearing bills that would change the country's marijuana laws.<ref name="AdamsMari17">{{cite web |url=https://thefreshtoast.com/cannabis/marijuana-bills-currently-congress-can-change-game/ |title=Marijuana Bills Currently In Congress: How They Can Change The Game |author=Adams, M. |work=The Fresh Toast |publisher=Project Coco, Inc |date=13 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="RuskinSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/news/chemtales/sessions-hints-at-a-war-on-marijuana-now-what/ |title=Sessions Hints at a War on Marijuana. Now What? |author=Ruskin, Z. |work=SF Weekly |publisher=San Francisco Media Co |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''August 11, 2016: DEA denies petition to reschedule marijuana out of Schedule I'''<br />
<br />
A request made by two governors and a psychiatric nurse practitioner to the DEA asking it to reschedule marijuana into any other schedule other than Schedule I was denied, as had been done with previous attempts in 2009 and 2011.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16" /> Reasons included known health issues such as prenatal exposure and negative impacts on several biological systems, as well as limited research data and new drug applications.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> At the same time, however, the DEA also recognized the need for further research and the lack of legal marijuana sources for researchers, publishing a policy statement stating intent "to increase the lawful supply of marijuana available to researchers."<ref name="81FR53846">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-17955/applications-to-become-registered-under-the-controlled-substances-act-to-manufacture-marijuana-to |journal=Federal Register |title=Applications To Become Registered Under the Controlled Substances Act To Manufacture Marijuana To Supply Researchers in the United States |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53846–8 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===State and local regulation===<br />
As of January 2017, 28 states have some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization laws for cannabis on the books.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /> In October 1973, Oregon became the first state to enact decriminalization laws for marijuana, imposing a $100 fine for possession of less than an ounce. Eleven other states followed a similar path within five years.<ref name="SingleTheImp81">{{cite book |chapter=The Impact of Marijuana Decriminalization |title=Research Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems |author=Single, E.W. |editor=Israel, Y.; Glaser, F.B.; Kalant, H. et al. |publisher=Springer US |year=1981 |pages=405–424 |doi=10.1007/978-1-4615-7740-9_12 |isbn=9781461577409}}</ref> The next wave of changes began with the passage of medical marijuana legislation in California — the Compassionate Use Act — in November 1996, followed by similar legislation in Oregon and Alaska in 1998, Maine in 1999, and Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada in 2000.<ref name="CambronState16" /><ref name="Alaska98Results">{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/98GENR/results.htm |title=Election Summary Report, State of Alaska 1998 General Election: Official Results |work=Election Results |publisher=State of Alaska Division of Elections |date=1 December 1998 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> Other states continued to add decriminalization and medical marijuana laws in the 2000s. But it wasn't until 2012 that Colorado and Washington became the first states to make recreational marijuana legal, followed by Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia in 2014.<ref name="CambronState16" /> Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada followed suit in 2016.<ref name="BurkeFour17">{{cite web |url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/four-more-states-pass-new-marijuana-laws-california-maine-massachusetts-nevada |title=Four More States Pass New Marijuana Laws: California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada |author=Burke, C. |work=National Law Review |publisher=National Law Forum, LLC |date=04 January 2017 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As shown by Cambron ''et al.'' in 2016 (before the November election results)<ref name="CambronState16" />, dispensaries, possession limits, and interstate ID card acceptance can vary significantly among affected states. California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington lead in number of dispensaries; Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington in maximum possession limits; and Arizona plus five others allowed ID cards from other states. Yet allowed dispensaries can number in the single digits, possession limits can be as low as one ounce, and numerous states still don't honor ID cards from other states.<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Then there's the matter of state differences in testing, enforcement, advertising allowances, etc. It helps to turn to professional associations and organizations — who often lead the charge for improved, more relevant standards — to sort through the variances. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), for example, has published its ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs'' to help sort through the confusing tangle of existing testing laws, where they exist. They exemplify this variation of law in their document<ref name="APHLGuide16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>As with most programs in the United States, every state takes a different approach. For example as of January 2016, New Jersey’s Public Health & Environmental Laboratories only test cannabis plant material. Just across the Hudson, however, New York’s Public Health Laboratory will not be testing any plant material, only cannabis extracts. In addition, the New York Department of Health will provide an oversight role for commercial cannabis laboratories that are licensed by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and approved for testing cannabis products. On the other hand, New Jersey state government does all testing in-house for the medical cannabis program.</blockquote><br />
<br />
As such, unlike their federal counterpart, it's difficult to make broad generalizations about cannabis regulations and their enforcement in the states. It becomes even more difficult when examining states that don't have clear, well-considered regulations or strong enforcement powers. Cambron ''et al.'' emphasized this issue in regards to the supply side, saying: "States without clearly defined regulations for medical cannabis supply have fostered gray markets for cannabis whereby individuals without documented medical conditions are able to easily obtain medical cannabis authorizations. This scenario has created substantial challenges for law enforcement in multiple states."<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Cole ''et al.'' argue that in the end, it will take pressure on the federal government "to set up policy guardrails to steer state regulatory systems" in a more unified and safe direction. Drugged driving, use by minors, interstate distribution, relation to crime and firearms, consumer safety, and advertising are all issues the government should be tackling towards that goal, they say. Not that states aren't addressing these regulatory concerns; they are, but not in consistent ways.<ref name="ColeAll16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thirdway.org/report/all-state-marijuana-laws-are-not-created-equal |title=All State Marijuana Laws Are Not Created Equal |work=Third Way |author=Cole, T.; Trumble, S.; Hatalsky, L.E. |date=17 February 20116 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Standardization===<br />
While federal, state, and local governments wrestle with the regulatory frameworks surrounding cannabis, scientists and government officials are carrying on, doing what they can to harmonize those regulations with emerging industry standards and guidelines. For example, state officials from Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington teamed up to give a presentation called "State Regulatory Approaches to Cannabis Testing, Operations and Product Logistics" at the July 2016 Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit. That presentation focused on the harmonization of regulatory standards and frameworks across states, as well as discussions of what scientific efforts are required to support those standards and frameworks.<ref name="CQSSS16">{{cite web |url=http://chernislaw.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NEW-Cannabis-Quality-Summit-Main-Summit-Agenda.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit - Agenda |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=July 2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, organizations such as Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), and the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) have been developing standards, methods, and certifications for analysis, extraction, labeling, and laboratory operations surrounding medical (and recreational) marijuana.<ref name="InfocastNew16">{{cite web |url=http://infocastinc.com/industries/new-certification-program-brings-quality-assurance-to-the-medical-marijuana-industry/ |title=New Certification Program Brings Quality Assurance to the Medical Marijuana Industry |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AHPARecomm16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="AHPCanna14">{{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}</ref><ref name="MarcuJahan16">{{cite web |url=https://www.projectcbd.org/article/jahan-marcu-cannabis-lab-testing-safety-protocols |title=Jahan Marcu: Cannabis Lab Testing & Safety Protocols |work=Project CBD |author=Project CBD; Marcu, J. |publisher=Project CBD |date=16 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Notable among those organizations is the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS), which has been working to produce internationally applicable voluntary consensus standards for various parts of the cannabis business chain, including cultivation, extraction, laboratory testing, and packaging. FOCUS completed its public review process and finalized its standards in July 2016, though at that time it wasn't clear how to gain access to them.<ref name="FOCUSPublic16">{{cite web |url=http://www.focusstandards.org/public-review-of-cannabis-standards/ |title=Public Review Completes Development Process |publisher=FOCUS |date=2016 |accessdate=16 February 2016}}</ref> New information came to light in March 2017, when FOCUS and ASTM International announced a collaboration between the two entities, which will, pending April 2017 ASTM board approval, see the formation of volunteer committee D37 at ASTM and the further adaptation of FOCUS' standards for a future ASTM release.<ref name="BirosASTM17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/news_article/astm-international-launches-cannabis-committee/ |title=ASTM International Launches Cannabis Committee |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ASTMD37">{{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Laboratory testing of cannabis==<br />
[[File:Juan Velez y Sebastian Cortes - Investigadores del Cannabis Medicinal.jpg|right|300px]]The overview mentioned how regulators, users, and industry are calling for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana. Without proper testing, several issues are bound to arise<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="CANORMLHow11">{{cite web |url=http://canorml.org/news/ringtest.html |title=How Accurate Is Cannabis Potency Testing? |publisher=California NORML |date=21 September 2011 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* label claims may not match actual contents;<br />
* contaminants may linger, causing illness or even death;<br />
* chemical properties and medicinal benefits of specific strains and their unique cannabinoid-turpene profiles can't be isolated; and<br />
* research on potential therapeutic qualities can't be replicated, hindering scientific progress.<br />
<br />
In 2011 — a year before any U.S. state had enacted broad legalization of recreational marijuana — California NORML reported that its assessment of analytical cannabis testing laboratories' accuracy found that while California labs broadly reached +/- 20 percent consistency from a replicate sample, three out of 10 provided unfavorable results on at least half of their tests. Similar wide-ranging discrepancies were also found among edibles, extracts, and tinctures, and NORML found that none of the labs could reach two decimal points precision of cannabinoid results despite laboratory claims stating otherwise.<ref name="CANORMLHow11" /> Another report out of Washington State in January 2015, not long after recreational marijuana sales to the public (requiring accredited lab testing prior) began<ref name="WLCBFAQ">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/mj2015/faqs_i-502 |title=FAQs on I-502 |publisher=Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>, found blind tests of recreational marijuana at dispensaries could range as much as 7.5 percent in accuracy from its corresponding label.<ref name="BushWorlds15" /> Further issues in 2016 with alleged partiality by some Washington testing laboratories prompted emergency proficiency testing rules to be enacted.<ref name="YoungSome16">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/marijuana/some-pot-labs-in-state-failed-no-pot-at-all-says-scientist/ |title=Some pot labs in state failed no pot at all, says scientist |author=Young, B. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=05 January 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/to-combat-claims-of-inconsistency-washington-testing-labs-turn-to |title=To Combat Inconsistency, Washington Testing Labs Turn to Self-Policing |work=Leafly - Politics |author=Coughlin-Bogue, T. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=11 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> (Proficiency testing essentially requires a laboratory in question to test a sample with known properties, and then those results are compared to those of a neutral third-party lab testing the same sample.)<br />
<br />
These discrepancies and deficiencies highlight the growing need for homogenization of testing methods and procedures, if not nationally at least across an entire state. Such homogenization would, in theory, not only positively affect the quality of product but also provide greater consumer confidence that label and product match. As Marketing Director Scott Kuzdzal of Shimadzu pointed out during a January 2017 webinar on analytic testing of cannabis, poor sample preparation, lack of thorough testing, and the manual process itself — which can introduce user error, particularly when good laboratory practices aren’t used — all can contribute to discrepancies between label and product.<ref name="KuzdzalOpp17">{{cite web |url= http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170119200158/http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |title=Webinar: Opportunities & Challenges in Cannabis Analytical Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.A. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=19 January 2017 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=03 February 2017 |quote=Source is actual webinar.}}</ref> When dispensaries, edible manufacturers, and supplement companies perform insufficient lab testing or overstate claims on labels, it reduces consumer confidence, and both state and federal authorities — including the FDA — have to interject.<ref name="YoungSome16" /><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16" /><ref name="FDAWarn16">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm484109.htm |title=2016 Warning Letters and Test Results for Cannabidiol-Related Products |work=Public Health Focus |publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration |date=31 August 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As was mentioned at the end of the previous section on state regulation, efforts to improve testing methods and procedures, with the goal of seeing the best of them become standards, are ongoing. Where are those efforts now, and where are they going? Before we can examine that, we first need to briefly look at what aspects of cannabis are actually being analyzed.<br />
<br />
===Analytical aspects of cannabis===<br />
====Cannabinoids====<br />
As of mid-2015, researchers have identified 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15" />, active chemical compounds that act in a similar way to compounds our body naturally produces. Many of our body's cells have cannabinoid receptors capable of modulating neurotransmitter release in the brain and other areas.<ref name="WHOTheHealth16" /> The plant's cannabinoids vary, with each bonding to specific receptors in our body, providing differing effects. From a theoretical and medical standpoint, crafting a strain of cannabis that has specific cannabinoids that can aid with a particular malady, while also carefully reproducing the grow conditions to consistently make that strain in the future, is a desirable but difficult goal to achieve.<ref name="RahnCannab14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/cannabinoids-101-what-makes-cannabis-medicine |title=Cannabinoids 101: What Makes Cannabis Medicine? |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=22 January 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabinoids is done primarily as a measure of psychoactive "potency," though cannabinoids have many other potential therapeutic uses. Current laboratory testing looks at only a handful of cannabinoids; more research and development of analytical techniques that can quickly and accurately detect and separate the the rest is required.<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> Some of the major cannabinoids tested for include<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/understanding-cannabis-testing |title=Understanding Cannabis Testing: A Guide to Cannabinoids and Terpenes |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=09 October 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''THC (∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)''': This is the most commonly known cannabinoid found in cannabis, notable for its strong psychoactive effects and ability to aid with pain, sleep, and appetite issues. Included is its analogue ∆8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (which shows notably less strong psychoactive effects than ∆9<ref name="NIHDelta8">{{cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug?cdrid=485262 |title=delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol |work=NCI Drug Dictionary |publisher=National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>) and its homologue THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), which tends to appear in trace amounts and has a more pronounced psychoactive effect, but for a shorter duration. THCV shows promise in fighting anxiety, tremors from neurological disorders, appetite issues, and special cases of bone loss. Also notable is Δ9-THCA (Δ9-Tethrahydrocannibinolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to THC. <br />
<br />
* '''CBC (Cannabichromene)''': This non-psychoactive cannabinoid is found in trace amounts; however, it tends to be markedly more effective at treating anxiety and stress than CBD (see next). It's also notable for its anti-inflamatory properties and potential use for bone deficiencies. <br />
<br />
* '''CBD (Cannabidiol)''': CBD is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, typically accounting for up to 35 to 40 percent of cannabis extracts. It acts as a counter-balance to THC, regulating its psychoactivity. It's been researched as a treatment for anxiety, sleep loss, inflammation, stress, pain, and epilepsy, among other afflictions. Included is its homologue CBDV (Cannabidivarin), which is also non-psychoactive and demonstrates promise as a treatment for epileptic seizures. Also notable is CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBD.<br />
<br />
* '''CBG (Cannabigerol)''': This cannabinoid is also non-psychoactive but only appears in trace amounts of cannabis. If has potential as a sleep aid, anti-bacterial, and cell growth stimulant. Also notable is CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid ), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBG.<br />
<br />
* '''CBN (Cannabinol)''': CBN is mildly psychoactive at best and appears only in trace amounts in ''Cannabis sativa'' and ''Cannabis indica''. It occurs largely as a metabolite of THC and tends to have one of the strongest sedative effects among cannabinoids. It shows promise as a treatment for insomnia, glaucoma, and certain types of pain.<br />
<br />
====Terpenes====<br />
Mandated lab testing of terpenes — volatile organic compounds that distinctly affect cannabis aroma and taste — is done primarily as a way to ensure proper labeling of cannabis and related products, including extracts and concentrates, so buyers have confidence in what they are purchasing.<ref name="HabibTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1c-Testing-for-Psychoactive-Agents-Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing for Psychoactive Agents |author=Habib, R.; Finighan, R.; Davenport, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=24 August 2013 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CMTLabs">{{cite web |url=http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/test-services/tests-offered/ |title=Tests Offered |publisher=CMT Laboratories |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="WercShop">{{cite web |url=http://thewercshop.com/services/terpene-profiling-services/ |title=Terpene Profiling Services |publisher=The Werc Shop |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> However, additional lab research goes into terpenes as they also show potentially useful pharmacological properties<ref name="HabibTesting13" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16">{{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}</ref>, and they demonstrate synergies (referred to at times as the "entourage effect") with cannabinoids that largely still require further exploration.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="WachsbergerTerpene16">{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomcityclub.com/terpine-testing-the-future-of-cannabis-is-here/ |title=Terpene Testing: The future of Cannabis is here |author=Wachsberger, K. |work=Bloom Blog |publisher=Bloom City Club |date=02 February 2016 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> Testing for specific terpenes (discussed later) is less of a standardized practice, though it's rapidly improving.<ref name="HabibTesting13" /> Commonly tested terpenes by third-party testing labs include<ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="CMTLabs" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14" /><ref name="SCLabs">{{cite web |url=http://sclabs.com/terpene-analysis/ |title=Terpene Analysis |publisher=SC Labs, Inc |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Bisabolol<br />
* Caryophyllene<br />
* Cymene<br />
* Humulene<br />
* Limonene<br />
* Linalool<br />
* Myrcene<br />
* Phytol<br />
* Pinene<br />
* Terpinolene<br />
<br />
====Contaminates====<br />
Generally speaking, a contaminate is an unwanted substance that may show up in the final product, be it recreational marijuana or a pharmaceutical company's therapeutic tincture. The following are examples of contaminates that laboratories may test for in cannabis products. <br />
<br />
'''Pesticides''': Pesticides represent the Wild West of not only growing cannabis but also performing analytical testing on it. One of the core issues, again, is the fact that on the federal level marijuana is illegal. Because it's illegal, government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) don't test and create standards or guidelines for what's safe when it comes to residual pesticides, let alone how to best test for them.<ref name="BorelTheWild15">{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/08/pot-marijuana-pesticide-legalization/401771/ |title=The Wild West of Marijuana Pesticides |author=Borel, B. |work=The Atlantic |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group |date=31 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ZhangNobody15">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/nobody-knows-pesticides-legal-marijuana// |title=Nobody Knows What to Do About Pesticides in Legal Marijuana |author=Zhang, S. |work=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |date=07 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, researchers face their fair share of difficulties obtaining product to test. The end result is we don't know much about how inhalation of pesticide-coated marijuana smoke affects long-term health<ref name="BorelTheWild15" /><ref name="ZhangNobody15" />, and we don't have standards for pesticide application and testing.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> With numerous pesticide products and little oversight on what growers apply to their plants, combined with the technical difficulty of testing for pesticides in the lab, pesticides remain one of the most difficult contaminates to test for.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> That said, several classes of of pesticides are commonly applied during cannabis cultivation and can be tested for by labs<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/PreventionWellness/marijuana/Documents/oha-8964-technical-report-marijuana-contaminant-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Technical Report: Oregon Health Authority’s Process to Determine Which Types of Contaminants to Test for in Cannabis Products, and Levels for Action |author=Farrer, D.G. |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |date=December 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''avermectins''': functions as an insecticide that is useful against mites, which are a common problem for cultivators<br />
* '''carbamates''': functions as an insecticide, similar to organophosphates, but with decreased dermal toxicity and higher degradation<br />
* '''organophosphates''': functions as the base of many insecticides and herbicides, valued for its easy organic bonding<br />
* '''pyrethroids''': functions as the base of most household insecticides and exhibits insect repellent properties<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': In 2003, Canadian Rick Simpson published a recipe of sorts for preparing cannabis extract via the use of solvents such as naphtha or petroleum ether. Claiming the resulting oil helped cure his skin cancer, others hoping for a cure tried it, and the solvent method of preparation grew in popularity. Dubious healing claims aside, the solvent extraction method remains viable, though it has evolved over the years to include less harmful solvents such as supercritical carbon dioxide, which has low toxicity, low environmental impact, and beneficial extraction properties.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RomanoCannabis13">{{cite journal |url=http://www.stcm.ch/en/files/hazekamp_cann-oil_2013.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis oil: Chemical evaluation of an upcoming cannabis-based medicine |journal=Cannabinoids |author=Romano, L.L.; Hazekamp, A. |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1–11 |year=2013}}</ref><ref name="PeachSuper14">{{cite journal |title=Supercritical carbon dioxide: A solvent like no other |journal=Journal of Organic Chemistry |author=Peach, J.; Eastoe, J. |volume=10 |pages=1878-95 |year=2014 |doi=10.3762/bjoc.10.196 |pmid=25246947 |pmc=PMC4168859}}</ref> However, chemical solvents are still used, and if not evaporated out properly, the remaining solvents can be particularly harmful to sick patients using the extract. As for what solvents should be tested for, it gets a bit trickier, though Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'', the Oregon Health Authority's December 2015 technical report on contaminant testing of cannabis, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's response to public comments on cannabis testing provide helpful guidance. Listed solvents include benzene, butane, cumene, dimethoxyethane, hexane, and pentane, among others.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="USPNF467">{{cite web |url=https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/USPNF/generalChapter467Current.pdf |format=PDF |title=<467> Residual Solvents |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="MDPHResponse">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/external-comment-response-020416-final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Response to Public Comments |author=Bureau of Healthcare Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |date=12 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': 2013 research on contaminant testing on the behalf of Washington State provides insights into heavy metals and why they're looked for in cannabis testing. That research, as well as other sources, tell us<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DaleyTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Heavy metals contribute to several health problems, including those of a neurological nature.<br />
* Cannabis can "hyperaccumulate metals from contaminated soils."<br />
* Research parallels can be found in tobacco research and how the FDA regulates heavy metal content in foods.<br />
* The most prominently tested heavy metals include arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni).<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': "The ideal conditions for cannabis growth are also ideal for the growth of potentially harmful bacteria and fungi, including yeast and molds," say Shimadzu's Scott Kuzdzal and William Lipps, "therefore microbial contamination poses health risks to consumers and immunocompromised individuals."<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> In truth, these concerns have already borne out; most recently the University of California, Davis reported in February 2017 one of its patients had contracted an incurable fungal infection from inhaling aerosolized marijuana. They later tested 20 marijuana samples from Northern California dispensaries — using specialized techniques — and found a wide variety of potentially hazardous microorganisms.<ref name="UCDavis17">{{cite web |url=http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/11791 |title=UC Davis study finds mold, bacterial contaminants in medical marijuana samples |publisher=UC Davis |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The degree to which such contaminates commonly appear in grown and stored cannabis material and to which microbiological contaminates should be tested is not clear, however. As mentioned previously, neither the U.S. EPA or neighboring Health Canada provide any significant guidance on cannabis testing, including microbiological contaminates.<ref name="KennardYouAre16">{{cite web |url=https://tantaluslabs.com/populace/you-are-probably-smoking-mouldy-weed-why-does-quality-assurance-matter/ |title=You are Probably Smoking Mouldy Weed - Why Does Quality Assurance Matter? |work=Populace |author=Kennard, M. |publisher=Tantalus Labs |date=02 June 2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> Like heavy metal testing, parallels are drawn from microbial testing guidelines and standards relating to tobacco and food, where they exist.<ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> As warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, maintaining stable moisture levels during cultivation and storage is essential. Regularly measuring water activity — how moist something is — is particularly useful as a front-line preventative tool to better ensure microbial growth is limited.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> Regardless, testing of some kind is still required by many U.S. states, including for organisms such as<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="UCDavis17" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="CANNAMicro14">{{cite web |url=http://www.fundacion-canna.es/en/microbiological-study-cannabis-samples |title=Microbiological study of Cannabis samples |publisher=Fundación CANNA |date=2014 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RussoCann13">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qH-2Lj9x7L4C&pg=PT457&lpg=PT457 |chapter=Chapter 30: Contaminants and Adulterants in Herbal Cannabis |title=Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential |author=McPartland, J.M. |editor=Russo, E.B. |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |pages=478 |isbn=9781136614934}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Aflatoxin<br />
* ''Alternaria''<br />
* ''Aspergillus''<br />
* ''Cryptococcus''<br />
* ''E. coli''<br />
* ''Mucor''<br />
* ''Penicillium''<br />
* ''Salmonella''<br />
<br />
===Methods and guidelines===<br />
Now that we've addressed what's being tested for, we can move on to how they're being tested and what's being done to improve testing methods and procedures, including associated guidelines and recommendations. It would be beyond the scope of this guide to include every state's laws and guidelines on cannabis testing; entities such as [https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations Leafly Holdings]<ref name="RoughLeaflysState">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}</ref> and [http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ CannaGuard Security]<ref name="CSCanna16">{{cite web |url=http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ |title=CannaBiz Resources |publisher=CannaGuard Security |date=2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> provide such online resources. Instead, this section will focus on current and promising techniques using generalizations based on information from multiple sources. If any guidelines and recommendations are known, they'll be included.<br />
<br />
====Sampling====<br />
Random, representative sampling is encouraged. When dealing with solid cannabis, BOTEC Analysis recommends a "quartering" method that divides the sample into four equal parts and takes portions from opposite sections of a square-shaped arrangement of the sample. For liquid cannabis products, remembering to stir before sample collection is advised.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> When deriving a sample from a cannabis-laden edible, the QuEChERS approach used by food safety labs for pesticide testing has practical use.<ref name="RigdonExtract16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=25790 |title=Extraction Method for Cannabinoid Analysis in Edibles: Too Much of a Good Thing |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> In fact, a variety of parallels have been drawn from the food and herbal medicine industries' sampling guidelines, including from the Codex Alimentarius Commission's ''CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling'' as well as various chapters of the ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary''.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CACGL50-2004">{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCAC%2BGL%2B50-2004%252FCXG_050e.pdf |format=PDF |author=Codex Alimentarius Commission |title=CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling |pages=69 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> As the APHL points out, "[g]ood sampling is key to improving analytical data equivalency among organizations," and it provides a solid base for any future testing and standardization efforts.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> <br />
<br />
Additional sampling insight can be found by examining other states' guidelines, e.g., Massachusetts' ''Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries''.<ref name="DPHMassProto16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Cannabinoid testing====<br />
Quantifying cannabinoids for label accuracy is a major goal of testing, though calculation and testing processes may vary slightly from state to state. Despite any differences, laboratorians generally agree that when testing for cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, as well as their respective biosynthetic precursors THCA and CBDA, the methodology used must be scrutinized. The naturally occurring THCA of cannabis isn't psychoactive; it requires decarboxylation (a chemical reaction induced by drying/heating that releases carbon dioxide) to convert itself into the psychoactive cannabinoid THC. Chemical calculations show that the process of decarboxylation results in approximately 87.7 percent of the THCA's mass converting to THC, with the other 12.3 percent bubbling off as CO<sub>2</sub> gas.<ref name="CAWhy1">{{cite web |url=http://conflabs.com/why-0-877/ |title=Why 0.877? |publisher=Confidence Analytics |date=10 February 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> The problem with this in the testing domain is gas chromatography (GC) involves heating the sample solution. If you, the lab technician, require precise numbers of both THCA and THC, then GC analysis poses the risk of under-reporting THC total values.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> As such, liquid chromatography-diode array detection (LC-DAD) may be required if a concise profile of all cannabinoids must be made, primarily because it provides environmental stability for them all during analysis. If GC is used, the analysis requires extra considerations such as sample derivatization.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RigdonAccurateJuly15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=14961 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids by GC – Is it Possible? |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 July 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RigdonAccurateSept15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=15135 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids and Neutrals by GC – Derivatives without Calculus |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=09 September 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The APHL briefly describes analysis methods of cannabinoids using both LC and GC on pages 31–32 of their May 2016 ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs''. They also point to New York Department of Health - Wadsworth Center's various guidance documents (MML-300, -301, and -303) for methodologies when testing sample types other than solids, particularly using high-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA).<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MML-300">{{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> Overall, methods used in cannabinoid testing include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="MML-300" /><ref name="SCCann16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/docs/Sigma-Aldrich/General_Information/1/cannabis-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing: Quality You Can Trust |publisher=Sigma-Aldritch Co. LLC |date=2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AdamsNear16">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/column/near-infrared-gc-and-hplc-applications-in-cannabis-testing/ |title=Near Infrared, GC and HPLC Applications in Cannabis Testing |author=Adams, T.; Bertone, M. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=30 November 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR; has limitations, such as requiring standard samples tested w/ other methods)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like 5α-cholestane, docosane, and tetracosane)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like deuterated cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA; stable for all forms of cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography UV detection (HPLC-UV)<br />
* Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
* Thin-layer chromatography (TLC; older, less common technology)<br />
* Ultra-performance chromatography (UPC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
<br />
====Terpene testing====<br />
Identifying and quantifying terpenes is one of the more difficult tasks facing laboratorians<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Terpenes present an analytical challenge because they are nonpolar and structurally similar, and many structural isomers exist. Mass spectrometry (MS) cannot distinguish terpenes that co-elute from a GC column because many have the same molecular weight and share fragment ions.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Of course, types of gas chromatography work; but like cannabinoids, terpenes can degrade with the high heat of gas chromatography.<ref name="AdamsNear16" /> Combined with the problems mentioned above, highly specialized gas chromatography processes that include additional steps — such as full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID) — can be used to produce cleaner results, particularly for volatile components.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> It's less clear if high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used frequently; some entities such as Eurofins Experchem Laboratories claim HPLC works best for them<ref name="AdamsNear16" />, while others such as Restek Corporation claim the method is problematic at best.<ref name="HerringCanHP16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=33071 |title=Can HPLC-UV Be Used For Terpenes Analysis In Cannabis? |author=Herring, T. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 December 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Overall, methods for terpene identification and analysis include<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="SCLabs" /><ref name="SCCann16" /><ref name="AdamsNear16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/life_science/shimadzu_cannabis_brochure.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Solutions |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID; tends to be semi-quantitative)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; may have limitations due to coelution of terpenes and cannabinoids at certain ranges<ref name="HerringCanHP16" />)<br />
<br />
====Contaminate testing====<br />
[[File:LC MS pic.jpg|right|400px]]'''Pesticides''': Gas and liquid chromatography methods are by and large the staple of testing methods for pesticides, which remain "the hardest analyses that are going to be done in the cannabis industry."<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Notably, high-performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) tends to be one of the most thorough methods says Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon. "Ninety-five percent of the pesticides out there can be analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS, although there are some that you would need a GC-MS/MS for," she says.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Testing methods that have been used include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Gas chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of pesticides in cannabis, the EPA's Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) or FDA's Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) provide guidance to labs.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="FDA_PAM">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': Testing for solvents is largely standardized into a couple of options, which have parallels to existing pharmaceutical testing standards outlined in Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'' (USP <467>)<ref name="USPNF467" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS)<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID)<br />
<br />
Massachusetts and Oregon — and likely other states — have used a variety of guidance documents such as USP <467>, reports from the Commission of the European Communities' Scientific Committee on Food (now the European Food Safety Authority), and the International Conference on Harmonization's (ICH) Q3C(R5)<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MDPHResponse" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /> to set their action level testing values for particular solvents.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': The methods used for quantifying levels of highly toxic metals in plants depend on ease-of-use, level of accuracy, and overall cost. The following methods are most common for testing cannabis and other plants<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DavisAnalysis15">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/aas/ssi-icp-002.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of "The Big Four" Heavy Metals in Cannabis by USN-ICP-OES |author=Davis, D.; Long, K.; Masone, J.; Firmin, P. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=August 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), sometimes called inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) (at times coupled with an ultrasonic nebulizer)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma tandem-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of metals in cannabis, the U.S. FDA's ICP-MS methodology document is often used.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': A standard method of testing for the existence of microorganisms is through the process of culturing a sample in a Petri dish, a common diagnostic method in microbiology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is also used, particularly to identify mycotoxins. However, Petri culture analysis isn't rigorous, and ELISA can be time consuming, as it's limited to one mycotoxin per test.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> The following are other, more precise techniques that are improving laboratorians' analyses, particularly using DNA snippets of microbiological contaminates<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="ThompsonAMicro16">{{cite journal |title=A microbiome assessment of medical marijuana |journal=Clinical Microbiology and Infection |author=Thompson III, G.R.; Tuscano, J.M.; Dennis, M. et al. |pages=S1198-743X(16)30605-X |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.cmi.2016.12.001 |pmid=27956269}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)<br />
* Whole metagenome shotgun (WMGS) sequencing<br />
* Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
The extent of mycotoxin testing required remains in question by several entities. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) claims "[t]here is no readily available evidence to support the contention that cannabis harbors significant levels of mycotoxins."<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> The Oregon Health Authority takes a more middle-ground approach, noting that testing for ''E. coli'' and ''Salmonella'' will "protect public health," though ''Aspergillus'' only deserves a warning for people with suppressed immune systems due to its prevalence in the environment.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> USP <561> recommendations largely limit mycotoxin testing of botanical products to those borne from root or rhizome material<ref name="USPNF561">{{cite web |url=https://hmc.usp.org/sites/default/files/documents/HMC/GCs-Pdfs/c561.pdf |format=PDF |title=<561> Articles of Botanical Origin |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>, "which THC-containing cannabis products presumably do not possess," emphasizes the APHL.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Regardless, U.S. Pharmacopeia's Chapter 561 remains a useful document for testing guidelines and limits regarding microbials.<ref name="USPNF561" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> In the less common case of dealing with powdered cannabis — a relatively new THC extract form — Chapter 2023 provides at least some testing parallels, though Dr. Tony Cundell, a microbiologist consulting for the pharmaceutical industry, suggests USP <2023> doesn't go far enough for immunocompromised patients.<ref name="CundellMicro15">{{cite web |url=http://www.americanpharmaceuticalreview.com/Featured-Articles/177487-Microbiological-Attributes-of-Powdered-Cannabis/ |title=Microbiological attributes of powdered cannabis |work=American Pharmaceutical Review |author=Cundell, T. |publisher=CompareNetworks, Inc |date=31 July 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Somewhat related and worth mentioning is moisture content testing. As previously mentioned, warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, and regularly measuring water activity is useful for the prevention of microbial growth.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> The APHL references specifications from the Dutch Office of Medical Cannabis that recommend water content be between five to ten percent in cannabis.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><br />
<br />
===Reports===<br />
There's little in the way of standardization for lab reporting of cannabis test results, though some U.S. states have outlined requirements for what must be included in such reports. The Oregon Health Authority's ''Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 333, Division 64, Section 0100: Marijuana Item Sampling Procedures and Testing'' stipulates that any report must include total THC and total CBD (by dry weight) and, if discovered, "up to five tentatively identified compounds (TICS) that have the greatest apparent concentration." It also lays out requirements for pesticides, failed tests, limits of quantification, and specimen identifiers such as test batch number.<ref name="OHA333-064-0100">{{cite web |url=http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_300/oar_333/333_064.html |title=Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, Division 64, Accreditation of Laboratories |work=Oregon Administrative Rules |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In late January 2017, Pennsylvania released its temporary regulations in support of its new medical marijuana program (28 Pa. Code Chapter 1171), which includes a section on test results and reporting (1171.31). The regulations stipulate reporting by electronic tracking system, with stipulations on using certificates of analysis which include lot/batch number and the specific compounds and contaminates tested.<ref name="28PA1171">{{cite journal |url=http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/M-P/MedicalMarijuana/Documents/Chapter%201171%20Laboratories%201-26-17.pdf |format=PDF |title=Title 28 - Health and Safety, Department of Health - 28 Pa. Code Ch. 1171 |journal=Pennsylvania Bulletin |author=Pennsylvania Department of Health |volume=46 |issue=52 |pages=8036–8041 |date=24 December 2016}}</ref> Regulations aside, it's largely up to the laboratory — and often by extension, the software they're using — to decide how a report is formatted. Some labs like Seattle-based Analytical 360 offer clean, color-based certificates of analysis, with high-magnification photographs, the chromatogram, potency, cannabinoid content, contaminate content, and explanation of limits, with the name of the approving analyst.<ref name="CC_A360">{{cite web |url=http://cannabis-chronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/Godzilla.pdf |format=PDF |title=Certificate of Analysis - Sample: Godzilla |publisher=Cannabis Chronicles |date=07 July 2014 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="C360Results">{{cite web |url=http://analytical360.com/testresults |title=Current Test Results |publisher=Analytical 360, LLC |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Others may simply generate a computer printout with the basic data and a legend.<ref name="HydrioCan16">{{cite web |url=http://beyondchronic.com/question/can-you-help-me-analyze-lab-reports-of-cannabis-oil/ |title=Can you help me analyze lab reports of cannabis oil? |author=Hydrio |work=Beyond Chronic: Ask Old Hippie |date=August 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Reports may originate from the measuring device itself (e.g., an integrator in a chromatography device), a middleware or data station attached to the instrument, or a laboratory information management system that accepted data from the instrument.<ref name="McKennaSetting15">{{cite web |url=http://www.slideshare.net/GenTechScientific/ica2015-cannabis-presentation |title=Setting Up Your Cannabis Lab for Potency Testing |author=McKenna, M. |work=SlideShare |publisher=GenTech |date=18 June 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Though not directly related to laboratory testing, it's worth noting states also have their own reporting requirements for growers, processors, and dispensaries. Both Oregon and Washington, for example, require monthly reports related to medical marijuana transfers.<ref name="OMMPReporting">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/ChronicDisease/MedicalMarijuanaProgram/Pages/reporting.aspx |title=Reporting Requirements for Tracking Medical Marijuana |author=Public Health Division |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="314-55 WAC">{{cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=314-55&full=true |title=Chapter 314-55 WAC: Marijuana Licenses, Application Process, Requirements, and Reporting |work=Washington Administrative Code |publisher=Washington State Legislature |date=16 November 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Lab equipment===<br />
As indicated in previous sections, spectrometry and chromatography have played and will continue to play an important role in cannabis laboratory testing. This should not be surprising: "mass spectrometry is superior to other spectral techniques in such features as sensitivity, selectivity, generation possibility of molecular mass/formula, and combinability with chromatography."<ref name="MilmanTech10">{{cite book |chapter=Chapter 2: Techniques and Methods of Identification |title=Chemical Identification and its Quality Assurance |author=Milman, B.L. |publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg |year=2010 |pages=23–39 |isbn=9783642153617 |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-15361-7_2}}</ref> Analyzing complex chemical compounds that have many features and which are at times difficult to differentiate from each other proves challenging, but these technologies excel in meeting that task.<ref name="MilmanTech10" /> Refer to the previous "Methods and guidelines" section to note the specific technology associated with each molecule and contaminate. Aside from spectrometry and chomatography equipment, the analysis of microorganisms in cannabis may turn to DNA analysis methods that require additional equipment such as a thermal cycler (qPCR) or sequencer (WMGS), or ELISA, which utilizes a photometer or spectrophotometer. Of course, preparing and storing samples requires equipment as well, such as microplates, centrifuges, comparison standards, capillaries, chemicals, columns, Petri dishes, scales, and disposable gloves. Software-based data management systems may also constitute as equipment and are discussed in the next section.<br />
<br />
When it comes to purchasing lab equipment specifically for cannabis testing, a 2015 interview with Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon (then with Restek Corporation) provides good advice<ref name="TaylorCanna15">{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/article/2015/06/cannabis-testing-opens-whole-new-market |title=Cannabis Testing Opens Up a Whole New Market |author=Taylor, M. |work=Laboratory Equipment |publisher=Advantage Business Media |date=23 June 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Industry-specific instrumentation isn't needed in most cases as most of the techniques and equipment used in food and herbal medicine testing have strong parallels to cannabis testing.<br />
* That said, some sample preparation tools, standards, and consumables specifically marketed to the industry may very well make the job quicker and more reliable.<br />
* Appropriate sample preparation techniques are just as vital as the equipment you use.<br />
* Do your research; many instrument companies are examining methodologies usable on conventional equipment, lessening the need for more expensive devices.<br />
* If buying used equipment, make sure the original manufacturer is still in-business and producing consumables and replacement parts. Make sure your planned methods match the equipment, and make sure it's not so old that it can't be serviced by a qualified technician.<br />
<br />
===Software===<br />
Laboratories increasingly depend on software to analyze, store, and share critical data from instruments and experiments.<ref name="VI11">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150425070143/http://virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |title=Laboratory Informatics |publisher=virtualinformatics.com |date=09 April 2011 |archivedate=25 April 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> This has led to the development of laboratory-specific software like the [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS), [[electronic laboratory notebook]] (ELN), and [[chromatography data management system]] (CDMS; sometimes simply CDS). These and other software systems such as "seed-to-sale" programs can also play an important role in the cannabis testing laboratory.<br />
<br />
====LIMS====<br />
Laboratories of all types use LIMS software to manage the wide variety of data, testing and analysis workflows, and other enterprise activities typical of them. This generally includes — but is not limited to — sample reception, workflow management, sample tracking and analysis, quality control, instrument data management, data storage, reporting, and document management.<ref name="SkobelevLab11">{{cite journal |title=Laboratory information management systems in the work of the analytic laboratory |journal=Measurement Techniques |author=Skobelev, D.O.; Zaytseva, T.M.; Kozlov, A.D. et al. |volume=53 |issue=10 |pages=1182–1189 |year=2011 |doi=10.1007/s11018-011-9638-7}}</ref> The cannabis testing laboratory is no exception, though its activities differ slightly from, for example, a clinical pathology laboratory. As such, a few additional features outside of what's typically found in a generic LIMS are required.<br />
<br />
Features that may be incorporated into a cannabis testing LIMS that you might not necessarily find in an all-purpose LIMS include<ref name="BirosUsing15">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/feature_article/using-lims-in-cannabis-laboratories/ |title=Using LIMS in Cannabis Laboratories |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=23 October 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PromiumELIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=https://www.promium.com/main/element-lims-cannabis |title=LIMS for Managing Cannabis Testing |publisher=Promium, LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PharmWareHome">{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmware.net/ |title=PharmWare |publisher=PharmLabs LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LLLIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynxpress.com/index.php?title=LabLynx_LIMS_-_Cannabis |title=LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* sample loading screens optimized for the industry, including differentiation between medical and recreational marijuana<br />
* pre-loaded compliant test protocols, labels, and reports optimized and readily adjustable for a rapidly changing industry<br />
* tools for creating new, compliant test protocols, labels, and reports<br />
* a web API to integrate with state-required compliance reporting systems<br />
* chain-of-custody (CoC) tracking, when necessary<br />
* support for inventory reconciliation<br />
<br />
As previously discussed, industry-specific test protocols largely focus on cannabinoids, terpenes, and a wide variety of contaminates, including excess water. However, as regulations continue to be in a state of flux and not particularly standardized, most LIMS developers are including the ability for users to adjust their protocols and even add new ones. And while CoC functionality is not entirely foreign to generic LIMS, it's particularly important in an industry where currently transporting even a cannabis test sample across state lines can create huge problems.<br />
<br />
In cases where daily sample processing is infrequent and only a couple of chromatography machines are used, laboratories may weigh a decision between a LIMS and a chromatography-specific CDMS.<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
Scientists on the research side of cannabis are certainly using CDMSs from Agilent, Thermo Scientific, Waters, and other to manage the data coming out of their chromatography equipment<ref name="PurschkeDevelop16">{{cite journal |title=Development and validation of an automated liquid-liquid extraction GC/MS method for the determination of THC, 11-OH-THC, and free THC-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) from blood serum |journal=Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry |author=Purschke, K.; Heinl, S.; Lerch, O. et al. |volume=408 |issue=16 |pages=4379-88 |year=2016 |doi=10.1007/s00216-016-9537-5 |pmid=27116418 |pmc=PMC4875941}}</ref><ref name="AlbertiniDeterm15">{{cite web |url=http://tools.thermofisher.com/content/sfs/posters/PO-GC-MS-THC-Metabolites-Triple-Quad-EN.pdf |format=PDF |title=Determination of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Its Main Metabolites Using GC Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry |author=Albertini, T.; Caruso, A. |publisher=Thermo Fisher Scientific |date=2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LaytonAnalysis17">{{cite web |url=https://www.perkinelmer.com/lab-solutions/resources/docs/APP_Analysis-of-Cannabinoids-in-Hemp-Seed-Oils-by-HPLC-012317_01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Cannabinoids in Hemp Seed Oils by HPLC Using PDA Detection |author=Layton, C.; Reuter, W.M. |publisher=PerkinElmer, Inc |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>, and slowly but surely some of those CDMSs are beginning to also support spectrometer data management in a similar way.<ref name="DaviesCentral16">{{cite web |url=http://www.spectroscopyeurope.com/articles/tony-davies-column/3676-central-spectroscopic-data-systems-why-are-chromatographers-so-much-better-equipped |title=Central spectroscopic data systems: Why are chromatographers so much better equipped? |author=Davies, A.N. |work=Spectroscopy Europe |publisher=John Wiley & Sons Ltd; IM Publications LLP |date=12 April 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, some chromatography system developers will collaborate with CDMS vendors to develop software drivers — code that essentially acts as a translator between a device and a program — so chromatography devices can interact fully with the CDMS.<ref name="ShimadzuWaters">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/product.cfm?product=gcdriver |title=Waters Empower Shimadzu GC Driver Version 2 |publisher=Shimadzu Scientific Instruments |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The CDMS likely has a place in the cannabis testing lab as well, though it may depend on the lab's data management needs and goals. In more complex labs with multiple instruments and significant daily processing workflows, a LIMS may make more practical sense.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
The use of seed-to-sale software is an emerging trend that is only tangentially related to laboratory testing of cannabis. Rather than at testing laboratories, seed-to-sale software is found at cultivation sites, production facilities, and dispensaries, and that software is typically designed to be able to integrate with testing laboratory or other software. The goal: create a complete record of transaction, from the grown plant to the lab, producer, and seller. This sort of tracking is mandated in various ways by many U.S. states with legalization laws. "It’s there to prevent the diversion of marijuana, which the federal government still lists as a Schedule I substance, the most dangerous class of drugs," wrote Daniel Rothberg of the ''Las Vegas Sun'' in December 2015. "Tracking also ensures product safety, assists with audits and helps facilitate recalls."<ref name="RothbergSoft15">{{cite web |url=http://www.govtech.com/state/Software-Firms-Benefit-from-Governments-Seed-to-Sale-Marijuana-Tracking.html |title=Software Firms Benefit from Government’s Seed-to-Sale Marijuana Tracking |author=Rothberg, D. |work=Government Technology |publisher=e.Republic, Inc |date=29 December 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref> This type of software is able to track plant yields, attempted theft or diversion, patient preferences, extraction methods, batch weights, and various financial statistics for analysis.<ref name="SmythTrack16">{{cite web |url=https://mjfreeway.com/blog/track-and-trace-vs-seed-to-sale |title=Track and Trace vs. Seed to Sale |author=Smyth, H. |work=MJ Freeway Blog |publisher=MJ Freeway, LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RothbergSoft15" /><br />
<br />
==Future of cannabis regulation, testing, and market trends==<br />
===Regulation and market===<br />
[[File:Medical cannabis demo 2.JPG|right|250px]]On February 23, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer indicated for the first time that the Trump administration would indeed be ramping up enforcement in states that have legalized recreational marijuana use, stating "I do believe that you’ll see greater enforcement," adding that "there’s a big difference between the medical use ... that’s very different than the recreational use, which is something the Department of Justice will be further looking into."<ref name="KumarTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article134608704.html |title=Trump administration plans crackdown on recreational marijuana |author=Kumar, A.; Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Five days later, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions continued to send pessimistic signals, stating he was "dubious about marijuana," and that "[w]e have a responsibility to use our best judgment ... and my view is we don’t need to be legalizing marijuana."<ref name="WheelerSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/321525-sessions-we-dont-need-to-be-legalizing-marijuana |title=Sessions: 'We don't need to be legalizing marijuana' |author=Wheeler, L. |work=The Hill |publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp |date=28 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Several days later, seemingly in response to both Spicer's and Sessions' comments, 11 U.S. senators sent a letter to Sessions asking him to keep in mind Trump's campaign promises of letting states decide their own fate on legalization efforts.<ref name="HotokainenEleven17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article135996463.html |title=11 senators call on Trump team to allow sale of recreational marijuana |author=Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Until demonstrably intrusive federal enforcement actions take place in states with legalized recreational marijuana, it won't be clear if the administration is simply making an implied, noisy threat in order to bring more in the industry to heel. More certain is mounting evidence that a growing majority of U.S. voters believe the federal government should not be enforcing its laws in such states: 64 percent agreed on this in 2012<ref name="NewportAmericans12">{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/159152/americans-federal-gov-state-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=Americans Want Federal Gov't Out of State Marijuana Laws |author=Newport, F. |publisher=Gallup, Inc |date=10 December 2012 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>, rising to 71 percent in 2017.<ref name="QuinnipiacRepublicans17">{{cite web |url=https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2432 |title=Republicans Out Of Step With U.S. Voters On Key Issues, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Most Voters Support Legalized Marijuana |publisher=Quinnipiac University |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Despite such support, it may largely be up to the states in the future to twist the arm of the federal government. Legal representatives at Thompson Coburn expressed this idea well in a blog post in November 2016<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry may have to consider forcing the federal hand by providing credible data on the safety of cannabis as it was invited to do in the DEA decision, in addition to the continuing to support the groundswell of approval at the state level. At some point, in the near future, the state regulatory position and the federal position will have to be reconciled. The industry can and should prompt that reconciliation by a clear united message to federal lawmakers. Without that, it remains unlikely that agencies, such as the FDA, will change its position on cannabis. A lack of change will inhibit market growth and prevent the cannabis industry from reaching its potential.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The obvious issue with expanding research and testing on cannabis and of its safety is acquiring the product within a legal framework and a reasonable time frame. As mentioned previously, the DEA has recognized the need for more federally approved growers than the NIDA center at the University of Mississippi (which came under fire in March 2017 for not testing its provided samples for mold and other contaminants in any standardized fashion<ref name="HellermanScientists17">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/scientists-say-governments-pot-farm-moldy-samples-no-guidelines/ |title=Scientists say the government’s only pot farm has moldy samples — and no federal testing standards |author=Hellerman, C. |work=PBS NewsHour |publisher=NewsHour Productions, LLC |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref>), and they've begun accepting applications for additional entities looking to grow marijuana for researchers.<ref name="81FR53846" /> Assuming the Trump administration doesn't force the DEA to change course — and signs point to the administration at least being on spoken record of supporting medical marijuana and associated research<ref name="MPPTrumpMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/trump-marijuana-policy/ |title=Trump on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=12 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — researchers will optimistically have more options for acquiring research-quality cannabis in the future. This should in turn allow researchers a shot at more focused studies that provide efficacy and safety data related to the medical use of cannabis.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> In fact, this has been a goal of Dr. Susan Weiss, Division Director of Extramural Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for some time. In July 2016 testimony to the U.S. Judiciary Committee<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /> and in a February 2017 research paper set to be published in ''The International Journal of Drug Policy''<ref name="WeissBuilding17">{{cite journal |title=Building smart cannabis policy from the science up |journal=International Journal of Drug Policy |author=Weiss, S.R.B.; Howlett, K.D.; Baler, R.D. |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.01.007 |pmid=28189459}}</ref>, Weiss cautiously recognizes and promotes the need for further evidence-based cannabis research, emphasizing both the healthy and detrimental effects evident so far in the plant and its constituents. She said of recent federal actions towards this goal<ref name="WeissTestimony16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Multiple agencies (NIH, ONDCP, DEA, and FDA) are working together to find ways to streamline the process to facilitate research while meeting international and legislative obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the Controlled Substances Act. In addition to actions taken by the Department of Health and Humans Services to eliminate the Public Health Services (PHS) committee review for non-federally funded marijuana research, the DEA recently streamlined the administrative process for CBD research to allow researchers to obtain a waiver of the requirement for review of changes to an approved protocol in their DEA research registrations, and is attempting to address the marijuana diversity and product development concern by licensing additional manufacturers.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Another recent and significant body of research that may have future influence on cannabis research itself is a massive January 2017 cannabis literature review published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This 440-page report detailed the National Academies' findings after reviewing more than 10,700 abstracts related to cannabis. Among its final recommendations, the authors called for<ref name="NASEMTheHealth17">{{cite web |url=http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/reports/2017/health-effects-of-cannabis-and-cannabinoids.aspx |title=The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research |author=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine |publisher=The National Academies Press |pages=440 |doi=10.17226/24625 |date=12 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* public and private entities to fund and support a national cannabis research initiative that looks to fill key knowledge gaps;<br />
* government agencies to develop research methods and standards that may act as a guide towards higher-quality cannabis research;<br />
* government agencies, non-profit associations, and state and local health departments to fund and support efforts to improve federal, state, and local public health surveillance systems and efforts; and<br />
* government, non-government, and industry entities to work together towards developing a report on existing regulatory barriers to research and how to overcome them.<br />
<br />
However, some researchers such as Mayo Clinic psychiatrist and researcher Michael Bostwick are less convinced that the barriers will fall — claiming federal entities shift too much focus on the detrimental effects and not enough on the potential benefits — and aren't optimistic about the direction the Trump administration will take.<ref name="GrantMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/48122/title/Marijuana-Research-Still-Stymied-by-Federal-Laws/ |title=Marijuana Research Still Stymied by Federal Laws |author=Grant, B. |work=The Scientist |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Despite this pessimism, predictions of substantial revenues in states where recreational marijuana is legalized or could be legalized persist.<ref name="MorrisTheNext16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/21/the-next-big-billion-dollar-cannabis-markets-investors-are-rushing-to.html |title=The next big billion-dollar cannabis markets investors are rushing to |author=Morris, C. |work=CNBC |date=21 October 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ThomasBigPot17">{{cite web |url=http://ctmirror.org/2017/02/07/big-pot-of-money-waiting-if-ct-legalizes-marijuana-analysts-say/ |title=Big pot of money waiting if CT legalizes marijuana, analysts say |author=Thomas, J.R. |work=The CT Mirror |publisher=The Connecticut News Project |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="HoughtonTown17">{{cite web |url=http://www.capenews.net/mashpee/news/town-manager-marijuana-shops-could-boost-tax-revenue/article_c27b9b71-fb63-52de-bc24-fda320f38a32.html |title=Town Manager: Marijuana Shops Could Boost Tax Revenue |author=Houghton, S. |work=The Mashpee Enterprise |publisher=Enterprise Newspapers |date=14 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> The latest national estimates by market research and analytics company New Frontier Data put the U.S. marijuana industry at $24 billion by 2025, with 255,000 total jobs by 2019.<ref name="WallaceReport17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/02/22/report-united-states-marijuana-sales-projections-2025/74059/ |title=Report: America’s marijuana industry headed for $24 billion by 2025 |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Yet entities such as the Denver-based Marijuana Policy Group and cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg LLC preach caution when dealing with tax revenue estimates and economic projections in the U.S. cannabis market<ref name="WallaceReport17" />, pointing to CIBC World Markets' grossly inflated tax revenue estimate of $142 CAD ($106 USD) per resident in January 2016, an overshot of about 300 percent.<ref name="WallaceWhat16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/12/22/marijuana-sales-pot-taxes-colorado-estimates-projections/69831/ |title=What legal states need to know about sketchy pot tax predictions |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 December 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> "This is a fast-paced, changing market with varying different dynamics that have more to do based on governmental and regulatory dynamics than they do on consumer dynamics," said Vicente Sederberg's director of economics and research Andrew Livingston.<ref name="WallaceReport17" /> <br />
<br />
Indeed, current and future regulatory dynamics seem to be the biggest wildcards in making market-based predictions, with predicted tax and associated revenue estimates capable of both being significantly too high (by inadequately taking into account local and regional cultural and economic statuses) or too low (by not anticipating new states legalization efforts, research breakthroughs, or ties to other mainstream but related industries).<ref name="WallaceReport17" /><ref name="WallaceWhat16" /> Additionally, too much regulation can put a stranglehold on a state's cannabis program development — as it has done in Minnesota<ref name="PotterBig16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/08/12/big-losses-for-minn-medical-marijuana-providers |title=Big losses for Minn. medical marijuana providers |author=Potter, K. |work=MPR News |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=12 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — causing related grow-ops and laboratories to take significant losses or even go out of business.<br />
<br />
===Lab testing===<br />
Future-looking estimates on cannabis lab testing are more difficult to find. The primary numbers being floated around originate from a June 2015 market report published by GreenWave Advisors titled ''Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays''. GreenWave suggested that if the U.S. were to quickly legalize cannabis at the federal level, lab testing revenues alone would be $553 million by 2020, $866 million including related activities such as data analysis and consulting.<ref name="DPAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DigiPath-Investor-Presentation-11.3.pdf |format=PDF |title=DigiPath, Inc.: A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |pages=28 |date=November 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SBSignal15">{{cite web |url=https://signalbay.com/company-news/signal-bay-makes-strategic-acquisition-in-the-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=Signal Bay Makes Strategic Acquisition in the $850M Cannabis Testing Market |publisher=Signal Bay, Inc |date=24 September 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="GWMari15">{{cite web |url=https://www.greenwaveadvisors.com/research/marijuana-lab-testing-an-in-depth-analysis-of-investing-in-one-of-the-industrys-most-attractive-plays/ |title=Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays |publisher=GreeenWave Advisors, LLC |date=June 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
As for advances in cannabis lab testing, Kuzdzal ''et al.'' of Shimadzu envision a future where improvements in standardization, quality control, and research will shift what is tested and how its tested<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry and cannabis testing are in their infancies. As the need for better quality control continues and standardization is introduced, it is likely that lower limits for the various cannabis contaminants will be established and regulations will be introduced. Mass spectrometry will likely play a greater role in quantitation as detection levels are lowered and confirmatory tests are required. The health benefits of terpenes present in cannabis will also provide a fertile area of scientific research. CBD, CBG and other compounds appear to have a synergistic relationship with each other as well as with various THC forms and terpenes. This field needs much more investigation to determine mechanisms of action, bioavailability and health benefits.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabis should continue to provide more exact and useful results as methods and standards continue to evolve. Disparity of results between two labs for the same sample are continuing to narrow as states increasingly add testing requirements to their cannabis legislature.<ref name="NelsonHas16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/has-lab-testing-turned-a-corner/ |title=Has Lab Testing Turned A Corner? |author=Nelson, S. |work=Cannabis Business Times |publisher=GIE Media, Inc |date=03 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Those testing requirements are increasingly based off a growing body of recommendations, guidance, and standards developed by the likes of the Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS), and the Association of Public Health Laboratories.<ref name="InfocastNew16" /><ref name="AHPARecomm16" /><ref name="AHPCanna14" /><ref name="MarcuJahan16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Proficiency tests such as the Emerald Test<ref name="EmeraldTest">{{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>, which allows multiple labs to test an anonymous sample and compare results, should also continue to drive improved performance from cannabis testing labs.<ref name="NelsonHas16" /><br />
<br />
Another potential trend to keep an eye on with these testing laboratories: consolidation. Currently there's not a lot of data on the extent consolidation has affected the number of cannabis testing labs or how they operate; the industry is arguably still in its infancy. Regardless, mentions in press and practical examples demonstrate that consolidation is a real concern for the industry, if not now in the future. Suggestion of such came from Steep Hill Halent's CEO David Lampach in late 2013, anticipating "huge consolidation in general and fewer companies as a result."<ref name="LampachQA13" /> The previously mentioned GreenWave Advisors as well as CannaSafe Analytics have also lent their voices to this idea in recent years.<ref name="TMIDigiPath15">{{cite web |url=http://marijuanaindex.com/digipath-digp-well-positioned-to-take-advantage-of-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=DigiPath (DIGP) Well Positioned To Take Advantage of $850M Cannabis Testing Market |work=The Marijuana Index |author=CannabisFN |publisher=MJIC, Inc |date=16 July 2015 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SchroyerIndustry16">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizmagazine.com/industry-snapshot-testing-labs/ |title=Industry Snapshot: Testing Labs |author=Schroyer, J. |work=Marijuana Business Magazine |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=January 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Production===<br />
Outside the lab, on the production side, resides a glimpse of technology that ties several of the previously mentioned ideas together: growing cannabis as an environmentally modified organism (EMO). A June 2016 article published in <em>Motherboard</em> references the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) in Canada and its effort to apply innovations in growing plants in closed environments (such as on spaceships) to cannabis production.<ref name="OwensHow16">{{cite web |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/how-space-technology-will-produce-the-best-weed-marijuana-cannabis-pot |title=How Space Technology Will Produce the Best Weed Ever |author=Owens, B. |work=Motherboard |publisher=Motherboard-IPTV LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref> Specifically, the researchers see promise in being able to precisely control grow conditions to produce a plant with a particular ratio of active chemicals. As such, the previously mentioned synergistic relationship of cannabis' chemicals can be more carefully studied, and the end product, once studied and methodically tested, could potentially "achieve the status of a conventional pharmaceutical commodity that a doctor can rely on and prescribe."<ref name="OwensHow16" /> CESRF isn't alone in developing grow technology that can tailor the necessary conditions for a particular strain. Several Israeli-linked start-ups (see the last section "Non-U.S. policy" for more) like Corsica Innovations (LEAF) and Flux (Eddy) have been developing similar grow technology that may transform future research.<ref name="GustafsonStartup16">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinegustafson/2016/12/07/it-just-became-incredibly-easy-to-grow-marijuana-at-home-meet-leaf/print/ |title=Startup Launches Automated System It Claims Makes It Easy To Grow Marijuana At Home |author=Gustafson, K. |work=Forbes |publisher=Forbes.com LLC |date=07 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SolomonIsreali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startup-creates-idiots-guide-to-home-grown-food/ |title=Israeli startup creates idiot’s guide to home-grown food |author=Solomon, S. |work=The Times of Israel |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="PressFive17">{{cite web |url=https://www.israel21c.org/5-reasons-israel-is-dominating-the-cannabis-industry/ |title=5 reasons Israel is dominating the cannabis industry |author=Press, V.S. |work=ISREAL21c |date=13 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
With better research, more definitive fact-based decisions can be made in the regulatory sphere, better guiding medical and recreational marijuana policy. That said, keep an eye on developments in controllable production methods; advances in this area stand to improve many of the other facets of research and testing discussed.<br />
<br />
===Big Marijuana===<br />
Both U.S. states and the federal government have a long, sometimes torturous history with regulating and controlling the production and sale of drug-containing products such as pharmaceuticals, tobacco, beer, wine, and spirits. As such, it seems intuitive to examine the successes and failures of those past efforts when considering what to do with cannabis. One aspect of that examination that raises concern among some is the likelihood of a narrow group of commercial interests taking over all aspects of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales. Taking from "Big Pharma," "Big Tobacco," and "Big Alcohol," some fear a similar "Big Marijuana" industry will develop.<ref name="HudakWorry16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana—not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These fears can be found among small private growers at the hyper-local level<ref name="SolovitchHow16">{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/marijuana-legalization-big-business-alcohol-214198 |title=How Big Alcohol Is About to Get Rich Off California Weed |author=Solovitch, S. |work=POLITICO |publisher=POLITICO, LLC |date=29 August 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>, all the way up to the state government level.<ref name="SteeringPathways15">{{cite web |url=https://www.aclunc.org/sites/default/files/20150721-brc_pathways_report.pdf |format=PDF |title=Pathways Report: Policy Options for Regulating Marijuana in California |author=Steering Committee of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |date=22 July 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In fact, in a 2015 Pathways Report, the state of California — including its Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom — expressed this very concern in regards to how best to regulate marijuana in the state. When considering the marijuana industry structure, they found that controls should be put in place to better incentivize smaller industry players, stating "[t]he goal should be to prevent the growth of a large, corporate marijuana industry dominated by a small number of players, as we see with Big Tobacco or the alcohol industry."<ref name="SteeringPathways15" /> Despite that advice, major California-based industry players such as Steve DeAngelo — who owns one of the largest medical marijuana dispensaries in the world and co-founded Steep Hill Labs — remain concerned that mandates for distribution, which mirror alcohol regulations, will only undermine small cannabis businesses in the state.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><br />
<br />
Anti-marijuana alliances such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and corporation-friendly pro-cannabis Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) act as opposing special interest groups, one fighting against Big Marijuana, the other borrowing from a libertarian approach proposing regulation of marijuana in a way similar to alcohol.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><ref name="WallachBoot16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="CRPTheMoney15">{{cite web |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/issues/marijuana/ |title=The Money in Marijuana: The political landscape |work=OpenSecrets.org |publisher=Center for Responsive Politics |date=November 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These and other special interest groups inevitably bring about the perception that, as the Brookings Institution puts it, "the marijuana industry is as self-serving as any other commercial lobby," further propelling worries of Big Marijuana.<ref name="WallachBoot16" /><br />
<br />
If worries of large corporations taking over significant portions of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales markets actually come to fruition, how will they potentially manifest? The previously mentioned concern of increased consolidation of testing labs is arguably one sign, as is DeAngelo's concern of forced distribution contracts taking away from smaller businesses. Brookings also points out concerns of large firms gaining hold over the evolving regulatory status as well as upward trends in antisocial marketing, though they also argue against undue alarmism of commercialization at the same time.<ref name="HudakWorry16" /><br />
<br />
Another manifestation of how Big Marijuana may be taking hold is through the patenting of cannabis strains and methods. PBS' ''Nova'' reported in October 2016 that a group of California growers were granted a patent for "compositions and methods for the breeding, production, processing and use of specialty cannabis,"<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/evolution/patenting-pot/ |title=The Rise of Marijuana™ (Patent Pending) |author=Arnold, C. |work=Nova Next |publisher=PBS |date=19 October 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> raising concerns about how Big Pharma could capitalize. Mowgli Holmes — founder of Phylos Biosciences, a genetics testing laboratory for cannabis — says as much: "Everyone is terrified of some big corporation with deep pockets coming in and taking over ... and they should be." To fight against the misappropriation of patents for "public domain" cannabis strains, he and others have developed Phylos Galaxy to better track relations between existing cannabis strains and the creation of new strains. From a lab testing perspective, a small but increasing number of qualified labs could test not only for potency, terpenes, and pesticides but also genetically verify in a standardized format that a unique strain is actually what it is claimed to be, providing slight competitive advantage.<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16" /> As the patenting trend continues (most recently a patent was issued to a Florida company for an "apparatus and methods for biosynthetic production of cannabinoids"<ref name="LivniTheUS17">{{cite web |url=https://qz.com/927649/the-us-government-grants-cannabis-patents-though-weed-is-illegal/ |title=The US government grants cannabis patents even though weed is illegal |author=Livni, E. |work=Quartz |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group, Inc |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>) the intellectual property war over strains and methods is bound to get more heated; as such, the development of accurate and open genetic and other laboratory testing methods may become increasing vital.<br />
<br />
===Non-U.S. policy===<br />
[[File:Treaty decades.png|right|800px]]Aside from a few mentions of Canada and European regulation, this guide has focused solely on the state of cannabis and related lab testing in the United States. However, it would be remiss to not look at how policy elsewhere may potentially impact the U.S. cannabis market, if nothing else at least indirectly. Broadly speaking, other countries like the Netherlands and Portugal have put more emphasis on decriminalization and recreational legalization of marijuana than on researching and providing marijuana for medical purposes.<ref name="JohnsonPast15">{{cite journal |title=Past 15-year trends in adolescent marijuana use: Differences by race/ethnicity and sex |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Johnson, R.M.; Fariman, B.; Gilreath, T. et al. |volume=155 |pages=8–15 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.025 |pmid=26361714 |pmc=PMC4582007}}</ref> Israel has been one of the major exceptions to this generalization, arguably "up to 10 years ahead of other countries in innovation in the cannabis industry."<ref name="PressFive17" /> The country has been involved with cannabis research since the 1960s, and today it has its hands in many medical research-based initiatives (though recreational marijuana is still illegal), including<ref name="PressFive17" /><ref name="KershnerIsrael16">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/middleeast/israel-a-medical-marijuana-pioneer-is-eager-to-capitalize.html?_r=0 |title=Israel, a Medical Marijuana Pioneer, Is Eager to Capitalize |author=Kershner, I. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=17 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* The Green Book, a set of written protocols and policy detailing how doctors should work with medical marijuana (still in draft phase as of March 2017) as well as how it would be commercialized across the country; includes training and certification of 100 doctors for prescribing it<ref name="EfratiIsraeli16">{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.747985 |title=Israeli Pharmacies Prepare to Sell Medical Cannabis |author=Efrati, I. |work=Haaretz |publisher=Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd |date=20 October 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="iCANIsrael16">{{cite web |url=http://journal.cannabislaw.report/israel-a-peek-inside-the-israeli-knessets-special-committee-on-medical-cannabis/ |title=Israel: A Peek Inside the Israeli Knesset’s Special Committee on Medical Cannabis |author=iCAN Israel |work=Cannabis Law Journal |date=01 September 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
* the creation of the Medical Cannabis Unit, a government agency that regulates medical cannabis research and use<br />
* the development of significant investment and infrastructure for clinical trials involving medical cannabis<br />
* the development of a national institute for medical marijuana research<br />
* the discussion of potentially exporting cannabis and/or cannabis-related extracts and derivatives<br />
* several higher education facilities offering courses and research opportunities on cannabis<br />
* several start-ups developing improved cultivation, pharmaceutical, and medical device technology<br />
<br />
Another major country challenging traditional cannabis regulation is Uruguay, which in December 2013 adopted the first stages of regulatory legislation that will ultimately make the cultivation, sale, and use (recreational and medical) of cannabis in the country legal and government-controlled. In part due to concerns regarding gang-related violence and a tentative but not proven connection to black-market cannabis, the country has since carefully and methodically implemented the laws and regulations with the goal of keeping in mind evidence-based research and the potential social impact.<ref name="RamseyGetting16">{{cite web |url=https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Getting-Regulation-Right-WOLA-Uruguay.pdf |format=PDF |title=Getting Regulation Right: Assessing Uruguay's Historic Cannabis Initiative |author=Ramsey, G. |publisher=WOLA |date=November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> In fact, a late February 2017 press release from Canadian company Emblem Corp. stated it and Uruguayan ICC International Cannabis Corporation would, pending finalization of regulatory processes between the two countries, begin a partnership that would have Emblem import CBD (cannabidiol) from ICC "to help fulfill the demand in the Canadian market."<ref name="NCVEmblem17">{{cite web |url=https://www.newcannabisventures.com/emblem-to-import-cbd-from-uruguay-into-canada/ |title=Emblem to Import CBD from Uruguay into Canada |work=New Cannabis Ventures |publisher=NCV Media, LLC |date=27 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The reality of all this — combined with the legalization momentum in the U.S. and other countries — means that new pressures are being applied to organizers of international treaties and policy, and any future changes to those treaties and policy may inversely apply pressure back on the U.S. government to update its stance on cannabis. An October 2014 Brookings Institution interview revealed some of the issues "straining the limits of an international drug control regime that most participants, including the United States, have long understood to be quite strict."<ref name="RauchMari14">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2014/10/16/marijuana-legalization-poses-a-dilemma-for-international-drug-treaties/ |title=Marijuana Legalization Poses a Dilemma for International Drug Treaties |author=Rauch, J. |work=Brookings FIXGOV: Making Government Work |publisher=The Brookings Institution |date=16 October 2014 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> Drug treaties such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988) represent hard policy that the U.S. government (as well as other federal governments) has followed steadfastly for years. However, a dichotomy begins to form when federal governments bend those treaties either through outright legalization or, as is the case in the U.S., by allowing the states power to determine their own laws.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><br />
<br />
As a result of these stresses, policy experts around the world are shining light on the need for not only federal governments but also international agencies such as the United Nations' World Health Organisation (WHO) to move forward with critical reviews of existing cannabis research in the social and medical domains and determine if revising cannabis' scheduling is appropriate. Additionally, policy experts urge United Nations members to discuss and amend existing treaties, even if such amendments only provide greater flexibility in regards to marijuana.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><ref name="HamiltonWhyWHO16">{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/why-who-needs-a-radical-rethink-of-its-draconian-approach-to-cannabis-68209 |title=Why WHO needs a radical rethink of its draconian approach to cannabis |author=Hamilton, I.; Monaghan, M.; Rolles, S. et al. |work=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation US, Inc |date=23 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Whether or not the decriminalization and legalization efforts of Israel, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and other foreign governments has a noticeable impact on international and U.S. federal law remains to be seen. However, it would be foolish to entirely ignore foreign policy when considering the future of cannabis — and by extension its laboratory testing — in the United States.<br />
<br />
==Final thoughts==<br />
This guide has attempted to provide insight into various aspects of the current status of laboratory testing of cannabis in the U.S. By extension, it has required a closer look at many non-testing or tangentially related aspects of cannabis, including history, regulations, standards, methods, equipment, and software. The guide has also attempted to look at the potential future of testing, a more difficult feat that has required inspection of — and speculation on — a mix of statistics and politics, as well as government and social policy and how they may all affect the future of cannabis testing. We learned that many point fingers at the U.S. federal government for being responsible for several cannabis-related issues, including lack of clear government support for cannabis research, lack of standardization of testing and analysis methods for said research, and wavering policy that remains inconsistent at best. At root is the fact that the federal government maintains cannabis (and its constituents) as a Schedule I drug, by extension declaring that it has no respectable medical use. This and related decisions have slowed down the academic study of cannabis, including its analysis, quality testing, and research and use as a medical treatment. The development, implementation, and reassessment of cultivation and testing standards and methods have largely been piecemeal; additionally, those efforts have been enacted in an environment where, despite the legal status in a state, fear that the federal government will inevitably intervene slows progress even further.<br />
<br />
Despite these barriers, the speed at which U.S. states have adopted some form of legalization of cannabis has pushed scientists and researchers to collaborate and improve standards and methods. Necessity continues to be the mother of invention, driving those in the industry to adapt or perish in a difficult, inconsistent market. State officials are teaming up at industry conferences and sharing ideas. Non-profit organizations are joining forces with major standards agencies to expand and improve good laboratory practices. Researchers — whether on their own or with the help of others internationally — are learning more about the cannabinoid and its interaction with terpenes, driving new insight into potential therapeutic remedies. Overall public perception about marijuana consumption and use is gradually shifting towards a positive light, even when so little is still understood about the long-term ramifications of its use. Commercial interests are taking notice, and so are international treaty makers. All of this adds up to forward momentum in the cannabis industry, with warts and all.<br />
<br />
Many factors will affect the future of cannabis regulation, testing, and research in the future; in the process, we're certain to see both ups and downs as political and social climates continue to change. However, as marijuana consumption and hemp-based manufacturing methods continue to see expanded support, consumers and manufacturers, as well as all those involved in between, will always clamor for a safer product that is "as advertised." Laboratory analysis will play an important role in that effort, whether it's in the medical research lab, the quality control lab, or the manufacturer's lab. It will be imperative for all interested parties to further work together to ensure methods are sound and standardized in a realistic and beneficial way to ensure that in the end consumers will get the best possible product available.<br />
<br />
==Resources==<br />
===Key reading===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana — not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Reference material===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/bookstore/state-legislatures-magazine/marijuana-deep-dive.aspx |title=Marijuana Deep Dive |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170117133745/https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |title=Marijuana Resource Center |author=Office of National Drug Control Policy |archivedate=17 January 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Law and regulation====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=State Medical Marijuana Laws |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=09 November 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Publications and blogs====<br />
<br />
* ''[http://www.liebertpub.com/overview/cannabis-and-cannabinoid-research/633/ Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research]''<br />
* ''[https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/ Cannabis Industry Journal]''<br />
* ''[http://mjbizdaily.com/ Marijuana Business Daily]''<br />
* ''[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7570_supp/index.html Nature Outlook: Cannabis]''<br />
* ''[http://www.beyondthc.com/ O’Shaughnessy’s]''<br />
* ''[http://terpenesandtesting.com/ Terpenes and Testing Magazine]''<br />
* ''[http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis Tracking Cannabis]'' - Thomas Coburn LLP<br />
<br />
<br />
====Standards and guidance====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Accreditation and certification====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientfocusedcertification.org/ |title=Patient Focused Certification |author=Americans for Safe Access Foundation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://certified-kind.com/ |title=Certified Kind: Certification for Responsibly Grown Cannabis |author=Certified Kind, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cleangreencert.org/ |title=Clean Green Certified |author=Clean Green Certified}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |author=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.pjlabs.com/accreditation-programs/medical-marijuana-testing |title=Accreditation Programs: Medical Marijuana Testing |author=Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Testing====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.a2la.org/appsweb/cannabis_testing.cfm |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Accreditation |author=American Association of Laboratory Accreditation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/ST-NAR-40-Ebook.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of cannabis and cannabis products |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=September 2009}} (Note year; still provides historical perspective)<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/STNAR48_Synthetic_Cannabinoids_ENG.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in seized materials |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=June 2013}}<br />
<br />
'''New York State Department of Health''':<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/359205661/MML-303-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Mycotoxins by LC-MS/MS, NYS DOH MML-303 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=43 |date=18 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/1495494332/MML-301-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medical marijuana sample preparation protocols for potency analysis, NYS DOH MML-301 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=13 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* For all other methods documents, see [https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana].<br />
<br />
<br />
===Scientific conferences and trade shows===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://2017.canntencon.com/ |title=Cann10 |publisher=Paragon Israel}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesssummit.com/oakland-2017/ |title=Cannabis Business Summit and Expo |publisher=National Cannabis Industry Association}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.canna-tech.co/ |title=CannaTech |publisher=iCAN Israel Cannabis}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldconference.com/ |title=Emerald Conference |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.csupueblo.edu/institute-of-cannabis-research/2017-conference/ |title=Institute of Cannabis Research Conference |publisher=Colorado State University - Pueblo}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://internationalcbc.com/ |title=International Cannabis Business Conference |publisher=International Conferences Group, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://mjbizconference.com/ |title=Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientsoutoftime.org/2017-national-clinical-conference-on-cannabis-therapeutics/ |title=National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics |publisher=Patients Out of Time}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.compassionatecertificationcenters.com/conference-overview/ |title=World Medical Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Present Syndikos LLC}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Associations, organizations, and interest groups===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agriculturalgenomics.org/ Agricultural Genomics Foundation]<br />
* [http://americancannabisnursesassociation.org/ American Cannabis Nurses Association]<br />
* [https://www.aocs.org/ American Oil Chemists Society]<br />
* [http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ Americans for Safe Access]<br />
* [http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories]<br />
* [http://www.australiancannabisindustry.org/ Australian Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.chascience.com/ Cannabis Horticultural Association]<br />
* [http://cannabissafetyinstitute.org/ Cannabis Safety Institute]<br />
* [https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/organization/workgroups-interest-groups-consortia/cannabis-science-interest-csi-group Cannabis Science Interest (CSI) Group], part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse<br />
* [http://cannabisandsocialpolicy.org/ Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy]<br />
* [http://www.cocannabischamber.com/ Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce]<br />
* [http://dfcr.org/ Doctors for Cannabis Regulation]<br />
* [https://www.cannabis-med.org/ International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines]<br />
* [http://icrs.co/ International Cannabinoid Research Society]<br />
* [http://thecannabisindustry.org/ National Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.nvcla.org/ Nevada Coalition Laboratory Association for Public Safety]<br />
* [http://norml.org/ NORML]<br />
* [http://patientsoutoftime.org/ Patients Out of Time]<br />
* [https://www.projectcbd.org/ Project CBD]<br />
* [https://learnaboutsam.org/ Smart Approaches to Marijuana]<br />
* [http://cannabisclinicians.org/ Society of Cannabis Clinicians]<br />
* [https://themedicalcannabisinstitute.org/ The Medical Cannabis Institute]<br />
* [http://www.vetscp.org/ Veterans Cannabis Project]<br />
* [http://womengrow.com/ Women Grow]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Testing labs and pricing info===<br />
<br />
The prevalence of testing laboratories in any given state depends on a few factors: legalization status, state laws regarding testing, and strictness of regulations. Labs typically appear as stand-alone, third-party entities. Though not common, some testing laboratories are located within dispensaries (e.g., Champlain Valley Dispensary in Vermont<ref name="CVDOurQuality">{{cite web |url=http://www.cvdvt.org/products/quality-commitment/ |title=Our Quality Commitment |publisher=Champlain Valley Dispensary, Inc |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>) and treatment centers (e.g., Sanctuary ATC in New Hampshire.<ref name="SATCAnalysis">{{cite web |url=http://www.sanctuaryatc.org/laboratory-analysis-nh.php |title=New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Laboratory Analysis — Therapeutic Uses |publisher=Sanctuary ATC |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>).<br />
<br />
The following are known active cannabis testing labs (those currently in the licensing process are not included):<br />
<br />
'''Alaska'''<br />
<br />
* [http://www.canntest.com/ Canntest] ($70–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/alaska Steep Hill Alaska] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arizona''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.arizonaanalytical.com/ Arizona Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.c4lab.com/ C4 Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.deltaverdelaboratory.com/ Delta Verde Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://desertvalleytesting.com/ Desert Valley Testing] ($15–$360, single and package tests)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arkansas''':<br />
<br />
* Laboratory testing requirements being drafted<br />
<br />
<br />
'''California''':<br />
<br />
* [http://anresco.com/ Anresco Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://budgenius.com Bud Genius] ($50/sample)<br />
* [https://www.cannalysislabs.com/ Cannalysis] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [https://coastalanalytical.com/ Coastal Analytical] ($77–$249, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.cblabstesting.com/ CS Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cwanalytical.com/ CW Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.flowertesting.com/ Flower Potency Testing] ($65–80/test type)<br />
* [http://greenherbanalytics.com/ GreenHerb Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenstyleconsulting.com/ Green Style Analytics] ($55–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.harrenslab.com/ Harrens Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.sdpharmlabs.com PharmLabs] ($40–$569, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://pureanalytics.net/ Pure Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.sequoia-labs.com Sequoia Analytical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/california Steep Hill California] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Colorado''':<br />
<br />
* [http://agricorlabs.com/ Agricor Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.aurum-labs.com/ Aurum Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://bonafideslab.com/ Bonafides Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/ CMT Laboratories] ($15–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://gobianalytical.net/ Gobi Labs] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [https://greenlabsolutionscompany.com/ Green Lab Solutions Company] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenhilllab.com/ GreenHill Laboratories] ($45–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://www.nordicanalytic.com Nordic Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phytatech.com/ PhytaTech CO] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rm3.us/ Rm3 Labs] ($35–$237, single and package tests)<br />
* Shilo Labs (Licensed<ref name="COLGovMLab16">{{cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/MLab%2007012016%20%20%20this%20one%20.pdf |format=PDF |title=MLab 07012016 this one |publisher=State of Colorado |date=01 July 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://www.teqanalyticallabs.com/ TEQ Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://goodlabcolorado.com/ The Good Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Connecticut''':<br />
<br />
* [http://altascilabs.com/ AltaSci Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Delaware''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agrolab.us/ Agrolab Organics] (State-contracted<ref name="FloodState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.capegazette.com/article/state-contracts-medical-marijuana-tester/120159 |title=State contracts medical marijuana tester |author=Flood, C. |work=Cape Gazette |date=15 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''District of Columbia''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Florida''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis Testing Lab Florida, LLC (Active but no website?)<br />
* [http://www.marijinc.com/ MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] (Mobile lab; pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.moderncanna.com/ Modern Canna Science (MCS)] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Hawaii''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hitestmedicallabs.com/ HI Test Medical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.hipharmlabs.com/ PharmLabs Hawaii] ($50–$775, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/hawaii Steep Hill Hawaii] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Illinois''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.gracelabinc.com/ Grace Analytical Laboratory, Inc.] ([https://www.agr.state.il.us/medical-cannabis-pilot-program/ Approved by state], but not advertised on website)<br />
* [http://www.lkpurelabs.com/ LK Pure Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maine''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.testedlabs.com/ Tested Labs] ($25–35/sample)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maryland''':<br />
<br />
* [http://steephill.com/maryland Steep Hill Maryland] (Pricing not public; plans on expanding here)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Massachusetts''':<br />
<br />
* [http://mcrlabs.com/ MCR Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Michigan''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.greatlakeslabservices.com/ Great Lakes Lab Services] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–$430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://micannalabs.com/ MI Canna Labs] ($60–$100/test package)<br />
* [https://www.psilabs.org/ PSI Labs] ($30–$85, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.steadfastlab.com/ Steadfast] ($25–$90/test)<br />
* [http://mispott.com/ The Spott] ($40–$90/test w/o membership; cheaper with, and can access package test prices)<br />
* [http://www.truenorthlaboratory.com/ True North Laboratory] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://upgclabs.com/ UPGC Labs] ($35/sample for potency testing)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Minnesota''':<br />
<br />
* Not clear; independent labs must be approved by Commissioner of Health.<ref name="KlarqvistMinnesota16">{{cite web |url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/MCTRA.pdf |format=PDF |title=Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research Act |author=Klarqvist, E. |publisher=Minnesota House of Representatives |date=August 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Two labs — Aspen Research and Legend Technical Services — were approved to do testing in 2015, but neither lists those services on their website.<ref name="MDHPublic16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2016/other/160894.pdf |format=PDF |title=Public Health Laboratory Annual Report: Fiscal Year 2015 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory |date=2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Montana''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buboanalytics.com/ Bubo Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://cannabanalysis.com/ Cannabanalysis Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://fidimt.com/ Fidelity Diagnostics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://montanabiotech.com/ Montana BioTech] (From $60)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Nevada''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.374labs.com/ 374 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://certifiedaglab.com/ Certified AgLab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://dblabslv.com/ DB Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://digipath.com/ Digipath] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://g3labsllc.com/ G3 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mmlabtesting.com/ MM Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.newheightslaboratory.com/ New Heights Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.nvcann.com/ NV Cann Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rsrlabs.com/ RSR Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.testlablasvegas.com/ Test Lab Las Vegas] (Pricing not public]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Hampshire''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates testing, but it's not clear which independent laboratories are approved to do so.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Jersey''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis testing is performed by the Department of Health and Senior Services.<ref name="HSS_NJAC8-64">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/documents/final_rules.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medicinal Marijuana Program Rules |publisher=New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services |date=23 November 2011 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Mexico''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.scientificbasesolutions.com/ Scientific Base Solutions] (Pricing not public]<br />
* [http://steephill.com/new-mexico Steep Hill New Mexico] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New York''':<br />
<br />
* "The Department's Wadsworth Center Laboratory will perform initial testing and analysis of final medical marijuana products until independent laboratories receive certification from the New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP)."<ref name="NYSFAQ">{{cite web |url=https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/faq.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |work=New York State Medical Marijuana Program |publisher=New York State Department of Health |date=March 2016 |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''North Dakota''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates that its compassion centers must test cannabis in-house or have it done by a contracted facility, though it's not clear what labs are performing such testing.<ref name="NDPetitionMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Measures%20Info/2016%20General/Measure%205.pdf |format=PDF |title=Initiated Constitutional Amendment No. 5 |publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State |date=2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Ohio''':<br />
<br />
* Licensing requirements for testing labs will become clearer in September 2017.<ref name="OMMCPTesting">{{cite web |url=http://www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/testing |title=Testing: Frequently Asked Questions |work=Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program |publisher=State of Ohio |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Oregon'''<br />
<br />
* Anova Laboratory (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ktvz.com/news/olcc-oks-26-recreational-pot-licenses-3-are-in-bend/101328364 |title=OLCC OKs 26 recreational pot licenses, 4 in Bend |work=News Channel 21 KTVZ |publisher=NPG of Oregon, Inc |date=30 September 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://cascadia-labs.com/ Cascadia Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://chemhistory.com/ ChemHistory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.easternoregonanalytical.com/ Eastern Oregon Analytical] ($50–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public; also see [http://www.kenevirresearch.com/ Kenevir Research], [http://oregonanalyticalservices.com/ Oregon Analytical Services], and [http://www.ghalabs.com/ GreenHaus Analytical Labs])<br />
* [http://www.greenleaflab.org/ Green Leaf Lab] ($50–$355, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://www.juniperanalyticsllc.com/ Juniper Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://lightscale.com/ Lightscale Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mrxlabs.com/ MRX Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://oganalytical.com/ Oregon Growers Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phlabsoregon.com/ pH Labs] (($60–$375, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.phylosbioscience.com/ Phylos Bioscience] ($15–$295; sexing and genotyping only)<br />
* [http://pixislabs.com/ Pixis Labs] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
* [http://www.rosecitylabs.com Rose City Laboratories] ($25–$360, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://spartananalytics.com/ Spartan Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.synpestlab.com/ Synergistic Pesticide Lab] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Pennsylvania''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here. Laboratory testing rules will become clearer later in 2017.<ref name="SchmittPA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.pamcs.org/pa-health-department-asks-public-input-medical-pot-rules/ |title=Pa. Health Department asks public for input on medical pot rules |author=Schmitt, B. |publisher=Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Rhode Island''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.bpanalytical.com/ Baseline Precision Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.ecltesting.com/ East Coast Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Vermont''':<br />
<br />
* The Department of Public Safety "may require laboratory testing of cannabis produced by a registered dispensary. The Department may specify the testing methodology. The registered dispensary shall bear the costs of any testing required by the Department."<ref name="DPSRulesReg15">{{cite web |url=http://vcic.vermont.gov/sites/vcic/files/files/marijuana-registry/MR-Rules-Regulating-Cannabis-for-Symptom-Relief.pdf |format=PDF |title=Rules Regulating Cannabis for Symptom Relief |publisher=Vermont Department of Public Safety |date=30 November 2015 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Washington''':<br />
<br />
* [http://analytical360.com/ Analytical 360] ($70–$120, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.anateklabs.com/ Anatek Labs] (Pricing for cannabis QA testing not clear)<br />
* [http://www.cannalyticsqc.com/ Cannalytics QC] ($35–$70/test)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://conflabs.com/ Confidence Analytics] ($40–$250, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.dragonlaboratory.com/ Dragon Analytical Laboratory] ($25–$1600, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.greengrowerlabs.com/ Green Grower Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.herbalanalytics.com/ Herbal Analytics] ($15–$70/test; contact for test package pricing)<br />
* [http://integritylabsolympia.com/ Integrity Labs] ($40–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.medicinecreekanalytics.com/ Medicine Creek Analytics] ($20–$100, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.peakanalyticslab.com/ Peak Analytics] ($50–$75/test)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/washington Steep Hill Washington] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://traceanalytics.com/ Trace Analytics] ($40–$350, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://tnwlab.com/ True Northwest] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
====Support services====<br />
The following entities are known to provide consulting and support services of various types to cannabis testing labs (as well as cultivators, dispensaries, etc.):<br />
<br />
* [http://www.3ccannabis.com/ 3C Consulting]<br />
* [http://www.americancannabisconsulting.com/ American Cannabis Company]<br />
* [http://c3analytical.com/ C3 Labs]<br />
* [http://cannabisconsultantsfl.com/ Cannabis Business Services (of Florida)]<br />
* [http://michigan-marijuana-lawyer.com/ Cannabis Legal Group]<br />
* [http://www.carbonblueconsulting.com/ Carbon Blue Consulting]<br />
* [https://www.hypur.com/ Hypur]<br />
* [http://www.phytoscienceinstitute.com/ Phytoscience Institute]<br />
* [http://www.phytosciences.com/ PhytoSciences Consultants]<br />
* [http://signoto.com/ Signoto] (Canada)<br />
* [http://steephilllab.com/consulting/ Steep Hill Halent]<br />
* [http://www.vitalescientific.com/services/cannabis/ Vitale Scientific Associates]<br />
<br />
===Testing hardware and supplies vendors===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buchi.com/en/ BÜCHI Labortechnik AG]<br />
* [http://www.emeraldscientific.com/ Emerald Scientific, LLC]<br />
* [http://www.fritsch-international.com/ Fritsch GmbH]<br />
* [http://gentechscientific.com/cannabis-testing/index.php GenTech Scientific]<br />
* [https://us.lgcstandards.com/US/en LGC Standards]<br />
* [http://www.orangephotonics.com/ Orange Photonics, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.restek.com/Landing-Pages/Medical-Marijuana Restek Corporation]<br />
* [http://sageanalytics.com/ Sage Analytics]<br />
* [http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/industry/industry_cannabistesting.cfm Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.spexcertiprep.com/products/cannabis SPEX CertiPrep]<br />
* [http://www.srigc.com/ SRI Instruments]<br />
* [http://vicam.com/ VICAM]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Software vendors===<br />
====Cannabis-oriented LIMS====<br />
<br />
* [http://www.atlab.com/industries/medical-marijuana Accelerated Technology Laboratories, Inc. - Various]<br />
* [[Bika LIMS|Bika Lab Systems (Pty) Ltd. - Bika LIMS]]<br />
* [[CannaSys, Inc.|CannaSys, Inc. - CannaLIMS]] <br />
* [[Guardian Data Systems, LLC|Guardian Data Systems, LLC - ROAR Cannabis Lab Software]]<br />
* [[lablynxwiki:LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis|LabLynx, Inc. - LabLynx LIMS]]<br />
* [[PharmLabs, LLC|PharmLabs, LLC - PharmWare]]<br />
* [[TheraCann International Benchmark Corporation|TheraCann International Corporation - TheraCannSYSTEM]]<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
<br />
See the [[CDMS vendor]] page.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
<br />
This is a representative sample of solutions and not a directory of all available solutions:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.biotrack.com/government-seed-to-sale-tracking/ Bio-Tech Medical Software, Inc. - BioTrackTHC]<br />
* [http://www.chetu.com/agriculture/seed-to-sale.php Chetu, Inc. - Custom software solutions]<br />
* [http://www.traceweed.com/ Dauntless Software, Inc. - TraceWeed]<br />
* [http://viridiansciences.com/ Far-From-Groove'N, Inc. dba Viridian Sciences - Viridian Sciences]<br />
* [https://www.metrc.com/the-system Franwell, Inc. - Metrc]<br />
* [https://mmjmenu.com/ Ghost Management Group, LLC - MMJMenu]<br />
* [https://www.greenbits.com/ Green Bits, Inc. - Green Bits]<br />
* [http://growone.com/ Grow One Software (US), LLC - Grow One]<br />
* [http://kind.financial/agrisoft-seed-to-sale-software/ KindManage, LLC - Agrisoft]<br />
* [https://www.motagistics.com/ Motagistics, LLC - 4S]<br />
* [https://www.proteus420.com/ Proteus Business Solutions, Inc. - PROTEUS420]<br />
* [http://www.webjoint.com/ Pyrotree, Inc. - WebJoint]<br />
* [http://theracanncorp.com/our-products-2/theracannsystem/ TheraCann International Corporation – TheraCannSYSTEM]<br />
* [https://weedtraqr.com/ WeedTraQR, LLC - WeedTraQR]<br />
<br />
===LIMSpec===<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel4&diff=29683User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel42017-03-30T14:50:36Z<p>Avaughan: /* Banking */</p>
<hr />
<div><br />
<br />
==Overview of the cannabis industry in the United States==<br />
'''Author, for citation''': Shawn E. Douglas<br />
<br />
The following is a brief overview of the cannabis industry in the United States. It's meant to give a quick and concise review of where cannabis use, regulation, testing, and research have been and where they are now. Many of the topics touched upon here will be expanded upon later in this guide.<br />
<br />
===Brief history of cannabis in the U.S.===<br />
[[File:Drug bottle containing cannabis.jpg|right|140px]]''Cannabis'' is a rapid-growing, flowering plant that has been used for centuries for industrial, medicinal, and recreational purposes. The plant includes three species or subspecies: ''indica'', ''ruderalis'', and ''sativa''.<ref name="GRINCannabis11">{{cite web |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomygenus.aspx?id=2034 |title=Genus: Cannabis L. |work=U.S. National Plant Germplasm System |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture |date=01 January 2011 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Both industrial hemp and recreational marijuana are derived from cannabis plants, but with important differences in biochemical composition. Hemp — which has historically been used to create clothing, food and feed, paper, textiles, and other industrial items — tends to have lower levels of the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and higher levels of the non-psychoactive component cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="SwansonControlled15">{{cite journal |title=Controlled Substances Chaos: The Department of Justice's New Policy Position on Marijuana and What It Means for Industrial Hemp Farming in North Dakota |journal=North Dakota Law Review |author=Swanson, T.E. |volume=90 |issue=3 |pages=599–622 |year=2015 |url=https://law.und.edu/_files/docs/ndlr/pdf/issues/90/3/90ndlr599.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="DeitchHemp03">{{cite book |title=Hemp – American History Revisited |author=Deitch, R. |publisher=Algora Publishing |location=New York City |year=2003 |pages=232 |isbn=9780875862262}}</ref> Some cannabis strains have intentionally been bred to produce low levels of THC, while others have been bred with the intent to maximize the psychoactive component. <br />
<br />
Cannabis cultivation began in England's Jamestown colony of America in earnest around 1611, via formal orders. Several years later those orders turned into a royal decree, enacted by the Virginia Company, asking colonists to each grow 100 hemp plants for export to England.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Colonial America continued its growth, use, and exportation of hemp, even beyond the formal founding of the United States. During that time, growers undoubtedly were using the female plant (which flowers and has higher levels of THC) to treat aches and pains as well as enjoy it recreationally. By the time the U.S. Civil War arrived in the 1860s, however, the growth and use of industrial hemp declined as increased cotton and wood use took away much of the profitability of hemp.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Around the same time, local governments began recognizing tonics, tinctures, and extracts from cannabis plants as potentially dangerous substances, labeling them as hypnotics, narcotics, or even poisons.<ref name="Senate1860">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1860/02/16/news/senate-88150825.html |title=Senate |author=U.S. Senate |work=The New York Times |date=15 February 1860 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> In the early twentieth century, U.S. labeling and prescription laws — such as the the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 at the federal level as well as various state laws — saw further restrictions put on cannabis, effectively culminating in the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. With the passage of those acts, hemp and marijuana essentially became illegal, controlled substances.<ref name="WaltonMari38">{{cite book |author=Walton, R.F. |title=Marijuana, America’s New Drug Problem |location=Philadelphia |publisher=B. Lippincott |year=1938 |page=37}}</ref><ref name="WoodwardTax37">{{cite web |url=http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/woodward.htm |title=Taxation of Marihuana |author=Woodward, W.C.; House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means |work=Schaffer Library of Drug Policy |date=04 May 1937 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CaversTheFood39">{{cite journal |title=The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938: Its Legislative History and its Substantive Provisions |journal=Law and Contemporary Problems |author=Cavers, D.F. |volume=6 |pages=2–42 |year=1939 |url=http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/lcp/vol6/iss1/2/}}</ref><br />
<br />
State efforts to decriminalize marijuana were somewhat successful in the early 1970s, though progress towards that goal slowed again with the Reagan Administration's war on drugs.<ref name="MeierPolitics16">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4wYDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT58 |title=The Politics of Sin: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy |author=Meier, K.J. |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2016 |page=58 |isbn=9781315287270}}</ref> Progress picked up steam again in the late 1990s into the 2000s, particularly in states such as California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, and Colorado.<br />
<br />
As of March 2017, twenty-eight U.S. states have approved some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization of medicinal and/or recreational marijuana.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16">{{cite web |url=http://time.com/4559278/marijuana-election-results-2016/ |title=These States Just Legalized Marijuana |author=Steinmetz, K. |work=Time |publisher=Time, Inc |date=08 November 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Industrial hemp has also been addressed in some regard, with 16 states having legalized commercialized industrial hemp production and the federal government making certain concessions on it (''Cannabis sativa'' containing no more than 0.3 percent THC, grown under a state-sanctioned agricultural pilot program).<ref name="NCSLState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/agriculture-and-rural-development/state-industrial-hemp-statutes.aspx |title=State Industrial Hemp Statuses |publisher=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=19 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="81FR53395">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-19146/statement-of-principles-on-industrial-hemp |journal=Federal Register |title=Statement of Principles on Industrial Hemp |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53395–6 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> However, cannabis, including industrial hemp, remains a Schedule I controlled substance, as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<ref name="LegerMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/11/dea-marijuana-remains-illegal-under-federal-law/88550804/ |title=Marijuana to remain illegal under federal law, DEA says |author=Leger, D.L. |work=USA. Today |publisher=Gannett Company |date=11 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref>, including extracts and other derivatives such as cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="WallaceLegal17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/01/13/hemp-dea-extracts-marijuana-cbd-judicial-review/71387/ |title=Legal challenge filed against DEA’s new marijuana extract rule |work=The Cannabist |author=Wallace, A. |publisher=The Denver Post |date=13 January 2017 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> This federal classification continues to clash with changing state laws and regulations at an increasing pace, creating both opportunities and difficulties for involved citizens at all points along the industrial, economic, and social chain.<br />
<br />
===Medical and recreational use===<br />
In its 2016 World Drug Report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that 3.8 percent of the global population — roughly 183 million people — used cannabis in 2014.<ref name="UNODCWorld16">{{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/doc/wdr2016/WORLD_DRUG_REPORT_2016_web.pdf |format=PDF |title=World Drug Report 2016 |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |publisher=United Nations |isbn=9789210578622 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Focusing in on the United States, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that in 2014 the country had 35.1 million past-year marijuana users.<ref name="SAMHSAResults16">{{cite web |url=https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.pdf |format=PDF |title=Results from The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use And Health: Detailed Tables |author=Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |editor=RTI International |page=178 |date=08 September 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> It's not clear if that total includes legal medical marijuana users, which numbered roughly 2.4 million that year according to non-profit ProCon.org.<ref name="ProConNumber14">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=006445 |title=Number of Legal Medical Marijuana Patients (as of Oct. 27, 2014) |publisher=ProCon.org |date=27 October 2014 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref> When compared to SAMHSA's estimate of 11.1 million users in 1997<ref name="RabkinDrug99">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvzBdlolKrQC&pg=PA16 |title=Drug Control: DEA's Strategies and Operations in the 1990s |author=Rabkin, N.J. |publisher=U.S. General Accounting Office |year=July 1999 |pages=172 |isbn=9780788184833}}</ref>, it becomes clear that reported marijuana use has increased in the United States over the past few decades, whether it's through legalization efforts or otherwise. Some have pointed to the expansion of medical marijuana laws acting as gateways for increased adolescent use; however, multiple studies have tried but failed to find such a cause and effect relationship.<ref name="HasinMedical15">{{cite journal |title=Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the USA from 1991 to 2014: Results from annual, repeated cross-sectional surveys |journal=The Lancet Psychiatry |author=Hasin, D.S.; Wall, M.; Keyes, K.M. et al. |volume=2 |issue=7 |pages=601–608 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00217-5}}</ref><ref name="WallAdol11">{{cite journal |title=Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008: Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Wall, M.M.; Poh, E.; Cerdá, M. |volume=21 |issue=9 |pages=714–716 |year=2011 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.06.001 |pmid=21820632 |pmc=PMC3358137}}</ref><ref name="HarperDoMed12">{{cite journal |title=Do Medical Marijuana Laws Increase Marijuana Use? Replication Study and Extension |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Harper, S.; Strumpf, E.C.; Kaufman, J.S. |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=207–212 |year=2012 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.12.002 |pmid=22285867}}</ref> Regardless, with 28 U.S. states now having some type of legalization law on the books<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" />, the number of marijuana users isn't likely to decrease any time soon in the U.S.<br />
<br />
===Cultivation and distribution===<br />
At the federal level, marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug and remains illegal.<ref name="GPO21USC812">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title21/html/USCODE-2011-title21-chap13-subchapI-partB-sec812.htm |title=§812. Schedules of controlled substances |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LegerMari16" /> (Federal regulation of cannabis is discussed in detail later under "Regulation and standardization.") This doesn't leave a lot of options for researchers and the like. In fact, the only federally-granted grow operation (grow-op) as of this writing is the University of Mississippi, contracted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to grow marijuana for approved research studies.<ref name="BajajHowThe14">{{cite web |url=https://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/how-the-federal-government-slows-marijuana-research/ |title=How the Federal Government Slows Marijuana Research |author=Bajaj, V. |work=Taking Note: The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=30 July 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CheslerGov15">{{cite web |url=http://weedrush.news21.com/government-restrictions-lack-of-funding-slow-progress-on-medical-marijuana-research/ |title=Government restrictions, lack of funding slow progress on medical marijuana research |author=Chesler, J.; Ard, A. |work=News21: America's Weed Rush |publisher=Carnegie Corporation of New York; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation |date=15 August 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/10/marijuana-medical-research-dea/ |title=DEA decision keeps major restrictions in place on marijuana research |author=Joseph, A. |work=STAT |publisher=Boston Globe Media |date=10 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RudroffMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/marijuana-regulation-blocks-vital-ms-research-544886 |title=Marijuana Regulation Blocks Vital Multiple Sclerosis Research |author=Rudroff, T. |work=Newsweek |publisher=IBT Media, Inc |date=21 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (That may change for the better in 2017; see the next section on testing and research for more.)<br />
<br />
On the state level, the growth, testing, and distribution of cannabis depends on state law, which can vary from state to state. This topic is discussed further in the "Regulation and standardization" section, but here are the key points:<br />
<br />
* Federal law makes it illegal to cultivate and distribute marijuana, even in a state that has legalized such activity. However, while there's no legally binding guarantee cultivators and distributors won't be pursued by federal law enforcement, they can limit their chances of such federal enforcement by following to the letter state and local law.<br />
<br />
* Despite some of the variances among state laws, one aspect largely remains consistent: it's illegal to distribute marijuana over state lines, even when distributing between two states with similar laws.<ref name="BelvilleCanI16">{{cite web |url=http://www.weednews.co/can-i-take-marijuana-from-one-legal-state-to-another/ |title=Can I Take Marijuana From One Legal State To Another? |work=Weed News |author=Belville, R. |publisher=WN Media, LLC |date=28 November 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
* Regulations on the personal and commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana vary significantly from state to state. Some states make a limited pool of available licenses available; others don't offer them or instead have specific alternative treatment or non-profit centers that handle growth and distribution.<ref name="FindLawMari">{{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LeaflyHome">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="ProCon28Legal16">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Testing and research===<br />
[[File:Juan Velez- Planta Cannabis.jpg|left|250px]]One area that continues to expand — while taking advantage of new scientific research and techniques — is the laboratory sphere, particularly in research, regulation, and standardization activities. According to July 2016 testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Division Director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) alone supported 281 cannabinoid research projects totaling more than $111 million in 2015.<ref name="WeissTestimony16">{{cite web |url=https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/asl/testimony/2016-09/the-state-of-the-science-on-the-therapeutic-potential-of-marijuana-and-cannabinoids/index.html |title=Testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Ph.D. on The State of the Science on the Therapeutic Potential of Marijuana and Cannabinoids before Judiciary Committee |author=Weiss, S.R.B. |work=ASL Testimony |publisher=U.S. Department of Health & Human Services |date=13 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
While the research, analysis, and processing of cannabis has been ongoing for centuries<ref name="DeitchHemp03" />, it wasn't until 1896 that Wood ''et al.'' conducted one of the first documented chemical experiments to determine the constituents of cannabis. Several years later, the researchers were able to correctly identify the extracted and isolated cannabinol from the exuded resin of Indian hemp as C<sub>21</sub>H<sub>26</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.<ref name="WoodCann1899">{{cite journal |title=III.—Cannabinol. Part I |journal=Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions |author=Wood, T.B.; Newton Spivey, W.T.; Easterfield, T.H. |volume=75 |pages=30–36 |year=1899 |doi=10.1039/CT8997500020}}</ref> As of mid-2015, 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' have been identified as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15">{{cite journal |title=Isolation and pharmacological evaluation of minor cannabinoids from high-potency ''Cannabis sativa'' |journal=Journal of Natural Products |author=Radwan, M.M.; ElSohly, M.A.; El-Alfy, A.T. et al. |volume=78 |issue=6 |pages=1271-6 |year=2015 |doi=10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00065 |pmid=26000707 |pmc=PMC4880513}}</ref>, "a class of diverse chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in cells that modulate neurotransmitter release in the brain."<ref name="WHOTheHealth16">{{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}</ref><br />
<br />
Yet in the United States, when it comes to 1. enacting the broad level of testing required to ensure public safety — whether it be medical, recreational, or industrial use of cannabis — and 2. researching and better understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (medical use and benefit) of cannabinoids in the human population, many have argued that laboratory testing of cannabis is still in its infancy<ref name="HazekampCanna12">{{cite journal |title=Cannabis - from cultivar to chemovar |journal=Drug Testing and Analysis |author=Hazekamp, A.; Fischedick, J.T. |volume=4 |issue=7–8 |pages=660–7 |year=2012 |doi=10.1002/dta.407 |pmid=22362625}}</ref><ref name="BushWorlds15">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/worldrsquos-strongest-weed-potency-testing-challenged/ |title=World’s strongest weed? Potency testing challenged |author=Bush, E. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=18 February 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RutschQuality15">{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/24/395065699/quality-testing-legal-marijuana-strong-but-not-always-clean |title=Quality-Testing Legal Marijuana: Strong But Not Always Clean |author=Rutsch, P. |work=Shots |publisher=National Public Radio |date=24 March 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15">{{cite journal |title=Unraveling the Cannabinome |journal=The Analytical Scientist |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Lipps, W. |issue=0915 |year=2015 |url=https://theanalyticalscientist.com/issues/0915/unraveling-the-cannabinome/ |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CrombieMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2016/07/marijuana_labs_prepping_for_st.html |title=Marijuana labs prepping for regulation and oversight; no lab licenses issued yet |author=Crombie, N. |work=The Oregonian |publisher=Oregon Live LLC |date=25 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16">{{cite web |url=http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170210234439/http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Closer Look at Cannabis Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Clifford, R.; Winkler, P.; Bankert, W. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=December 2016 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref> and evidence-based research of marijuana continues to be slow and bogged down in regulation.<ref name="BajajHowThe14" /><ref name="CheslerGov15" /><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="RudroffMari17" /> In regards to the first issue, as some form of legalization continues to sweep across states, regulators, users, and industry are recognizing the need for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana; the current state of improper labeling and potentially harmful contaminants<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /> will only serve to hinder the industry. To the second issue, some within the federal government seem to recognize the roadblocks to improved evidence-based research and are working to slowly improve how researchers can legally acquire and test marijuana in the U.S.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis/post/2016-08-15/the-silver-lining-in-the-dea-s-refusal-to-reclassify-cannabis |title=The silver lining in the DEA’s refusal to reclassify cannabis |work=Tracking Cannabis |author=Romza-Kutz, D.; Roth V., F. |publisher=Thompson Coburn LLP |date=15 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
An excerpt from the previously mentioned testimony of NIDA's Dr. Weiss summates this well:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The current state of the research on marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids suggests the potential for therapeutic value for a number of conditions; however, more evidence is needed before marijuana or cannabinoid products (beyond those already approved through the Food and Drug Administration [FDA]) are ready for medical use. Promising preclinical findings do not always prove to be clinically relevant, and even fewer lead to new treatments. Moreover, clinical studies of sufficient quality to meet FDA standards for drug approval are currently lacking for most conditions. Among the factors that impact this research are the specific statutory requirements and treaty obligations that govern research on marijuana. NIH is working closely with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and FDA to explore ways to streamline these processes to facilitate research.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /></blockquote> <br />
<br />
In the meantime, government entities such as the National Institutes of Health and non-profits such as jCanna push forward with scientific conferences, summits, and roundtables that bring scientists and interested parties together to share existing knowledge and testing techniques.<ref name="NIHMari16">{{cite web |url=http://apps1.seiservices.com/nih/mj/2016/ |title=The Marijuana and Cannabinoids: A Neuroscience Research Summit |publisher=National Institutes of Health |date=23 March 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="jCannaCSC17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Other areas of concern===<br />
When examining the current state of the U.S. cannabis industry, it's important to note a few additional areas of concern that impact it, again tightly linked to federal regulations (which are discussed extensively in the next section): banking and advertising. Issues related to both of these topics continue to limit how state-based grow-ops, dispensaries, and testing laboratories are funded and operated. <br />
<br />
====Banking====<br />
Since the U.S. federal government still considers marijuana to be illegal, by extension banks and credit unions — which are regulated by a patchwork collection of federal (and state) laws — put themselves into potentially dangerous territory by accepting money from depositors engaging in federally illegal activities; the bank can be punished by federal institutions such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).<ref name="HillBanks15">{{cite journal |title=Banks, Marijuana, and Federalism |journal=Case Western Reserve Federal Law Review |author=Hill, J.A. |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=597–647 |year=2015 |url=http://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrev/vol65/iss3/7}}</ref> In an attempt to ease the concerns of industry players as well as banks in states that had implements legalization efforts, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released a guidance document in February 2014 that "does not grant immunity from prosecution or civil penalties to banks that serve legal marijuana businesses" but rather "directs prosecutors and regulators to give priority to cases only where financial institutions have failed to adhere to the guidance."<ref name="KovaleskiUS14">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/us/us-issues-marijuana-guidelines-for-banks.html |title=U.S. Issues Marijuana Guidelines for Banks |author=Kovaleski, S.F. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Corporation |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FinCEN_BSA14">{{cite web |url=https://www.fincen.gov/resources/statutes-regulations/guidance/bsa-expectations-regarding-marijuana-related-businesses |title=BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses |author=Financial Crimes Enforcement Network |publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, the guidance has remained just that: guidance; it doesn't prevent federal law enforcement or regulating agencies from taking action. An August 2016 attempt to reclassify marijuana into a lower classification than Schedule I failed<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" />, keeping the FinCEN guidance in place as a recommendation for how federal authorities should enforce existing law. <br />
<br />
According to an Associated Press report in April 2016, the guidance has had some sort of impact, with banks and credit unions willing to handle any money associated with marijuana increasing from 51 in March 2014 to 301 in March 2016.<ref name="HansenBanking16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/804ae396daab4ba98f814b186f872ef6/banking-woes-easing-some-legal-pot-businesses |title=Banking woes easing for some legal pot businesses |author=Hansen, K.; Johnson, G. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=20 April 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, this hasn't prevented those in states with newly minted medical and recreational marijuana legalization laws from being worried about how cannabis money will be handled, particularly with the new Trump administration taking the reigns of government. California, which in November 2016 legalized recreational use of marijuana beginning in 2018, has already petitioned that administration to clarify it's policy early on. "We have a year to develop a system that works in California and which addresses the many issues that exist as a result of the federal-state legal conflict," wrote California Treasurer John Chiang to Trump. "Uncertainty about the position of your administration creates even more of a challenge."<ref name="BloodCali16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d54ea614db274238986a8e0d77dbb147/california-treasurer-asks-trump-guidance-pot-banking |title=California treasurer asks Trump for guidance on pot, banking |author=Blood, M.R. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=02 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Similar legalization changes in Massachusetts prompted its senator, Elizabeth Warren, along with nine other senators, to write to FinCEN in early 2017 requesting even clearer, more friendly guidance for marijuana vendors.<ref name="LeBlancUSSen17">{{cite web |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/jan/02/us-sen-warren-seeks-to-pull-pot-shops-out-of-banki/ |title=US Sen. Warren seeks to pull pot shops out of banking limbo |author=LeBlanc, S. |work=Las Vegas Sun |publisher=Greenspun Media Group |date=02 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> Yet it remains to be seen if entities outside of grow-ops and dispensaries will see banking relief. In particular, testing laboratories continue to struggle with managing cash flow and acquiring bank lending for their operations<ref name="LampachQA13">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/qa-with-steep-hill-lab-ceo-david-lampach-cannabis-testing-market-could-hit-40m-in-2-years/ |title=Q&A With CEO of Steep Hill Halent: US Cannabis Testing Market Could Hit $40M by 2016 |work=Marijuana Business Daily |author=Lampach, D. |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=20 November 2013 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MartinProfit16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ |title=Profitability in the Cannabis Laboratory Industry |work=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |author=Martin, R.W. |publisher=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |date=May 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="TulsiABright16">{{cite web |url=http://www.labmanager.com/research-specific-labs/2016/10/today-s-cannabis-research-market |title=A Bright Future for Cannabis Testing Services |work=Lab Manager |author=Tulsi, B.B. |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=03 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>, causing some to believe consolidation of such labs will occur before the industry can really even take off.<ref name="LampachQA13" /><ref name="DigiPathAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Digipath-Company-Report.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |date=October 2016 |pages=36 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Advertising====<br />
Advertising of marijuana products is another area of concern, though the regulations and laws regarding it are less clear. When it comes to television and radio broadcasting and its associated advertising, a federally granted broadcasting license stands to be lost, care of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The trouble is, it's not clear if the FCC would act against broadcasters; the FCC hasn't issued guidance in the same way FinCEN has. "I don’t think anybody knows, and that’s the problem," said California Broadcasters Association President Joe Berry in an August 2016 report published by the The Sacramento Bee. "Without a clear indication [from the FCC on marijuana advertising], the vast majority of broadcasters are going to stay away from this issue."<ref name="WhiteIfCali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article96040082.html |title=If California legalizes pot, will TV ads be far behind? |author=White, J.B. |work=The Sacramento Bee |publisher=The McClatchy Company |date=17 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> California, of course, made recreational marijuana legal, and its proposed law sought to address the issue of advertising, including "a provision restricting TV and radio ads so they are not targeted to minors," while also addressing the authority of the FCC to enforce regardless.<ref name="McGreevyQA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-proposition-64-marijuana-legalization-qa-20161030-snap-20161029-story.html |title=Q&A: Proposition 64 would legalize recreational use of marijuana though it's illegal under federal law. How will that work? |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=30 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Other forms of advertising also remain problematic. In late November 2015, the United States Postal Service (USPS) out of Portland, Oregon published its interpretation of federal law regarding "mailpieces containing advertisements about marijuana," regarding it illegal to distribute certain forms of marijuana advertisement while citing 21 U.S. Code § 843(c).<ref name="ReinThePot15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/12/21/the-pot-business-may-be-legal-but-newspapers-cant-run-ads-for-it-the-u-s-postal-service-says/ |title=The pot business may be legal, but newspapers can’t run ads for it, the U.S. Postal Service says |author=Rein, L. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=21 December 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has, controversially, also gotten involved, stating that trademarking of a "brand controlled substances or related paraphernalia that are illegal to possess or sell" legally doesn't fit within a trademark's commercial viability because at the federal level marijuana is not legal for commerce.<ref name="OxenfordAccepting16">{{cite web |url=http://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2016/12/articles/accepting-advertising-for-marijuana-or-marijuana-paraphernalia-the-trademark-office-rules-on-a-related-issue-that-provides-more-reason-for-caution/ |title=Accepting Advertising for Marijuana or Marijuana Paraphernalia: The Trademark Office Rules on a Related Issue that Provides More Reason For Caution |author=Oxenford, D. |work=Broadcast Law Blog |date=13 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (Legal experts such as Dariush Adli suggest "creative ways" of getting around this, from registering trademarks in multiple states to registering "non-cannabis merchandise in order to generate some federal protection for their mark."<ref name="AdliObtain16">{{cite web |url=http://adlilaw.blogspot.com/2016/12/obtaining-trademark-protection-for_9.html |title=Obtaining Trademark Protection for Cannabis Businesses |author=Adli, D. |publisher=ADLI Law Group |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>) Even billboards are an issue, with state lawmakers proposing new regulations on billboard-based marijuana advertising weeks after the state passed its recreational legalization laws.<ref name="McGreevyPotAds16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-pot-ads-snap-20161221-story.html |title=Pot ads along highways? Lawmakers wrangle over legalization's consequences |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> And state laws, such as those found in Alaska, can create their own set of challenges in staying legal with marijuana advertising.<ref name="AndrewsGaps16">{{cite web |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-marijuana/2016/12/26/gaps-in-alaska-marijuana-advertising-rules-cause-worry/ |title=Gaps in Alaska marijuana ad rules cause worry |author=Andrews, L. |work=Alaska Dispatch News |publisher=Alaska Dispatch Publishing |date=27 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Despite all this, at least one financial consultant believes marijuana marketing will become more prevalent: GreenWave Advisors' Matthew Karnes estimates spending will jump to $75 million by 2021.<ref name="StilsonWhyMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/why-marijuana-marketing-will-be-bigger-ever-year-175246 |title=Why Marijuana Marketing Will Be Bigger Than Ever This Year |author=Stilson, J. |work=Adweek |publisher=Adweek, LLC |date=03 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Regulation and standardization==<br />
===Federal regulation of cannabis===<br />
[[File:Dea color logo.svg|right|250px]]On October 27, 1970, the Controlled Substances Act put into place five schedules or classifications of drugs that would be regulated in some fashion, and drugs were initially classified into those schedules, followed by annual reviews and updates.<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> Marijuana was initially placed under Schedule I<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> and remains there today.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/alex-grubbs/dea-declines-request-reclassify-marijuana-citiing-its-high-potential-abuse |title=DEA Declines Request to Reclassify Marijuana, Citiing Its 'High Potential for Abuse' |author=Grubbs, A. |work=CNSNews |publisher=Media Research Center |date=13 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> As a Schedule I drug, the federal government is indicating marijuana has<ref name="GPO21USC812" />:<br />
<br />
* "a high potential for abuse";<br />
* "no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States"; and<br />
* "a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision".<br />
<br />
Then came the Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973, which took existing enforcement entities such as the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and placed them into a new, unified entity called the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).<ref name="GPO5USCApp">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title5/html/USCODE-2011-title5-app-reorganiz-other-dup96.htm |title=Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973 |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="DEAHist7075">{{cite web |url=https://www.dea.gov/about/history/1970-1975.pdf |format=PDF |title=Drug Enforcement Administration: 1970–1975 |work=DEA History In Depth |publisher=U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Then President Richard Nixon said of the transition<ref name="GPO5USCApp" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The enforcement work could benefit significantly, however, from consolidation of our anti-drug forces under a single unified command. Right now the Federal Government is fighting the war on drug abuse under a distinct handicap, for its efforts are those of a loosely confederated alliance facing a resourceful, elusive, worldwide enemy.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The DEA was given numerous responsibilities, including but not limited to the development of enforcement strategy; investigation and prosecution preparation of suspects violating federal law; regulation of drugs and other controlled substances; and coordination and cooperation with state and local government drug enforcement efforts.<ref name="GPO5USCApp" /> Since then the DEA has taken various steps — with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<ref name="HamiltonTheFDA16">{{cite web |url=https://news.vice.com/article/dea-fda-marijuana-schedule-1-status-decision |title=The FDA told the DEA whether pot is medicine — but it won't tell the public |author=Hamilton, K. |work=Vice News |publisher=Vice Media, LLC |date=27 June 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> — to regulate and enforce the availability and use of controlled substances such as marijuana. As the decriminalization and legalization efforts of states have increased in past decades, this has brought federal regulation and enforcement conflicts to those states that have decriminalized and legalized, largely due to the federal government's insistence on maintaining marijuana as a Schedule I drug.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /><ref name="HudakTheCon15">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/conflict-between-federal-and-state-marijuana-laws-claims-victim-345099 |title=The Conflict Between Federal and State Marijuana Laws Claims a Victim |author=Hudak, J. |work=Newsweek |publisher=Newsweek, LLC |date=20 June 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Numerous changes in policy and controversies have occurred since the Controlled Substance Act and DEA were implemented, including a 22-year-long effort by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) to have marijuana rescheduled (1972–1994).<ref name="DPAMAPSTheDEA14">{{cite web |url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/DPA-MAPS_DEA_Science_Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=The DEA: Four Decades of Impeding And Rejecting Science |author=Drug Policy Alliance; MAPS |publisher=Drug Policy Alliance |date=June 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> However, the following talking points represent the most recent important federal-level changes and rulings that impact federal regulation of and enforcement of laws relating to cannabis.<br />
<br />
'''October 19, 2009: The Ogden Memorandum'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden issued a memorandum "intended solely as a guide to the exercise of investigative and prosecutorial discretion" in regards to state-based laws allowing medical cannabis.<ref name="OgdenMemor09">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/blog/memorandum-selected-united-state-attorneys-investigations-and-prosecutions-states |title=Memorandum for Selected United State Attorneys on Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana |author=Ogden, D.W. |work=Justice Blogs |publisher=Department of Justice |date=19 October 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The guidance essentially told U.S. attorneys to not prosecute those entities complying fully with state cannabis laws. Researchers generally agree that this memo acted "as a catalyst for expansion of [state-sanctioned and gray market] cannabis supply in states with poorly defined regulations," though the degree to which it influenced such growth remains poorly documented and requires further investigation.<ref name="CambronState16">{{cite journal |title=State and National Contexts in Evaluating Cannabis Laws: A Case Study of Washington State |journal=Journal of Drug Issues |author=Cambron, C.; Guttmannova, K.; Fleming, C.B. |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=74–90 |year=2017 |doi=10.1177/0022042616678607}}</ref> To be sure, it likely had some effect, as the number of licensed patients using medical marijuana in the state of Colorado increased from 4,800 in 2008 to 41,000 in 2009, and operating dispensaries jumped to more than 900 by mid-2010.<ref name="HIDTATheLeg13">{{cite web |url=http://www.rmhidta.org/html/final%20legalization%20of%20mj%20in%20colorado%20the%20impact.pdf |format=PDF |title=The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact |author=Rocky Mountain HIDTA |volume=1 |date=August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''June 29, 2011: The Cole Memorandum 1'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a memo as a follow-up to the Ogden Memo, muddying the waters in the process. While stating that the stance of efficiently using department resources as outlined in the Ogden Memo still stood, Cole also made it clear that large grow-ops that didn't qualify as "caregivers" had sprung up since.<ref name="ColeMemo11">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/oip/legacy/2014/07/23/dag-guidance-2011-for-medical-marijuana-use.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 June 2011 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The language of the memo essentially said "get off your butts and nail those suckers."<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13">{{cite web |url=https://blog.simplejustice.us/2013/08/30/the-cole-memo-2-0-this-changes-everything/ |title=The Cole Memo 2.0: This Changes Everything |work=Simple Justice |author=Greenfield, S.H. |date=30 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> Cambron ''et al.''<ref name="CambronState16" /> and Fairman<ref name="FairmanTrends16">{{cite journal |title=Trends in registered medical marijuana participation across 13 US states and District of Columbia |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Fairman, B.J. |volume=159 |pages=72–9 |year=2016 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.015 |pmid=26686277}}</ref> suggest this memo had some impact as evidenced by declines in cannabis patient registration from 2011–2013 in Colorado, Michigan, and Montana.<br />
<br />
'''August 29, 2013: The Cole Memorandum 2'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a follow-up memo to his original two years later, following 1. on the heels of then President Obama reiterating publicly that the Department of Justice (DoJ) was to not focus unnecessarily on states that had passed legalization laws and 2. Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational use of cannabis.<ref name="CambronState16" /> The second memorandum sought to reduce the emphasis on the size of the grow-op and increase emphasis on — by a case-by-case basis — "whether the operation is demonstrably in compliance with a strong and effective state regulatory system."<ref name="ColeMemo13">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/3052013829132756857467.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for All United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The memo also clarified specific cases where federal enforcement would be warranted, including distribution to minors, interstate transport, and preventing drugged driving (though it didn't state how). Generally speaking, states saw little federal intervention except in the case of state law being broken or requiring dispensaries to move further away from schools.<ref name="MPPFederal16">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/federal-enforcement-policy-on-state-marijuana-laws/ |title=Federal Marijuana Enforcement Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=2016 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CambronState16" /> Despite the memo, some attorneys continued to see Cole Memorandum 2 as nothing more than unclear language that had no legal weight for anxious growers and distributors in states where cannabis was legalized.<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13" /><br />
<br />
'''December 16, 2014 to current: Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment'''<br />
<br />
A tenuous truce of sorts arrived with the passage of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment in December 2014. The amendment prohibited the DoJ from spending funds to prevent or enforce against state laws that allow for medical marijuana cultivation, distribution, and use, particularly when those actions are performed consistently with those state laws.<ref name="ArmentanoPres14">{{cite web |url=http://blog.norml.org/2014/12/16/president-to-sign-federal-spending-bill-protecting-state-sanctioned-medical-marijuana-programs/ |title=President Signs Federal Spending Bill Protecting State Sanctioned Medical Marijuana Programs |author=Armentano, P. |work=NORML Blog |publisher=NORML Foundation |date=16 December 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Before being passed in December 2014, the amendment had actually been introduced and defeated six times in the previous 10 years.<ref name="BrekkeHouse14">{{cite web |url=https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/05/30/house-votes-to-block-medical-pot-prosecution/ |title=House Votes to End Medical Marijuana Prosecutions |author=Brekke, D. |work=KQED News |publisher=KQED, Inc |date=30 May 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> The DoJ later went on to challenge the amendment on several occasions, from ''U.S. v. Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana'' in 2015 to a collection of 10 different cases from California and Washington in 2016. In both cases, the courts ruled against the DoJ, setting precedent against further department action.<ref name="IngrahamFed15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/10/20/federal-court-tells-the-dea-to-stop-harassing-medical-marijuana-providers/ |title=Federal court tells the DEA to stop harassing medical marijuana providers |author=Ingraham, C. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=20 October 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FermerTheLargest16">{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/medical-marijuana-9th-circuit_us_57b36a31e4b04ff883990337 |title=The Largest Federal Appeals Court Tells DOJ To Back Off State-Legal Medical Marijuana |author=Fermer, M. |work=The Huffington Post |publisher=TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc |date=16 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
One of the downsides of Rohrabacher-Farr is that it has essentially acted as a short-term rider attached to several spending bills since December 2014. As of March 2017, it was last renewed through April 28, 2017; however, with the new Trump administration coalescing — including Trump's demonstrably anti-drug U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions — some in the industry are concerned the amendment may not be renewed, opening the door again for the DoJ to implement stronger enforcement.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /><ref name="SwerdlowApril17">{{cite web |url=http://www.marijuananews.org/afraid |title=April 28, 2017 - Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid + IRS FU |author=Swerdlow, L. |publisher=Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project |date=22 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="YakowiczThePerfect17">{{cite web |url=http://www.inc.com/will-yakowicz/perfect-storm-regulations-could-cripple-marijuana-industry.html |title=The Perfect Storm That Could Cripple the Marijuana Industry Under Trump |author=Yakowicz, W. |work=Inc |publisher=Mansueto Ventures, LLC |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RohrabacherRohr17">{{cite web |url=https://rohrabacher.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rohrabacher-praises-sessions-urges-ag-nominee-to-respect-federal |title=Rohrabacher praises Sessions, urges AG nominee to respect federal marijuana law |author=Rohrabacher, D. |publisher=State of California |date=11 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MuiTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/14/donald-trump-and-jeff-sessions-anti-legal-pot-industry.html |title=Trump and his attorney general are freaking out the $7 billion pot industry |author=Mui, Y. |work=CNBC |publisher=CNBC, LLC |date=14 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref> Alternative bills are continuing to be proposed, including a more permanent version of Rohrabacher-Farr introduced by Representative Dana Rohrabacher of California; however, Speaker Paul Ryan has implemented rules prohibiting amendments to budgetary legislation, and the fact remains that Congress remains reluctant of hearing bills that would change the country's marijuana laws.<ref name="AdamsMari17">{{cite web |url=https://thefreshtoast.com/cannabis/marijuana-bills-currently-congress-can-change-game/ |title=Marijuana Bills Currently In Congress: How They Can Change The Game |author=Adams, M. |work=The Fresh Toast |publisher=Project Coco, Inc |date=13 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="RuskinSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/news/chemtales/sessions-hints-at-a-war-on-marijuana-now-what/ |title=Sessions Hints at a War on Marijuana. Now What? |author=Ruskin, Z. |work=SF Weekly |publisher=San Francisco Media Co |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''August 11, 2016: DEA denies petition to reschedule marijuana out of Schedule I'''<br />
<br />
A request made by two governors and a psychiatric nurse practitioner to the DEA asking it to reschedule marijuana into any other schedule other than Schedule I was denied, as had been done with previous attempts in 2009 and 2011.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16" /> Reasons included known health issues such as prenatal exposure and negative impacts on several biological systems, as well as limited research data and new drug applications.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> At the same time, however, the DEA also recognized the need for further research and the lack of legal marijuana sources for researchers, publishing a policy statement stating intent "to increase the lawful supply of marijuana available to researchers."<ref name="81FR53846">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-17955/applications-to-become-registered-under-the-controlled-substances-act-to-manufacture-marijuana-to |journal=Federal Register |title=Applications To Become Registered Under the Controlled Substances Act To Manufacture Marijuana To Supply Researchers in the United States |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53846–8 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===State and local regulation===<br />
As of January 2017, 28 states have some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization laws for cannabis on the books.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /> In October 1973, Oregon became the first state to enact decriminalization laws for marijuana, imposing a $100 fine for possession of less than an ounce. Eleven other states followed a similar path within five years.<ref name="SingleTheImp81">{{cite book |chapter=The Impact of Marijuana Decriminalization |title=Research Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems |author=Single, E.W. |editor=Israel, Y.; Glaser, F.B.; Kalant, H. et al. |publisher=Springer US |year=1981 |pages=405–424 |doi=10.1007/978-1-4615-7740-9_12 |isbn=9781461577409}}</ref> The next wave of changes began with the passage of medical marijuana legislation in California — the Compassionate Use Act — in November 1996, followed by similar legislation in Oregon and Alaska in 1998, Maine in 1999, and Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada in 2000.<ref name="CambronState16" /><ref name="Alaska98Results">{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/98GENR/results.htm |title=Election Summary Report, State of Alaska 1998 General Election: Official Results |work=Election Results |publisher=State of Alaska Division of Elections |date=1 December 1998 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> Other states continued to add decriminalization and medical marijuana laws in the 2000s. But it wasn't until 2012 that Colorado and Washington became the first states to make recreational marijuana legal, followed by Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia in 2014.<ref name="CambronState16" /> Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada followed suit in 2016.<ref name="BurkeFour17">{{cite web |url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/four-more-states-pass-new-marijuana-laws-california-maine-massachusetts-nevada |title=Four More States Pass New Marijuana Laws: California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada |author=Burke, C. |work=National Law Review |publisher=National Law Forum, LLC |date=04 January 2017 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As shown by Cambron ''et al.'' in 2016 (before the November election results)<ref name="CambronState16" />, dispensaries, possession limits, and interstate ID card acceptance can vary significantly among affected states. California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington lead in number of dispensaries; Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington in maximum possession limits; and Arizona plus five others allowed ID cards from other states. Yet allowed dispensaries can number in the single digits, possession limits can be as low as one ounce, and numerous states still don't honor ID cards from other states.<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Then there's the matter of state differences in testing, enforcement, advertising allowances, etc. It helps to turn to professional associations and organizations — who often lead the charge for improved, more relevant standards — to sort through the variances. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), for example, has published its ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs'' to help sort through the confusing tangle of existing testing laws, where they exist. They exemplify this variation of law in their document<ref name="APHLGuide16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>As with most programs in the United States, every state takes a different approach. For example as of January 2016, New Jersey’s Public Health & Environmental Laboratories only test cannabis plant material. Just across the Hudson, however, New York’s Public Health Laboratory will not be testing any plant material, only cannabis extracts. In addition, the New York Department of Health will provide an oversight role for commercial cannabis laboratories that are licensed by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and approved for testing cannabis products. On the other hand, New Jersey state government does all testing in-house for the medical cannabis program.</blockquote><br />
<br />
As such, unlike their federal counterpart, it's difficult to make broad generalizations about cannabis regulations and their enforcement in the states. It becomes even more difficult when examining states that don't have clear, well-considered regulations or strong enforcement powers. Cambron ''et al.'' emphasized this issue in regards to the supply side, saying: "States without clearly defined regulations for medical cannabis supply have fostered gray markets for cannabis whereby individuals without documented medical conditions are able to easily obtain medical cannabis authorizations. This scenario has created substantial challenges for law enforcement in multiple states."<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Cole ''et al.'' argue that in the end, it will take pressure on the federal government "to set up policy guardrails to steer state regulatory systems" in a more unified and safe direction. Drugged driving, use by minors, interstate distribution, relation to crime and firearms, consumer safety, and advertising are all issues the government should be tackling towards that goal, they say. Not that states aren't addressing these regulatory concerns; they are, but not in consistent ways.<ref name="ColeAll16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thirdway.org/report/all-state-marijuana-laws-are-not-created-equal |title=All State Marijuana Laws Are Not Created Equal |work=Third Way |author=Cole, T.; Trumble, S.; Hatalsky, L.E. |date=17 February 20116 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Standardization===<br />
While federal, state, and local governments wrestle with the regulatory frameworks surrounding cannabis, scientists and government officials are carrying on, doing what they can to harmonize those regulations with emerging industry standards and guidelines. For example, state officials from Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington teamed up to give a presentation called "State Regulatory Approaches to Cannabis Testing, Operations and Product Logistics" at the July 2016 Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit. That presentation focused on the harmonization of regulatory standards and frameworks across states, as well as discussions of what scientific efforts are required to support those standards and frameworks.<ref name="CQSSS16">{{cite web |url=http://chernislaw.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NEW-Cannabis-Quality-Summit-Main-Summit-Agenda.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit - Agenda |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=July 2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, organizations such as Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), and the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) have been developing standards, methods, and certifications for analysis, extraction, labeling, and laboratory operations surrounding medical (and recreational) marijuana.<ref name="InfocastNew16">{{cite web |url=http://infocastinc.com/industries/new-certification-program-brings-quality-assurance-to-the-medical-marijuana-industry/ |title=New Certification Program Brings Quality Assurance to the Medical Marijuana Industry |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AHPARecomm16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="AHPCanna14">{{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}</ref><ref name="MarcuJahan16">{{cite web |url=https://www.projectcbd.org/article/jahan-marcu-cannabis-lab-testing-safety-protocols |title=Jahan Marcu: Cannabis Lab Testing & Safety Protocols |work=Project CBD |author=Project CBD; Marcu, J. |publisher=Project CBD |date=16 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Notable among those organizations is the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS), which has been working to produce internationally applicable voluntary consensus standards for various parts of the cannabis business chain, including cultivation, extraction, laboratory testing, and packaging. FOCUS completed its public review process and finalized its standards in July 2016, though at that time it wasn't clear how to gain access to them.<ref name="FOCUSPublic16">{{cite web |url=http://www.focusstandards.org/public-review-of-cannabis-standards/ |title=Public Review Completes Development Process |publisher=FOCUS |date=2016 |accessdate=16 February 2016}}</ref> New information came to light in March 2017, when FOCUS and ASTM International announced a collaboration between the two entities, which will, pending April 2017 ASTM board approval, see the formation of volunteer committee D37 at ASTM and the further adaptation of FOCUS' standards for a future ASTM release.<ref name="BirosASTM17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/news_article/astm-international-launches-cannabis-committee/ |title=ASTM International Launches Cannabis Committee |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ASTMD37">{{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Laboratory testing of cannabis==<br />
[[File:Juan Velez y Sebastian Cortes - Investigadores del Cannabis Medicinal.jpg|right|300px]]The overview mentioned how regulators, users, and industry are calling for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana. Without proper testing, several issues are bound to arise<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="CANORMLHow11">{{cite web |url=http://canorml.org/news/ringtest.html |title=How Accurate Is Cannabis Potency Testing? |publisher=California NORML |date=21 September 2011 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* label claims may not match actual contents;<br />
* contaminants may linger, causing illness or even death;<br />
* chemical properties and medicinal benefits of specific strains and their unique cannabinoid-turpene profiles can't be isolated; and<br />
* research on potential therapeutic qualities can't be replicated, hindering scientific progress.<br />
<br />
In 2011 — a year before any U.S. state had enacted broad legalization of recreational marijuana — California NORML reported that its assessment of analytical cannabis testing laboratories' accuracy found that while California labs broadly reached +/- 20 percent consistency from a replicate sample, three out of 10 provided unfavorable results on at least half of their tests. Similar wide-ranging discrepancies were also found among edibles, extracts, and tinctures, and NORML found that none of the labs could reach two decimal points precision of cannabinoid results despite laboratory claims stating otherwise.<ref name="CANORMLHow11" /> Another report out of Washington State in January 2015, not long after recreational marijuana sales to the public (requiring accredited lab testing prior) began<ref name="WLCBFAQ">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/mj2015/faqs_i-502 |title=FAQs on I-502 |publisher=Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>, found blind tests of recreational marijuana at dispensaries could range as much as 7.5 percent in accuracy from its corresponding label.<ref name="BushWorlds15" /> Further issues in 2016 with alleged partiality by some Washington testing laboratories prompted emergency proficiency testing rules to be enacted.<ref name="YoungSome16">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/marijuana/some-pot-labs-in-state-failed-no-pot-at-all-says-scientist/ |title=Some pot labs in state failed no pot at all, says scientist |author=Young, B. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=05 January 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/to-combat-claims-of-inconsistency-washington-testing-labs-turn-to |title=To Combat Inconsistency, Washington Testing Labs Turn to Self-Policing |work=Leafly - Politics |author=Coughlin-Bogue, T. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=11 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> (Proficiency testing essentially requires a laboratory in question to test a sample with known properties, and then those results are compared to those of a neutral third-party lab testing the same sample.)<br />
<br />
These discrepancies and deficiencies highlight the growing need for homogenization of testing methods and procedures, if not nationally at least across an entire state. Such homogenization would, in theory, not only positively affect the quality of product but also provide greater consumer confidence that label and product match. As Marketing Director Scott Kuzdzal of Shimadzu pointed out during a January 2017 webinar on analytic testing of cannabis, poor sample preparation, lack of thorough testing, and the manual process itself — which can introduce user error, particularly when good laboratory practices aren’t used — all can contribute to discrepancies between label and product.<ref name="KuzdzalOpp17">{{cite web |url= http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170119200158/http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |title=Webinar: Opportunities & Challenges in Cannabis Analytical Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.A. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=19 January 2017 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=03 February 2017 |quote=Source is actual webinar.}}</ref> When dispensaries, edible manufacturers, and supplement companies perform insufficient lab testing or overstate claims on labels, it reduces consumer confidence, and both state and federal authorities — including the FDA — have to interject.<ref name="YoungSome16" /><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16" /><ref name="FDAWarn16">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm484109.htm |title=2016 Warning Letters and Test Results for Cannabidiol-Related Products |work=Public Health Focus |publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration |date=31 August 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As was mentioned at the end of the previous section on state regulation, efforts to improve testing methods and procedures, with the goal of seeing the best of them become standards, are ongoing. Where are those efforts now, and where are they going? Before we can examine that, we first need to briefly look at what aspects of cannabis are actually being analyzed.<br />
<br />
===Analytical aspects of cannabis===<br />
====Cannabinoids====<br />
As of mid-2015, researchers have identified 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15" />, active chemical compounds that act in a similar way to compounds our body naturally produces. Many of our body's cells have cannabinoid receptors capable of modulating neurotransmitter release in the brain and other areas.<ref name="WHOTheHealth16" /> The plant's cannabinoids vary, with each bonding to specific receptors in our body, providing differing effects. From a theoretical and medical standpoint, crafting a strain of cannabis that has specific cannabinoids that can aid with a particular malady, while also carefully reproducing the grow conditions to consistently make that strain in the future, is a desirable but difficult goal to achieve.<ref name="RahnCannab14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/cannabinoids-101-what-makes-cannabis-medicine |title=Cannabinoids 101: What Makes Cannabis Medicine? |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=22 January 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabinoids is done primarily as a measure of psychoactive "potency," though cannabinoids have many other potential therapeutic uses. Current laboratory testing looks at only a handful of cannabinoids; more research and development of analytical techniques that can quickly and accurately detect and separate the the rest is required.<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> Some of the major cannabinoids tested for include<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/understanding-cannabis-testing |title=Understanding Cannabis Testing: A Guide to Cannabinoids and Terpenes |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=09 October 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''THC (∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)''': This is the most commonly known cannabinoid found in cannabis, notable for its strong psychoactive effects and ability to aid with pain, sleep, and appetite issues. Included is its analogue ∆8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (which shows notably less strong psychoactive effects than ∆9<ref name="NIHDelta8">{{cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug?cdrid=485262 |title=delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol |work=NCI Drug Dictionary |publisher=National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>) and its homologue THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), which tends to appear in trace amounts and has a more pronounced psychoactive effect, but for a shorter duration. THCV shows promise in fighting anxiety, tremors from neurological disorders, appetite issues, and special cases of bone loss. Also notable is Δ9-THCA (Δ9-Tethrahydrocannibinolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to THC. <br />
<br />
* '''CBC (Cannabichromene)''': This non-psychoactive cannabinoid is found in trace amounts; however, it tends to be markedly more effective at treating anxiety and stress than CBD (see next). It's also notable for its anti-inflamatory properties and potential use for bone deficiencies. <br />
<br />
* '''CBD (Cannabidiol)''': CBD is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, typically accounting for up to 35 to 40 percent of cannabis extracts. It acts as a counter-balance to THC, regulating its psychoactivity. It's been researched as a treatment for anxiety, sleep loss, inflammation, stress, pain, and epilepsy, among other afflictions. Included is its homologue CBDV (Cannabidivarin), which is also non-psychoactive and demonstrates promise as a treatment for epileptic seizures. Also notable is CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBD.<br />
<br />
* '''CBG (Cannabigerol)''': This cannabinoid is also non-psychoactive but only appears in trace amounts of cannabis. If has potential as a sleep aid, anti-bacterial, and cell growth stimulant. Also notable is CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid ), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBG.<br />
<br />
* '''CBN (Cannabinol)''': CBN is mildly psychoactive at best and appears only in trace amounts in ''Cannabis sativa'' and ''Cannabis indica''. It occurs largely as a metabolite of THC and tends to have one of the strongest sedative effects among cannabinoids. It shows promise as a treatment for insomnia, glaucoma, and certain types of pain.<br />
<br />
====Terpenes====<br />
Mandated lab testing of terpenes — volatile organic compounds that distinctly affect cannabis aroma and taste — is done primarily as a way to ensure proper labeling of cannabis and related products, including extracts and concentrates, so buyers have confidence in what they are purchasing.<ref name="HabibTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1c-Testing-for-Psychoactive-Agents-Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing for Psychoactive Agents |author=Habib, R.; Finighan, R.; Davenport, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=24 August 2013 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CMTLabs">{{cite web |url=http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/test-services/tests-offered/ |title=Tests Offered |publisher=CMT Laboratories |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="WercShop">{{cite web |url=http://thewercshop.com/services/terpene-profiling-services/ |title=Terpene Profiling Services |publisher=The Werc Shop |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> However, additional lab research goes into terpenes as they also show potentially useful pharmacological properties<ref name="HabibTesting13" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16">{{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}</ref>, and they demonstrate synergies (referred to at times as the "entourage effect") with cannabinoids that largely still require further exploration.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="WachsbergerTerpene16">{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomcityclub.com/terpine-testing-the-future-of-cannabis-is-here/ |title=Terpene Testing: The future of Cannabis is here |author=Wachsberger, K. |work=Bloom Blog |publisher=Bloom City Club |date=02 February 2016 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> Testing for specific terpenes (discussed later) is less of a standardized practice, though it's rapidly improving.<ref name="HabibTesting13" /> Commonly tested terpenes by third-party testing labs include<ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="CMTLabs" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14" /><ref name="SCLabs">{{cite web |url=http://sclabs.com/terpene-analysis/ |title=Terpene Analysis |publisher=SC Labs, Inc |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Bisabolol<br />
* Caryophyllene<br />
* Cymene<br />
* Humulene<br />
* Limonene<br />
* Linalool<br />
* Myrcene<br />
* Phytol<br />
* Pinene<br />
* Terpinolene<br />
<br />
====Contaminates====<br />
Generally speaking, a contaminate is an unwanted substance that may show up in the final product, be it recreational marijuana or a pharmaceutical company's therapeutic tincture. The following are examples of contaminates that laboratories may test for in cannabis products. <br />
<br />
'''Pesticides''': Pesticides represent the Wild West of not only growing cannabis but also performing analytical testing on it. One of the core issues, again, is the fact that on the federal level marijuana is illegal. Because it's illegal, government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) don't test and create standards or guidelines for what's safe when it comes to residual pesticides, let alone how to best test for them.<ref name="BorelTheWild15">{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/08/pot-marijuana-pesticide-legalization/401771/ |title=The Wild West of Marijuana Pesticides |author=Borel, B. |work=The Atlantic |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group |date=31 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ZhangNobody15">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/nobody-knows-pesticides-legal-marijuana// |title=Nobody Knows What to Do About Pesticides in Legal Marijuana |author=Zhang, S. |work=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |date=07 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, researchers face their fair share of difficulties obtaining product to test. The end result is we don't know much about how inhalation of pesticide-coated marijuana smoke affects long-term health<ref name="BorelTheWild15" /><ref name="ZhangNobody15" />, and we don't have standards for pesticide application and testing.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> With numerous pesticide products and little oversight on what growers apply to their plants, combined with the technical difficulty of testing for pesticides in the lab, pesticides remain one of the most difficult contaminates to test for.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> That said, several classes of of pesticides are commonly applied during cannabis cultivation and can be tested for by labs<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/PreventionWellness/marijuana/Documents/oha-8964-technical-report-marijuana-contaminant-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Technical Report: Oregon Health Authority’s Process to Determine Which Types of Contaminants to Test for in Cannabis Products, and Levels for Action |author=Farrer, D.G. |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |date=December 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''avermectins''': functions as an insecticide that is useful against mites, which are a common problem for cultivators<br />
* '''carbamates''': functions as an insecticide, similar to organophosphates, but with decreased dermal toxicity and higher degradation<br />
* '''organophosphates''': functions as the base of many insecticides and herbicides, valued for its easy organic bonding<br />
* '''pyrethroids''': functions as the base of most household insecticides and exhibits insect repellent properties<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': In 2003, Canadian Rick Simpson published a recipe of sorts for preparing cannabis extract via the use of solvents such as naphtha or petroleum ether. Claiming the resulting oil helped cure his skin cancer, others hoping for a cure tried it, and the solvent method of preparation grew in popularity. Dubious healing claims aside, the solvent extraction method remains viable, though it has evolved over the years to include less harmful solvents such as supercritical carbon dioxide, which has low toxicity, low environmental impact, and beneficial extraction properties.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RomanoCannabis13">{{cite journal |url=http://www.stcm.ch/en/files/hazekamp_cann-oil_2013.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis oil: Chemical evaluation of an upcoming cannabis-based medicine |journal=Cannabinoids |author=Romano, L.L.; Hazekamp, A. |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1–11 |year=2013}}</ref><ref name="PeachSuper14">{{cite journal |title=Supercritical carbon dioxide: A solvent like no other |journal=Journal of Organic Chemistry |author=Peach, J.; Eastoe, J. |volume=10 |pages=1878-95 |year=2014 |doi=10.3762/bjoc.10.196 |pmid=25246947 |pmc=PMC4168859}}</ref> However, chemical solvents are still used, and if not evaporated out properly, the remaining solvents can be particularly harmful to sick patients using the extract. As for what solvents should be tested for, it gets a bit trickier, though Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'', the Oregon Health Authority's December 2015 technical report on contaminant testing of cannabis, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's response to public comments on cannabis testing provide helpful guidance. Listed solvents include benzene, butane, cumene, dimethoxyethane, hexane, and pentane, among others.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="USPNF467">{{cite web |url=https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/USPNF/generalChapter467Current.pdf |format=PDF |title=<467> Residual Solvents |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="MDPHResponse">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/external-comment-response-020416-final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Response to Public Comments |author=Bureau of Healthcare Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |date=12 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': 2013 research on contaminant testing on the behalf of Washington State provides insights into heavy metals and why they're looked for in cannabis testing. That research, as well as other sources, tell us<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DaleyTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Heavy metals contribute to several health problems, including those of a neurological nature.<br />
* Cannabis can "hyperaccumulate metals from contaminated soils."<br />
* Research parallels can be found in tobacco research and how the FDA regulates heavy metal content in foods.<br />
* The most prominently tested heavy metals include arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni).<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': "The ideal conditions for cannabis growth are also ideal for the growth of potentially harmful bacteria and fungi, including yeast and molds," say Shimadzu's Scott Kuzdzal and William Lipps, "therefore microbial contamination poses health risks to consumers and immunocompromised individuals."<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> In truth, these concerns have already borne out; most recently the University of California, Davis reported in February 2017 one of its patients had contracted an incurable fungal infection from inhaling aerosolized marijuana. They later tested 20 marijuana samples from Northern California dispensaries — using specialized techniques — and found a wide variety of potentially hazardous microorganisms.<ref name="UCDavis17">{{cite web |url=http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/11791 |title=UC Davis study finds mold, bacterial contaminants in medical marijuana samples |publisher=UC Davis |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The degree to which such contaminates commonly appear in grown and stored cannabis material and to which microbiological contaminates should be tested is not clear, however. As mentioned previously, neither the U.S. EPA or neighboring Health Canada provide any significant guidance on cannabis testing, including microbiological contaminates.<ref name="KennardYouAre16">{{cite web |url=https://tantaluslabs.com/populace/you-are-probably-smoking-mouldy-weed-why-does-quality-assurance-matter/ |title=You are Probably Smoking Mouldy Weed - Why Does Quality Assurance Matter? |work=Populace |author=Kennard, M. |publisher=Tantalus Labs |date=02 June 2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> Like heavy metal testing, parallels are drawn from microbial testing guidelines and standards relating to tobacco and food, where they exist.<ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> As warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, maintaining stable moisture levels during cultivation and storage is essential. Regularly measuring water activity — how moist something is — is particularly useful as a front-line preventative tool to better ensure microbial growth is limited.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> Regardless, testing of some kind is still required by many U.S. states, including for organisms such as<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="UCDavis17" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="CANNAMicro14">{{cite web |url=http://www.fundacion-canna.es/en/microbiological-study-cannabis-samples |title=Microbiological study of Cannabis samples |publisher=Fundación CANNA |date=2014 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RussoCann13">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qH-2Lj9x7L4C&pg=PT457&lpg=PT457 |chapter=Chapter 30: Contaminants and Adulterants in Herbal Cannabis |title=Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential |author=McPartland, J.M. |editor=Russo, E.B. |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |pages=478 |isbn=9781136614934}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Aflatoxin<br />
* ''Alternaria''<br />
* ''Aspergillus''<br />
* ''Cryptococcus''<br />
* ''E. coli''<br />
* ''Mucor''<br />
* ''Penicillium''<br />
* ''Salmonella''<br />
<br />
===Methods and guidelines===<br />
Now that we've addressed what's being tested for, we can move on to how they're being tested and what's being done to improve testing methods and procedures, including associated guidelines and recommendations. It would be beyond the scope of this guide to include every state's laws and guidelines on cannabis testing; entities such as [https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations Leafly Holdings]<ref name="RoughLeaflysState">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}</ref> and [http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ CannaGuard Security]<ref name="CSCanna16">{{cite web |url=http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ |title=CannaBiz Resources |publisher=CannaGuard Security |date=2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> provide such online resources. Instead, this section will focus on current and promising techniques using generalizations based on information from multiple sources. If any guidelines and recommendations are known, they'll be included.<br />
<br />
====Sampling====<br />
Random, representative sampling is encouraged. When dealing with solid cannabis, BOTEC Analysis recommends a "quartering" method that divides the sample into four equal parts and takes portions from opposite sections of a square-shaped arrangement of the sample. For liquid cannabis products, remembering to stir before sample collection is advised.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> When deriving a sample from a cannabis-laden edible, the QuEChERS approach used by food safety labs for pesticide testing has practical use.<ref name="RigdonExtract16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=25790 |title=Extraction Method for Cannabinoid Analysis in Edibles: Too Much of a Good Thing |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> In fact, a variety of parallels have been drawn from the food and herbal medicine industries' sampling guidelines, including from the Codex Alimentarius Commission's ''CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling'' as well as various chapters of the ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary''.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CACGL50-2004">{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCAC%2BGL%2B50-2004%252FCXG_050e.pdf |format=PDF |author=Codex Alimentarius Commission |title=CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling |pages=69 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> As the APHL points out, "[g]ood sampling is key to improving analytical data equivalency among organizations," and it provides a solid base for any future testing and standardization efforts.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> <br />
<br />
Additional sampling insight can be found by examining other states' guidelines, e.g., Massachusetts' ''Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries''.<ref name="DPHMassProto16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Cannabinoid testing====<br />
Quantifying cannabinoids for label accuracy is a major goal of testing, though calculation and testing processes may vary slightly from state to state. Despite any differences, laboratorians generally agree that when testing for cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, as well as their respective biosynthetic precursors THCA and CBDA, the methodology used must be scrutinized. The naturally occurring THCA of cannabis isn't psychoactive; it requires decarboxylation (a chemical reaction induced by drying/heating that releases carbon dioxide) to convert itself into the psychoactive cannabinoid THC. Chemical calculations show that the process of decarboxylation results in approximately 87.7 percent of the THCA's mass converting to THC, with the other 12.3 percent bubbling off as CO<sub>2</sub> gas.<ref name="CAWhy1">{{cite web |url=http://conflabs.com/why-0-877/ |title=Why 0.877? |publisher=Confidence Analytics |date=10 February 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> The problem with this in the testing domain is gas chromatography (GC) involves heating the sample solution. If you, the lab technician, require precise numbers of both THCA and THC, then GC analysis poses the risk of under-reporting THC total values.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> As such, liquid chromatography-diode array detection (LC-DAD) may be required if a concise profile of all cannabinoids must be made, primarily because it provides environmental stability for them all during analysis. If GC is used, the analysis requires extra considerations such as sample derivatization.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RigdonAccurateJuly15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=14961 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids by GC – Is it Possible? |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 July 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RigdonAccurateSept15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=15135 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids and Neutrals by GC – Derivatives without Calculus |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=09 September 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The APHL briefly describes analysis methods of cannabinoids using both LC and GC on pages 31–32 of their May 2016 ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs''. They also point to New York Department of Health - Wadsworth Center's various guidance documents (MML-300, -301, and -303) for methodologies when testing sample types other than solids, particularly using high-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA).<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MML-300">{{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> Overall, methods used in cannabinoid testing include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="MML-300" /><ref name="SCCann16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/docs/Sigma-Aldrich/General_Information/1/cannabis-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing: Quality You Can Trust |publisher=Sigma-Aldritch Co. LLC |date=2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AdamsNear16">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/column/near-infrared-gc-and-hplc-applications-in-cannabis-testing/ |title=Near Infrared, GC and HPLC Applications in Cannabis Testing |author=Adams, T.; Bertone, M. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=30 November 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR; has limitations, such as requiring standard samples tested w/ other methods)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like 5α-cholestane, docosane, and tetracosane)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like deuterated cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA; stable for all forms of cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography UV detection (HPLC-UV)<br />
* Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
* Thin-layer chromatography (TLC; older, less common technology)<br />
* Ultra-performance chromatography (UPC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
<br />
====Terpene testing====<br />
Identifying and quantifying terpenes is one of the more difficult tasks facing laboratorians<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Terpenes present an analytical challenge because they are nonpolar and structurally similar, and many structural isomers exist. Mass spectrometry (MS) cannot distinguish terpenes that co-elute from a GC column because many have the same molecular weight and share fragment ions.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Of course, types of gas chromatography work; but like cannabinoids, terpenes can degrade with the high heat of gas chromatography.<ref name="AdamsNear16" /> Combined with the problems mentioned above, highly specialized gas chromatography processes that include additional steps — such as full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID) — can be used to produce cleaner results, particularly for volatile components.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> It's less clear if high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used frequently; some entities such as Eurofins Experchem Laboratories claim HPLC works best for them<ref name="AdamsNear16" />, while others such as Restek Corporation claim the method is problematic at best.<ref name="HerringCanHP16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=33071 |title=Can HPLC-UV Be Used For Terpenes Analysis In Cannabis? |author=Herring, T. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 December 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Overall, methods for terpene identification and analysis include<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="SCLabs" /><ref name="SCCann16" /><ref name="AdamsNear16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/life_science/shimadzu_cannabis_brochure.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Solutions |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID; tends to be semi-quantitative)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; may have limitations due to coelution of terpenes and cannabinoids at certain ranges<ref name="HerringCanHP16" />)<br />
<br />
====Contaminate testing====<br />
[[File:LC MS pic.jpg|right|400px]]'''Pesticides''': Gas and liquid chromatography methods are by and large the staple of testing methods for pesticides, which remain "the hardest analyses that are going to be done in the cannabis industry."<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Notably, high-performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) tends to be one of the most thorough methods says Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon. "Ninety-five percent of the pesticides out there can be analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS, although there are some that you would need a GC-MS/MS for," she says.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Testing methods that have been used include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Gas chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of pesticides in cannabis, the EPA's Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) or FDA's Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) provide guidance to labs.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="FDA_PAM">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': Testing for solvents is largely standardized into a couple of options, which have parallels to existing pharmaceutical testing standards outlined in Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'' (USP <467>)<ref name="USPNF467" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS)<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID)<br />
<br />
Massachusetts and Oregon — and likely other states — have used a variety of guidance documents such as USP <467>, reports from the Commission of the European Communities' Scientific Committee on Food (now the European Food Safety Authority), and the International Conference on Harmonization's (ICH) Q3C(R5)<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MDPHResponse" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /> to set their action level testing values for particular solvents.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': The methods used for quantifying levels of highly toxic metals in plants depend on ease-of-use, level of accuracy, and overall cost. The following methods are most common for testing cannabis and other plants<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DavisAnalysis15">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/aas/ssi-icp-002.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of "The Big Four" Heavy Metals in Cannabis by USN-ICP-OES |author=Davis, D.; Long, K.; Masone, J.; Firmin, P. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=August 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), sometimes called inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) (at times coupled with an ultrasonic nebulizer)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma tandem-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of metals in cannabis, the U.S. FDA's ICP-MS methodology document is often used.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': A standard method of testing for the existence of microorganisms is through the process of culturing a sample in a Petri dish, a common diagnostic method in microbiology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is also used, particularly to identify mycotoxins. However, Petri culture analysis isn't rigorous, and ELISA can be time consuming, as it's limited to one mycotoxin per test.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> The following are other, more precise techniques that are improving laboratorians' analyses, particularly using DNA snippets of microbiological contaminates<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="ThompsonAMicro16">{{cite journal |title=A microbiome assessment of medical marijuana |journal=Clinical Microbiology and Infection |author=Thompson III, G.R.; Tuscano, J.M.; Dennis, M. et al. |pages=S1198-743X(16)30605-X |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.cmi.2016.12.001 |pmid=27956269}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)<br />
* Whole metagenome shotgun (WMGS) sequencing<br />
* Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
The extent of mycotoxin testing required remains in question by several entities. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) claims "[t]here is no readily available evidence to support the contention that cannabis harbors significant levels of mycotoxins."<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> The Oregon Health Authority takes a more middle-ground approach, noting that testing for ''E. coli'' and ''Salmonella'' will "protect public health," though ''Aspergillus'' only deserves a warning for people with suppressed immune systems due to its prevalence in the environment.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> USP <561> recommendations largely limit mycotoxin testing of botanical products to those borne from root or rhizome material<ref name="USPNF561">{{cite web |url=https://hmc.usp.org/sites/default/files/documents/HMC/GCs-Pdfs/c561.pdf |format=PDF |title=<561> Articles of Botanical Origin |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>, "which THC-containing cannabis products presumably do not possess," emphasizes the APHL.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Regardless, U.S. Pharmacopeia's Chapter 561 remains a useful document for testing guidelines and limits regarding microbials.<ref name="USPNF561" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> In the less common case of dealing with powdered cannabis — a relatively new THC extract form — Chapter 2023 provides at least some testing parallels, though Dr. Tony Cundell, a microbiologist consulting for the pharmaceutical industry, suggests USP <2023> doesn't go far enough for immunocompromised patients.<ref name="CundellMicro15">{{cite web |url=http://www.americanpharmaceuticalreview.com/Featured-Articles/177487-Microbiological-Attributes-of-Powdered-Cannabis/ |title=Microbiological attributes of powdered cannabis |work=American Pharmaceutical Review |author=Cundell, T. |publisher=CompareNetworks, Inc |date=31 July 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Somewhat related and worth mentioning is moisture content testing. As previously mentioned, warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, and regularly measuring water activity is useful for the prevention of microbial growth.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> The APHL references specifications from the Dutch Office of Medical Cannabis that recommend water content be between five to ten percent in cannabis.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><br />
<br />
===Reports===<br />
There's little in the way of standardization for lab reporting of cannabis test results, though some U.S. states have outlined requirements for what must be included in such reports. The Oregon Health Authority's ''Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 333, Division 64, Section 0100: Marijuana Item Sampling Procedures and Testing'' stipulates that any report must include total THC and total CBD (by dry weight) and, if discovered, "up to five tentatively identified compounds (TICS) that have the greatest apparent concentration." It also lays out requirements for pesticides, failed tests, limits of quantification, and specimen identifiers such as test batch number.<ref name="OHA333-064-0100">{{cite web |url=http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_300/oar_333/333_064.html |title=Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, Division 64, Accreditation of Laboratories |work=Oregon Administrative Rules |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In late January 2017, Pennsylvania released its temporary regulations in support of its new medical marijuana program (28 Pa. Code Chapter 1171), which includes a section on test results and reporting (1171.31). The regulations stipulate reporting by electronic tracking system, with stipulations on using certificates of analysis which include lot/batch number and the specific compounds and contaminates tested.<ref name="28PA1171">{{cite journal |url=http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/M-P/MedicalMarijuana/Documents/Chapter%201171%20Laboratories%201-26-17.pdf |format=PDF |title=Title 28 - Health and Safety, Department of Health - 28 Pa. Code Ch. 1171 |journal=Pennsylvania Bulletin |author=Pennsylvania Department of Health |volume=46 |issue=52 |pages=8036–8041 |date=24 December 2016}}</ref> Regulations aside, it's largely up to the laboratory — and often by extension, the software they're using — to decide how a report is formatted. Some labs like Seattle-based Analytical 360 offer clean, color-based certificates of analysis, with high-magnification photographs, the chromatogram, potency, cannabinoid content, contaminate content, and explanation of limits, with the name of the approving analyst.<ref name="CC_A360">{{cite web |url=http://cannabis-chronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/Godzilla.pdf |format=PDF |title=Certificate of Analysis - Sample: Godzilla |publisher=Cannabis Chronicles |date=07 July 2014 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="C360Results">{{cite web |url=http://analytical360.com/testresults |title=Current Test Results |publisher=Analytical 360, LLC |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Others may simply generate a computer printout with the basic data and a legend.<ref name="HydrioCan16">{{cite web |url=http://beyondchronic.com/question/can-you-help-me-analyze-lab-reports-of-cannabis-oil/ |title=Can you help me analyze lab reports of cannabis oil? |author=Hydrio |work=Beyond Chronic: Ask Old Hippie |date=August 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Reports may originate from the measuring device itself (e.g., an integrator in a chromatography device), a middleware or data station attached to the instrument, or a laboratory information management system that accepted data from the instrument.<ref name="McKennaSetting15">{{cite web |url=http://www.slideshare.net/GenTechScientific/ica2015-cannabis-presentation |title=Setting Up Your Cannabis Lab for Potency Testing |author=McKenna, M. |work=SlideShare |publisher=GenTech |date=18 June 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Though not directly related to laboratory testing, it's worth noting states also have their own reporting requirements for growers, processors, and dispensaries. Both Oregon and Washington, for example, require monthly reports related to medical marijuana transfers.<ref name="OMMPReporting">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/ChronicDisease/MedicalMarijuanaProgram/Pages/reporting.aspx |title=Reporting Requirements for Tracking Medical Marijuana |author=Public Health Division |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="314-55 WAC">{{cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=314-55&full=true |title=Chapter 314-55 WAC: Marijuana Licenses, Application Process, Requirements, and Reporting |work=Washington Administrative Code |publisher=Washington State Legislature |date=16 November 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Lab equipment===<br />
As indicated in previous sections, spectrometry and chromatography have played and will continue to play an important role in cannabis laboratory testing. This should not be surprising: "mass spectrometry is superior to other spectral techniques in such features as sensitivity, selectivity, generation possibility of molecular mass/formula, and combinability with chromatography."<ref name="MilmanTech10">{{cite book |chapter=Chapter 2: Techniques and Methods of Identification |title=Chemical Identification and its Quality Assurance |author=Milman, B.L. |publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg |year=2010 |pages=23–39 |isbn=9783642153617 |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-15361-7_2}}</ref> Analyzing complex chemical compounds that have many features and which are at times difficult to differentiate from each other proves challenging, but these technologies excel in meeting that task.<ref name="MilmanTech10" /> Refer to the previous "Methods and guidelines" section to note the specific technology associated with each molecule and contaminate. Aside from spectrometry and chomatography equipment, the analysis of microorganisms in cannabis may turn to DNA analysis methods that require additional equipment such as a thermal cycler (qPCR) or sequencer (WMGS), or ELISA, which utilizes a photometer or spectrophotometer. Of course, preparing and storing samples requires equipment as well, such as microplates, centrifuges, comparison standards, capillaries, chemicals, columns, Petri dishes, scales, and disposable gloves. Software-based data management systems may also constitute as equipment and are discussed in the next section.<br />
<br />
When it comes to purchasing lab equipment specifically for cannabis testing, a 2015 interview with Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon (then with Restek Corporation) provides good advice<ref name="TaylorCanna15">{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/article/2015/06/cannabis-testing-opens-whole-new-market |title=Cannabis Testing Opens Up a Whole New Market |author=Taylor, M. |work=Laboratory Equipment |publisher=Advantage Business Media |date=23 June 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Industry-specific instrumentation isn't needed in most cases as most of the techniques and equipment used in food and herbal medicine testing have strong parallels to cannabis testing.<br />
* That said, some sample preparation tools, standards, and consumables specifically marketed to the industry may very well make the job quicker and more reliable.<br />
* Appropriate sample preparation techniques are just as vital as the equipment you use.<br />
* Do your research; many instrument companies are examining methodologies usable on conventional equipment, lessening the need for more expensive devices.<br />
* If buying used equipment, make sure the original manufacturer is still in-business and producing consumables and replacement parts. Make sure your planned methods match the equipment, and make sure it's not so old that it can't be serviced by a qualified technician.<br />
<br />
===Software===<br />
Laboratories increasingly depend on software to analyze, store, and share critical data from instruments and experiments.<ref name="VI11">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150425070143/http://virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |title=Laboratory Informatics |publisher=virtualinformatics.com |date=09 April 2011 |archivedate=25 April 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> This has led to the development of laboratory-specific software like the [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS), [[electronic laboratory notebook]] (ELN), and [[chromatography data management system]] (CDMS; sometimes simply CDS). These and other software systems such as "seed-to-sale" programs can also play an important role in the cannabis testing laboratory.<br />
<br />
====LIMS====<br />
Laboratories of all types use LIMS software to manage the wide variety of data, testing and analysis workflows, and other enterprise activities typical of them. This generally includes — but is not limited to — sample reception, workflow management, sample tracking and analysis, quality control, instrument data management, data storage, reporting, and document management.<ref name="SkobelevLab11">{{cite journal |title=Laboratory information management systems in the work of the analytic laboratory |journal=Measurement Techniques |author=Skobelev, D.O.; Zaytseva, T.M.; Kozlov, A.D. et al. |volume=53 |issue=10 |pages=1182–1189 |year=2011 |doi=10.1007/s11018-011-9638-7}}</ref> The cannabis testing laboratory is no exception, though its activities differ slightly from, for example, a clinical pathology laboratory. As such, a few additional features outside of what's typically found in a generic LIMS are required.<br />
<br />
Features that may be incorporated into a cannabis testing LIMS that you might not necessarily find in an all-purpose LIMS include<ref name="BirosUsing15">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/feature_article/using-lims-in-cannabis-laboratories/ |title=Using LIMS in Cannabis Laboratories |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=23 October 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PromiumELIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=https://www.promium.com/main/element-lims-cannabis |title=LIMS for Managing Cannabis Testing |publisher=Promium, LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PharmWareHome">{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmware.net/ |title=PharmWare |publisher=PharmLabs LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LLLIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynxpress.com/index.php?title=LabLynx_LIMS_-_Cannabis |title=LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* sample loading screens optimized for the industry, including differentiation between medical and recreational marijuana<br />
* pre-loaded compliant test protocols, labels, and reports optimized and readily adjustable for a rapidly changing industry<br />
* tools for creating new, compliant test protocols, labels, and reports<br />
* a web API to integrate with state-required compliance reporting systems<br />
* chain-of-custody (CoC) tracking, when necessary<br />
* support for inventory reconciliation<br />
<br />
As previously discussed, industry-specific test protocols largely focus on cannabinoids, terpenes, and a wide variety of contaminates, including excess water. However, as regulations continue to be in a state of flux and not particularly standardized, most LIMS developers are including the ability for users to adjust their protocols and even add new ones. And while CoC functionality is not entirely foreign to generic LIMS, it's particularly important in an industry where currently transporting even a cannabis test sample across state lines can create huge problems.<br />
<br />
In cases where daily sample processing is infrequent and only a couple of chromatography machines are used, laboratories may weigh a decision between a LIMS and a chromatography-specific CDMS.<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
Scientists on the research side of cannabis are certainly using CDMSs from Agilent, Thermo Scientific, Waters, and other to manage the data coming out of their chromatography equipment<ref name="PurschkeDevelop16">{{cite journal |title=Development and validation of an automated liquid-liquid extraction GC/MS method for the determination of THC, 11-OH-THC, and free THC-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) from blood serum |journal=Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry |author=Purschke, K.; Heinl, S.; Lerch, O. et al. |volume=408 |issue=16 |pages=4379-88 |year=2016 |doi=10.1007/s00216-016-9537-5 |pmid=27116418 |pmc=PMC4875941}}</ref><ref name="AlbertiniDeterm15">{{cite web |url=http://tools.thermofisher.com/content/sfs/posters/PO-GC-MS-THC-Metabolites-Triple-Quad-EN.pdf |format=PDF |title=Determination of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Its Main Metabolites Using GC Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry |author=Albertini, T.; Caruso, A. |publisher=Thermo Fisher Scientific |date=2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LaytonAnalysis17">{{cite web |url=https://www.perkinelmer.com/lab-solutions/resources/docs/APP_Analysis-of-Cannabinoids-in-Hemp-Seed-Oils-by-HPLC-012317_01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Cannabinoids in Hemp Seed Oils by HPLC Using PDA Detection |author=Layton, C.; Reuter, W.M. |publisher=PerkinElmer, Inc |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>, and slowly but surely some of those CDMSs are beginning to also support spectrometer data management in a similar way.<ref name="DaviesCentral16">{{cite web |url=http://www.spectroscopyeurope.com/articles/tony-davies-column/3676-central-spectroscopic-data-systems-why-are-chromatographers-so-much-better-equipped |title=Central spectroscopic data systems: Why are chromatographers so much better equipped? |author=Davies, A.N. |work=Spectroscopy Europe |publisher=John Wiley & Sons Ltd; IM Publications LLP |date=12 April 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, some chromatography system developers will collaborate with CDMS vendors to develop software drivers — code that essentially acts as a translator between a device and a program — so chromatography devices can interact fully with the CDMS.<ref name="ShimadzuWaters">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/product.cfm?product=gcdriver |title=Waters Empower Shimadzu GC Driver Version 2 |publisher=Shimadzu Scientific Instruments |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The CDMS likely has a place in the cannabis testing lab as well, though it may depend on the lab's data management needs and goals. In more complex labs with multiple instruments and significant daily processing workflows, a LIMS may make more practical sense.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
The use of seed-to-sale software is an emerging trend that is only tangentially related to laboratory testing of cannabis. Rather than at testing laboratories, seed-to-sale software is found at cultivation sites, production facilities, and dispensaries, and that software is typically designed to be able to integrate with testing laboratory or other software. The goal: create a complete record of transaction, from the grown plant to the lab, producer, and seller. This sort of tracking is mandated in various ways by many U.S. states with legalization laws. "It’s there to prevent the diversion of marijuana, which the federal government still lists as a Schedule I substance, the most dangerous class of drugs," wrote Daniel Rothberg of the ''Las Vegas Sun'' in December 2015. "Tracking also ensures product safety, assists with audits and helps facilitate recalls."<ref name="RothbergSoft15">{{cite web |url=http://www.govtech.com/state/Software-Firms-Benefit-from-Governments-Seed-to-Sale-Marijuana-Tracking.html |title=Software Firms Benefit from Government’s Seed-to-Sale Marijuana Tracking |author=Rothberg, D. |work=Government Technology |publisher=e.Republic, Inc |date=29 December 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref> This type of software is able to track plant yields, attempted theft or diversion, patient preferences, extraction methods, batch weights, and various financial statistics for analysis.<ref name="SmythTrack16">{{cite web |url=https://mjfreeway.com/blog/track-and-trace-vs-seed-to-sale |title=Track and Trace vs. Seed to Sale |author=Smyth, H. |work=MJ Freeway Blog |publisher=MJ Freeway, LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RothbergSoft15" /><br />
<br />
==Future of cannabis regulation, testing, and market trends==<br />
===Regulation and market===<br />
[[File:Medical cannabis demo 2.JPG|right|250px]]On February 23, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer indicated for the first time that the Trump administration would indeed be ramping up enforcement in states that have legalized recreational marijuana use, stating "I do believe that you’ll see greater enforcement," adding that "there’s a big difference between the medical use ... that’s very different than the recreational use, which is something the Department of Justice will be further looking into."<ref name="KumarTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article134608704.html |title=Trump administration plans crackdown on recreational marijuana |author=Kumar, A.; Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Five days later, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions continued to send pessimistic signals, stating he was "dubious about marijuana," and that "[w]e have a responsibility to use our best judgment ... and my view is we don’t need to be legalizing marijuana."<ref name="WheelerSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/321525-sessions-we-dont-need-to-be-legalizing-marijuana |title=Sessions: 'We don't need to be legalizing marijuana' |author=Wheeler, L. |work=The Hill |publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp |date=28 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Several days later, seemingly in response to both Spicer's and Sessions' comments, 11 U.S. senators sent a letter to Sessions asking him to keep in mind Trump's campaign promises of letting states decide their own fate on legalization efforts.<ref name="HotokainenEleven17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article135996463.html |title=11 senators call on Trump team to allow sale of recreational marijuana |author=Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Until demonstrably intrusive federal enforcement actions take place in states with legalized recreational marijuana, it won't be clear if the administration is simply making an implied, noisy threat in order to bring more in the industry to heel. More certain is mounting evidence that a growing majority of U.S. voters believe the federal government should not be enforcing its laws in such states: 64 percent agreed on this in 2012<ref name="NewportAmericans12">{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/159152/americans-federal-gov-state-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=Americans Want Federal Gov't Out of State Marijuana Laws |author=Newport, F. |publisher=Gallup, Inc |date=10 December 2012 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>, rising to 71 percent in 2017.<ref name="QuinnipiacRepublicans17">{{cite web |url=https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2432 |title=Republicans Out Of Step With U.S. Voters On Key Issues, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Most Voters Support Legalized Marijuana |publisher=Quinnipiac University |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Despite such support, it may largely be up to the states in the future to twist the arm of the federal government. Legal representatives at Thompson Coburn expressed this idea well in a blog post in November 2016<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry may have to consider forcing the federal hand by providing credible data on the safety of cannabis as it was invited to do in the DEA decision, in addition to the continuing to support the groundswell of approval at the state level. At some point, in the near future, the state regulatory position and the federal position will have to be reconciled. The industry can and should prompt that reconciliation by a clear united message to federal lawmakers. Without that, it remains unlikely that agencies, such as the FDA, will change its position on cannabis. A lack of change will inhibit market growth and prevent the cannabis industry from reaching its potential.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The obvious issue with expanding research and testing on cannabis and of its safety is acquiring the product within a legal framework and a reasonable time frame. As mentioned previously, the DEA has recognized the need for more federally approved growers than the NIDA center at the University of Mississippi (which came under fire in March 2017 for not testing its provided samples for mold and other contaminants in any standardized fashion<ref name="HellermanScientists17">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/scientists-say-governments-pot-farm-moldy-samples-no-guidelines/ |title=Scientists say the government’s only pot farm has moldy samples — and no federal testing standards |author=Hellerman, C. |work=PBS NewsHour |publisher=NewsHour Productions, LLC |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref>), and they've begun accepting applications for additional entities looking to grow marijuana for researchers.<ref name="81FR53846" /> Assuming the Trump administration doesn't force the DEA to change course — and signs point to the administration at least being on spoken record of supporting medical marijuana and associated research<ref name="MPPTrumpMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/trump-marijuana-policy/ |title=Trump on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=12 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — researchers will optimistically have more options for acquiring research-quality cannabis in the future. This should in turn allow researchers a shot at more focused studies that provide efficacy and safety data related to the medical use of cannabis.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> In fact, this has been a goal of Dr. Susan Weiss, Division Director of Extramural Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for some time. In July 2016 testimony to the U.S. Judiciary Committee<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /> and in a February 2017 research paper set to be published in ''The International Journal of Drug Policy''<ref name="WeissBuilding17">{{cite journal |title=Building smart cannabis policy from the science up |journal=International Journal of Drug Policy |author=Weiss, S.R.B.; Howlett, K.D.; Baler, R.D. |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.01.007 |pmid=28189459}}</ref>, Weiss cautiously recognizes and promotes the need for further evidence-based cannabis research, emphasizing both the healthy and detrimental effects evident so far in the plant and its constituents. She said of recent federal actions towards this goal<ref name="WeissTestimony16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Multiple agencies (NIH, ONDCP, DEA, and FDA) are working together to find ways to streamline the process to facilitate research while meeting international and legislative obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the Controlled Substances Act. In addition to actions taken by the Department of Health and Humans Services to eliminate the Public Health Services (PHS) committee review for non-federally funded marijuana research, the DEA recently streamlined the administrative process for CBD research to allow researchers to obtain a waiver of the requirement for review of changes to an approved protocol in their DEA research registrations, and is attempting to address the marijuana diversity and product development concern by licensing additional manufacturers.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Another recent and significant body of research that may have future influence on cannabis research itself is a massive January 2017 cannabis literature review published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This 440-page report detailed the National Academies' findings after reviewing more than 10,700 abstracts related to cannabis. Among its final recommendations, the authors called for<ref name="NASEMTheHealth17">{{cite web |url=http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/reports/2017/health-effects-of-cannabis-and-cannabinoids.aspx |title=The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research |author=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine |publisher=The National Academies Press |pages=440 |doi=10.17226/24625 |date=12 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* public and private entities to fund and support a national cannabis research initiative that looks to fill key knowledge gaps;<br />
* government agencies to develop research methods and standards that may act as a guide towards higher-quality cannabis research;<br />
* government agencies, non-profit associations, and state and local health departments to fund and support efforts to improve federal, state, and local public health surveillance systems and efforts; and<br />
* government, non-government, and industry entities to work together towards developing a report on existing regulatory barriers to research and how to overcome them.<br />
<br />
However, some researchers such as Mayo Clinic psychiatrist and researcher Michael Bostwick are less convinced that the barriers will fall — claiming federal entities shift too much focus on the detrimental effects and not enough on the potential benefits — and aren't optimistic about the direction the Trump administration will take.<ref name="GrantMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/48122/title/Marijuana-Research-Still-Stymied-by-Federal-Laws/ |title=Marijuana Research Still Stymied by Federal Laws |author=Grant, B. |work=The Scientist |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Despite this pessimism, predictions of substantial revenues in states where recreational marijuana is legalized or could be legalized persist.<ref name="MorrisTheNext16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/21/the-next-big-billion-dollar-cannabis-markets-investors-are-rushing-to.html |title=The next big billion-dollar cannabis markets investors are rushing to |author=Morris, C. |work=CNBC |date=21 October 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ThomasBigPot17">{{cite web |url=http://ctmirror.org/2017/02/07/big-pot-of-money-waiting-if-ct-legalizes-marijuana-analysts-say/ |title=Big pot of money waiting if CT legalizes marijuana, analysts say |author=Thomas, J.R. |work=The CT Mirror |publisher=The Connecticut News Project |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="HoughtonTown17">{{cite web |url=http://www.capenews.net/mashpee/news/town-manager-marijuana-shops-could-boost-tax-revenue/article_c27b9b71-fb63-52de-bc24-fda320f38a32.html |title=Town Manager: Marijuana Shops Could Boost Tax Revenue |author=Houghton, S. |work=The Mashpee Enterprise |publisher=Enterprise Newspapers |date=14 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> The latest national estimates by market research and analytics company New Frontier Data put the U.S. marijuana industry at $24 billion by 2025, with 255,000 total jobs by 2019.<ref name="WallaceReport17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/02/22/report-united-states-marijuana-sales-projections-2025/74059/ |title=Report: America’s marijuana industry headed for $24 billion by 2025 |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Yet entities such as the Denver-based Marijuana Policy Group and cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg LLC preach caution when dealing with tax revenue estimates and economic projections in the U.S. cannabis market<ref name="WallaceReport17" />, pointing to CIBC World Markets' grossly inflated tax revenue estimate of $142 CAD ($106 USD) per resident in January 2016, an overshot of about 300 percent.<ref name="WallaceWhat16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/12/22/marijuana-sales-pot-taxes-colorado-estimates-projections/69831/ |title=What legal states need to know about sketchy pot tax predictions |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 December 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> "This is a fast-paced, changing market with varying different dynamics that have more to do based on governmental and regulatory dynamics than they do on consumer dynamics," said Vicente Sederberg's director of economics and research Andrew Livingston.<ref name="WallaceReport17" /> <br />
<br />
Indeed, current and future regulatory dynamics seem to be the biggest wildcards in making market-based predictions, with predicted tax and associated revenue estimates capable of both being significantly too high (by inadequately taking into account local and regional cultural and economic statuses) or too low (by not anticipating new states legalization efforts, research breakthroughs, or ties to other mainstream but related industries).<ref name="WallaceReport17" /><ref name="WallaceWhat16" /> Additionally, too much regulation can put a stranglehold on a state's cannabis program development — as it has done in Minnesota<ref name="PotterBig16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/08/12/big-losses-for-minn-medical-marijuana-providers |title=Big losses for Minn. medical marijuana providers |author=Potter, K. |work=MPR News |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=12 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — causing related grow-ops and laboratories to take significant losses or even go out of business.<br />
<br />
===Lab testing===<br />
Future-looking estimates on cannabis lab testing are more difficult to find. The primary numbers being floated around originate from a June 2015 market report published by GreenWave Advisors titled ''Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays''. GreenWave suggested that if the U.S. were to quickly legalize cannabis at the federal level, lab testing revenues alone would be $553 million by 2020, $866 million including related activities such as data analysis and consulting.<ref name="DPAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DigiPath-Investor-Presentation-11.3.pdf |format=PDF |title=DigiPath, Inc.: A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |pages=28 |date=November 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SBSignal15">{{cite web |url=https://signalbay.com/company-news/signal-bay-makes-strategic-acquisition-in-the-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=Signal Bay Makes Strategic Acquisition in the $850M Cannabis Testing Market |publisher=Signal Bay, Inc |date=24 September 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="GWMari15">{{cite web |url=https://www.greenwaveadvisors.com/research/marijuana-lab-testing-an-in-depth-analysis-of-investing-in-one-of-the-industrys-most-attractive-plays/ |title=Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays |publisher=GreeenWave Advisors, LLC |date=June 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
As for advances in cannabis lab testing, Kuzdzal ''et al.'' of Shimadzu envision a future where improvements in standardization, quality control, and research will shift what is tested and how its tested<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry and cannabis testing are in their infancies. As the need for better quality control continues and standardization is introduced, it is likely that lower limits for the various cannabis contaminants will be established and regulations will be introduced. Mass spectrometry will likely play a greater role in quantitation as detection levels are lowered and confirmatory tests are required. The health benefits of terpenes present in cannabis will also provide a fertile area of scientific research. CBD, CBG and other compounds appear to have a synergistic relationship with each other as well as with various THC forms and terpenes. This field needs much more investigation to determine mechanisms of action, bioavailability and health benefits.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabis should continue to provide more exact and useful results as methods and standards continue to evolve. Disparity of results between two labs for the same sample are continuing to narrow as states increasingly add testing requirements to their cannabis legislature.<ref name="NelsonHas16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/has-lab-testing-turned-a-corner/ |title=Has Lab Testing Turned A Corner? |author=Nelson, S. |work=Cannabis Business Times |publisher=GIE Media, Inc |date=03 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Those testing requirements are increasingly based off a growing body of recommendations, guidance, and standards developed by the likes of the Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS), and the Association of Public Health Laboratories.<ref name="InfocastNew16" /><ref name="AHPARecomm16" /><ref name="AHPCanna14" /><ref name="MarcuJahan16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Proficiency tests such as the Emerald Test<ref name="EmeraldTest">{{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>, which allows multiple labs to test an anonymous sample and compare results, should also continue to drive improved performance from cannabis testing labs.<ref name="NelsonHas16" /><br />
<br />
Another potential trend to keep an eye on with these testing laboratories: consolidation. Currently there's not a lot of data on the extent consolidation has affected the number of cannabis testing labs or how they operate; the industry is arguably still in its infancy. Regardless, mentions in press and practical examples demonstrate that consolidation is a real concern for the industry, if not now in the future. Suggestion of such came from Steep Hill Halent's CEO David Lampach in late 2013, anticipating "huge consolidation in general and fewer companies as a result."<ref name="LampachQA13" /> The previously mentioned GreenWave Advisors as well as CannaSafe Analytics have also lent their voices to this idea in recent years.<ref name="TMIDigiPath15">{{cite web |url=http://marijuanaindex.com/digipath-digp-well-positioned-to-take-advantage-of-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=DigiPath (DIGP) Well Positioned To Take Advantage of $850M Cannabis Testing Market |work=The Marijuana Index |author=CannabisFN |publisher=MJIC, Inc |date=16 July 2015 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SchroyerIndustry16">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizmagazine.com/industry-snapshot-testing-labs/ |title=Industry Snapshot: Testing Labs |author=Schroyer, J. |work=Marijuana Business Magazine |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=January 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Production===<br />
Outside the lab, on the production side, resides a glimpse of technology that ties several of the previously mentioned ideas together: growing cannabis as an environmentally modified organism (EMO). A June 2016 article published in <em>Motherboard</em> references the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) in Canada and its effort to apply innovations in growing plants in closed environments (such as on spaceships) to cannabis production.<ref name="OwensHow16">{{cite web |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/how-space-technology-will-produce-the-best-weed-marijuana-cannabis-pot |title=How Space Technology Will Produce the Best Weed Ever |author=Owens, B. |work=Motherboard |publisher=Motherboard-IPTV LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref> Specifically, the researchers see promise in being able to precisely control grow conditions to produce a plant with a particular ratio of active chemicals. As such, the previously mentioned synergistic relationship of cannabis' chemicals can be more carefully studied, and the end product, once studied and methodically tested, could potentially "achieve the status of a conventional pharmaceutical commodity that a doctor can rely on and prescribe."<ref name="OwensHow16" /> CESRF isn't alone in developing grow technology that can tailor the necessary conditions for a particular strain. Several Israeli-linked start-ups (see the last section "Non-U.S. policy" for more) like Corsica Innovations (LEAF) and Flux (Eddy) have been developing similar grow technology that may transform future research.<ref name="GustafsonStartup16">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinegustafson/2016/12/07/it-just-became-incredibly-easy-to-grow-marijuana-at-home-meet-leaf/print/ |title=Startup Launches Automated System It Claims Makes It Easy To Grow Marijuana At Home |author=Gustafson, K. |work=Forbes |publisher=Forbes.com LLC |date=07 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SolomonIsreali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startup-creates-idiots-guide-to-home-grown-food/ |title=Israeli startup creates idiot’s guide to home-grown food |author=Solomon, S. |work=The Times of Israel |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="PressFive17">{{cite web |url=https://www.israel21c.org/5-reasons-israel-is-dominating-the-cannabis-industry/ |title=5 reasons Israel is dominating the cannabis industry |author=Press, V.S. |work=ISREAL21c |date=13 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
With better research, more definitive fact-based decisions can be made in the regulatory sphere, better guiding medical and recreational marijuana policy. That said, keep an eye on developments in controllable production methods; advances in this area stand to improve many of the other facets of research and testing discussed.<br />
<br />
===Big Marijuana===<br />
Both U.S. states and the federal government have a long, sometimes torturous history with regulating and controlling the production and sale of drug-containing products such as pharmaceuticals, tobacco, beer, wine, and spirits. As such, it seems intuitive to examine the successes and failures of those past efforts when considering what to do with cannabis. One aspect of that examination that raises concern among some is the likelihood of a narrow group of commercial interests taking over all aspects of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales. Taking from "Big Pharma," "Big Tobacco," and "Big Alcohol," some fear a similar "Big Marijuana" industry will develop.<ref name="HudakWorry16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana—not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These fears can be found among small private growers at the hyper-local level<ref name="SolovitchHow16">{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/marijuana-legalization-big-business-alcohol-214198 |title=How Big Alcohol Is About to Get Rich Off California Weed |author=Solovitch, S. |work=POLITICO |publisher=POLITICO, LLC |date=29 August 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>, all the way up to the state government level.<ref name="SteeringPathways15">{{cite web |url=https://www.aclunc.org/sites/default/files/20150721-brc_pathways_report.pdf |format=PDF |title=Pathways Report: Policy Options for Regulating Marijuana in California |author=Steering Committee of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |date=22 July 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In fact, in a 2015 Pathways Report, the state of California — including its Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom — expressed this very concern in regards to how best to regulate marijuana in the state. When considering the marijuana industry structure, they found that controls should be put in place to better incentivize smaller industry players, stating "[t]he goal should be to prevent the growth of a large, corporate marijuana industry dominated by a small number of players, as we see with Big Tobacco or the alcohol industry."<ref name="SteeringPathways15" /> Despite that advice, major California-based industry players such as Steve DeAngelo — who owns one of the largest medical marijuana dispensaries in the world and co-founded Steep Hill Labs — remain concerned that mandates for distribution, which mirror alcohol regulations, will only undermine small cannabis businesses in the state.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><br />
<br />
Anti-marijuana alliances such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and corporation-friendly pro-cannabis Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) act as opposing special interest groups, one fighting against Big Marijuana, the other borrowing from a libertarian approach proposing regulation of marijuana in a way similar to alcohol.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><ref name="WallachBoot16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="CRPTheMoney15">{{cite web |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/issues/marijuana/ |title=The Money in Marijuana: The political landscape |work=OpenSecrets.org |publisher=Center for Responsive Politics |date=November 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These and other special interest groups inevitably bring about the perception that, as the Brookings Institution puts it, "the marijuana industry is as self-serving as any other commercial lobby," further propelling worries of Big Marijuana.<ref name="WallachBoot16" /><br />
<br />
If worries of large corporations taking over significant portions of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales markets actually come to fruition, how will they potentially manifest? The previously mentioned concern of increased consolidation of testing labs is arguably one sign, as is DeAngelo's concern of forced distribution contracts taking away from smaller businesses. Brookings also points out concerns of large firms gaining hold over the evolving regulatory status as well as upward trends in antisocial marketing, though they also argue against undue alarmism of commercialization at the same time.<ref name="HudakWorry16" /><br />
<br />
Another manifestation of how Big Marijuana may be taking hold is through the patenting of cannabis strains and methods. PBS' ''Nova'' reported in October 2016 that a group of California growers were granted a patent for "compositions and methods for the breeding, production, processing and use of specialty cannabis,"<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/evolution/patenting-pot/ |title=The Rise of Marijuana™ (Patent Pending) |author=Arnold, C. |work=Nova Next |publisher=PBS |date=19 October 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> raising concerns about how Big Pharma could capitalize. Mowgli Holmes — founder of Phylos Biosciences, a genetics testing laboratory for cannabis — says as much: "Everyone is terrified of some big corporation with deep pockets coming in and taking over ... and they should be." To fight against the misappropriation of patents for "public domain" cannabis strains, he and others have developed Phylos Galaxy to better track relations between existing cannabis strains and the creation of new strains. From a lab testing perspective, a small but increasing number of qualified labs could test not only for potency, terpenes, and pesticides but also genetically verify in a standardized format that a unique strain is actually what it is claimed to be, providing slight competitive advantage.<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16" /> As the patenting trend continues (most recently a patent was issued to a Florida company for an "apparatus and methods for biosynthetic production of cannabinoids"<ref name="LivniTheUS17">{{cite web |url=https://qz.com/927649/the-us-government-grants-cannabis-patents-though-weed-is-illegal/ |title=The US government grants cannabis patents even though weed is illegal |author=Livni, E. |work=Quartz |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group, Inc |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>) the intellectual property war over strains and methods is bound to get more heated; as such, the development of accurate and open genetic and other laboratory testing methods may become increasing vital.<br />
<br />
===Non-U.S. policy===<br />
[[File:Treaty decades.png|right|800px]]Aside from a few mentions of Canada and European regulation, this guide has focused solely on the state of cannabis and related lab testing in the United States. However, it would be remiss to not look at how policy elsewhere may potentially impact the U.S. cannabis market, if nothing else at least indirectly. Broadly speaking, other countries like the Netherlands and Portugal have put more emphasis on decriminalization and recreational legalization of marijuana than on researching and providing marijuana for medical purposes.<ref name="JohnsonPast15">{{cite journal |title=Past 15-year trends in adolescent marijuana use: Differences by race/ethnicity and sex |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Johnson, R.M.; Fariman, B.; Gilreath, T. et al. |volume=155 |pages=8–15 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.025 |pmid=26361714 |pmc=PMC4582007}}</ref> Israel has been one of the major exceptions to this generalization, arguably "up to 10 years ahead of other countries in innovation in the cannabis industry."<ref name="PressFive17" /> The country has been involved with cannabis research since the 1960s, and today it has its hands in many medical research-based initiatives (though recreational marijuana is still illegal), including<ref name="PressFive17" /><ref name="KershnerIsrael16">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/middleeast/israel-a-medical-marijuana-pioneer-is-eager-to-capitalize.html?_r=0 |title=Israel, a Medical Marijuana Pioneer, Is Eager to Capitalize |author=Kershner, I. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=17 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* The Green Book, a set of written protocols and policy detailing how doctors should work with medical marijuana (still in draft phase as of March 2017) as well as how it would be commercialized across the country; includes training and certification of 100 doctors for prescribing it<ref name="EfratiIsraeli16">{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.747985 |title=Israeli Pharmacies Prepare to Sell Medical Cannabis |author=Efrati, I. |work=Haaretz |publisher=Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd |date=20 October 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="iCANIsrael16">{{cite web |url=http://journal.cannabislaw.report/israel-a-peek-inside-the-israeli-knessets-special-committee-on-medical-cannabis/ |title=Israel: A Peek Inside the Israeli Knesset’s Special Committee on Medical Cannabis |author=iCAN Israel |work=Cannabis Law Journal |date=01 September 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
* the creation of the Medical Cannabis Unit, a government agency that regulates medical cannabis research and use<br />
* the development of significant investment and infrastructure for clinical trials involving medical cannabis<br />
* the development of a national institute for medical marijuana research<br />
* the discussion of potentially exporting cannabis and/or cannabis-related extracts and derivatives<br />
* several higher education facilities offering courses and research opportunities on cannabis<br />
* several start-ups developing improved cultivation, pharmaceutical, and medical device technology<br />
<br />
Another major country challenging traditional cannabis regulation is Uruguay, which in December 2013 adopted the first stages of regulatory legislation that will ultimately make the cultivation, sale, and use (recreational and medical) of cannabis in the country legal and government-controlled. In part due to concerns regarding gang-related violence and a tentative but not proven connection to black-market cannabis, the country has since carefully and methodically implemented the laws and regulations with the goal of keeping in mind evidence-based research and the potential social impact.<ref name="RamseyGetting16">{{cite web |url=https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Getting-Regulation-Right-WOLA-Uruguay.pdf |format=PDF |title=Getting Regulation Right: Assessing Uruguay's Historic Cannabis Initiative |author=Ramsey, G. |publisher=WOLA |date=November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> In fact, a late February 2017 press release from Canadian company Emblem Corp. stated it and Uruguayan ICC International Cannabis Corporation would, pending finalization of regulatory processes between the two countries, begin a partnership that would have Emblem import CBD (cannabidiol) from ICC "to help fulfill the demand in the Canadian market."<ref name="NCVEmblem17">{{cite web |url=https://www.newcannabisventures.com/emblem-to-import-cbd-from-uruguay-into-canada/ |title=Emblem to Import CBD from Uruguay into Canada |work=New Cannabis Ventures |publisher=NCV Media, LLC |date=27 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The reality of all this — combined with the legalization momentum in the U.S. and other countries — means that new pressures are being applied to organizers of international treaties and policy, and any future changes to those treaties and policy may inversely apply pressure back on the U.S. government to update its stance on cannabis. An October 2014 Brookings Institution interview revealed some of the issues "straining the limits of an international drug control regime that most participants, including the United States, have long understood to be quite strict."<ref name="RauchMari14">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2014/10/16/marijuana-legalization-poses-a-dilemma-for-international-drug-treaties/ |title=Marijuana Legalization Poses a Dilemma for International Drug Treaties |author=Rauch, J. |work=Brookings FIXGOV: Making Government Work |publisher=The Brookings Institution |date=16 October 2014 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> Drug treaties such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988) represent hard policy that the U.S. government (as well as other federal governments) has followed steadfastly for years. However, a dichotomy begins to form when federal governments bend those treaties either through outright legalization or, as is the case in the U.S., by allowing the states power to determine their own laws.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><br />
<br />
As a result of these stresses, policy experts around the world are shining light on the need for not only federal governments but also international agencies such as the United Nations' World Health Organisation (WHO) to move forward with critical reviews of existing cannabis research in the social and medical domains and determine if revising cannabis' scheduling is appropriate. Additionally, policy experts urge United Nations members to discuss and amend existing treaties, even if such amendments only provide greater flexibility in regards to marijuana.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><ref name="HamiltonWhyWHO16">{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/why-who-needs-a-radical-rethink-of-its-draconian-approach-to-cannabis-68209 |title=Why WHO needs a radical rethink of its draconian approach to cannabis |author=Hamilton, I.; Monaghan, M.; Rolles, S. et al. |work=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation US, Inc |date=23 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Whether or not the decriminalization and legalization efforts of Israel, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and other foreign governments has a noticeable impact on international and U.S. federal law remains to be seen. However, it would be foolish to entirely ignore foreign policy when considering the future of cannabis — and by extension its laboratory testing — in the United States.<br />
<br />
==Final thoughts==<br />
This guide has attempted to provide insight into various aspects of the current status of laboratory testing of cannabis in the U.S. By extension, it has required a closer look at many non-testing or tangentially related aspects of cannabis, including history, regulations, standards, methods, equipment, and software. The guide has also attempted to look at the potential future of testing, a more difficult feat that has required inspection of — and speculation on — a mix of statistics and politics, as well as government and social policy and how they may all affect the future of cannabis testing. We learned that many point fingers at the U.S. federal government for being responsible for several cannabis-related issues, including lack of clear government support for cannabis research, lack of standardization of testing and analysis methods for said research, and wavering policy that remains inconsistent at best. At root is the fact that the federal government maintains cannabis (and its constituents) as a Schedule I drug, by extension declaring that it has no respectable medical use. This and related decisions have slowed down the academic study of cannabis, including its analysis, quality testing, and research and use as a medical treatment. The development, implementation, and reassessment of cultivation and testing standards and methods have largely been piecemeal; additionally, those efforts have been enacted in an environment where, despite the legal status in a state, fear that the federal government will inevitably intervene slows progress even further.<br />
<br />
Despite these barriers, the speed at which U.S. states have adopted some form of legalization of cannabis has pushed scientists and researchers to collaborate and improve standards and methods. Necessity continues to be the mother of invention, driving those in the industry to adapt or perish in a difficult, inconsistent market. State officials are teaming up at industry conferences and sharing ideas. Non-profit organizations are joining forces with major standards agencies to expand and improve good laboratory practices. Researchers — whether on their own or with the help of others internationally — are learning more about the cannabinoid and its interaction with terpenes, driving new insight into potential therapeutic remedies. Overall public perception about marijuana consumption and use is gradually shifting towards a positive light, even when so little is still understood about the long-term ramifications of its use. Commercial interests are taking notice, and so are international treaty makers. All of this adds up to forward momentum in the cannabis industry, with warts and all.<br />
<br />
Many factors will affect the future of cannabis regulation, testing, and research in the future; in the process, we're certain to see both ups and downs as political and social climates continue to change. However, as marijuana consumption and hemp-based manufacturing methods continue to see expanded support, consumers and manufacturers, as well as all those involved in between, will always clamor for a safer product that is "as advertised." Laboratory analysis will play an important role in that effort, whether it's in the medical research lab, the quality control lab, or the manufacturer's lab. It will be imperative for all interested parties to further work together to ensure methods are sound and standardized in a realistic and beneficial way to ensure that in the end consumers will get the best possible product available.<br />
<br />
==Resources==<br />
===Key reading===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana — not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Reference material===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/bookstore/state-legislatures-magazine/marijuana-deep-dive.aspx |title=Marijuana Deep Dive |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170117133745/https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |title=Marijuana Resource Center |author=Office of National Drug Control Policy |archivedate=17 January 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Law and regulation====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=State Medical Marijuana Laws |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=09 November 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Publications and blogs====<br />
<br />
* ''[http://www.liebertpub.com/overview/cannabis-and-cannabinoid-research/633/ Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research]''<br />
* ''[https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/ Cannabis Industry Journal]''<br />
* ''[http://mjbizdaily.com/ Marijuana Business Daily]''<br />
* ''[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7570_supp/index.html Nature Outlook: Cannabis]''<br />
* ''[http://www.beyondthc.com/ O’Shaughnessy’s]''<br />
* ''[http://terpenesandtesting.com/ Terpenes and Testing Magazine]''<br />
* ''[http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis Tracking Cannabis]'' - Thomas Coburn LLP<br />
<br />
<br />
====Standards and guidance====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Accreditation and certification====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientfocusedcertification.org/ |title=Patient Focused Certification |author=Americans for Safe Access Foundation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://certified-kind.com/ |title=Certified Kind: Certification for Responsibly Grown Cannabis |author=Certified Kind, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cleangreencert.org/ |title=Clean Green Certified |author=Clean Green Certified}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |author=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.pjlabs.com/accreditation-programs/medical-marijuana-testing |title=Accreditation Programs: Medical Marijuana Testing |author=Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Testing====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.a2la.org/appsweb/cannabis_testing.cfm |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Accreditation |author=American Association of Laboratory Accreditation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/ST-NAR-40-Ebook.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of cannabis and cannabis products |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=September 2009}} (Note year; still provides historical perspective)<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/STNAR48_Synthetic_Cannabinoids_ENG.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in seized materials |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=June 2013}}<br />
<br />
'''New York State Department of Health''':<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/359205661/MML-303-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Mycotoxins by LC-MS/MS, NYS DOH MML-303 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=43 |date=18 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/1495494332/MML-301-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medical marijuana sample preparation protocols for potency analysis, NYS DOH MML-301 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=13 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* For all other methods documents, see [https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana].<br />
<br />
<br />
===Scientific conferences and trade shows===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://2017.canntencon.com/ |title=Cann10 |publisher=Paragon Israel}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesssummit.com/oakland-2017/ |title=Cannabis Business Summit and Expo |publisher=National Cannabis Industry Association}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.canna-tech.co/ |title=CannaTech |publisher=iCAN Israel Cannabis}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldconference.com/ |title=Emerald Conference |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.csupueblo.edu/institute-of-cannabis-research/2017-conference/ |title=Institute of Cannabis Research Conference |publisher=Colorado State University - Pueblo}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://internationalcbc.com/ |title=International Cannabis Business Conference |publisher=International Conferences Group, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://mjbizconference.com/ |title=Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientsoutoftime.org/2017-national-clinical-conference-on-cannabis-therapeutics/ |title=National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics |publisher=Patients Out of Time}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.compassionatecertificationcenters.com/conference-overview/ |title=World Medical Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Present Syndikos LLC}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Associations, organizations, and interest groups===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agriculturalgenomics.org/ Agricultural Genomics Foundation]<br />
* [http://americancannabisnursesassociation.org/ American Cannabis Nurses Association]<br />
* [https://www.aocs.org/ American Oil Chemists Society]<br />
* [http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ Americans for Safe Access]<br />
* [http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories]<br />
* [http://www.australiancannabisindustry.org/ Australian Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.chascience.com/ Cannabis Horticultural Association]<br />
* [http://cannabissafetyinstitute.org/ Cannabis Safety Institute]<br />
* [https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/organization/workgroups-interest-groups-consortia/cannabis-science-interest-csi-group Cannabis Science Interest (CSI) Group], part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse<br />
* [http://cannabisandsocialpolicy.org/ Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy]<br />
* [http://www.cocannabischamber.com/ Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce]<br />
* [http://dfcr.org/ Doctors for Cannabis Regulation]<br />
* [https://www.cannabis-med.org/ International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines]<br />
* [http://icrs.co/ International Cannabinoid Research Society]<br />
* [http://thecannabisindustry.org/ National Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.nvcla.org/ Nevada Coalition Laboratory Association for Public Safety]<br />
* [http://norml.org/ NORML]<br />
* [http://patientsoutoftime.org/ Patients Out of Time]<br />
* [https://www.projectcbd.org/ Project CBD]<br />
* [https://learnaboutsam.org/ Smart Approaches to Marijuana]<br />
* [http://cannabisclinicians.org/ Society of Cannabis Clinicians]<br />
* [https://themedicalcannabisinstitute.org/ The Medical Cannabis Institute]<br />
* [http://www.vetscp.org/ Veterans Cannabis Project]<br />
* [http://womengrow.com/ Women Grow]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Testing labs and pricing info===<br />
<br />
The prevalence of testing laboratories in any given state depends on a few factors: legalization status, state laws regarding testing, and strictness of regulations. Labs typically appear as stand-alone, third-party entities. Though not common, some testing laboratories are located within dispensaries (e.g., Champlain Valley Dispensary in Vermont<ref name="CVDOurQuality">{{cite web |url=http://www.cvdvt.org/products/quality-commitment/ |title=Our Quality Commitment |publisher=Champlain Valley Dispensary, Inc |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>) and treatment centers (e.g., Sanctuary ATC in New Hampshire.<ref name="SATCAnalysis">{{cite web |url=http://www.sanctuaryatc.org/laboratory-analysis-nh.php |title=New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Laboratory Analysis — Therapeutic Uses |publisher=Sanctuary ATC |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>).<br />
<br />
The following are known active cannabis testing labs (those currently in the licensing process are not included):<br />
<br />
'''Alaska'''<br />
<br />
* [http://www.canntest.com/ Canntest] ($70–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/alaska Steep Hill Alaska] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arizona''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.arizonaanalytical.com/ Arizona Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.c4lab.com/ C4 Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.deltaverdelaboratory.com/ Delta Verde Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://desertvalleytesting.com/ Desert Valley Testing] ($15–$360, single and package tests)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arkansas''':<br />
<br />
* Laboratory testing requirements being drafted<br />
<br />
<br />
'''California''':<br />
<br />
* [http://anresco.com/ Anresco Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://budgenius.com Bud Genius] ($50/sample)<br />
* [https://www.cannalysislabs.com/ Cannalysis] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [https://coastalanalytical.com/ Coastal Analytical] ($77–$249, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.cblabstesting.com/ CS Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cwanalytical.com/ CW Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.flowertesting.com/ Flower Potency Testing] ($65–80/test type)<br />
* [http://greenherbanalytics.com/ GreenHerb Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenstyleconsulting.com/ Green Style Analytics] ($55–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.harrenslab.com/ Harrens Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.sdpharmlabs.com PharmLabs] ($40–$569, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://pureanalytics.net/ Pure Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.sequoia-labs.com Sequoia Analytical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/california Steep Hill California] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Colorado''':<br />
<br />
* [http://agricorlabs.com/ Agricor Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.aurum-labs.com/ Aurum Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://bonafideslab.com/ Bonafides Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/ CMT Laboratories] ($15–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://gobianalytical.net/ Gobi Labs] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [https://greenlabsolutionscompany.com/ Green Lab Solutions Company] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenhilllab.com/ GreenHill Laboratories] ($45–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://www.nordicanalytic.com Nordic Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phytatech.com/ PhytaTech CO] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rm3.us/ Rm3 Labs] ($35–$237, single and package tests)<br />
* Shilo Labs (Licensed<ref name="COLGovMLab16">{{cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/MLab%2007012016%20%20%20this%20one%20.pdf |format=PDF |title=MLab 07012016 this one |publisher=State of Colorado |date=01 July 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://www.teqanalyticallabs.com/ TEQ Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://goodlabcolorado.com/ The Good Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Connecticut''':<br />
<br />
* [http://altascilabs.com/ AltaSci Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Delaware''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agrolab.us/ Agrolab Organics] (State-contracted<ref name="FloodState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.capegazette.com/article/state-contracts-medical-marijuana-tester/120159 |title=State contracts medical marijuana tester |author=Flood, C. |work=Cape Gazette |date=15 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''District of Columbia''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Florida''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis Testing Lab Florida, LLC (Active but no website?)<br />
* [http://www.marijinc.com/ MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] (Mobile lab; pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.moderncanna.com/ Modern Canna Science (MCS)] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Hawaii''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hitestmedicallabs.com/ HI Test Medical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.hipharmlabs.com/ PharmLabs Hawaii] ($50–$775, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/hawaii Steep Hill Hawaii] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Illinois''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.gracelabinc.com/ Grace Analytical Laboratory, Inc.] ([https://www.agr.state.il.us/medical-cannabis-pilot-program/ Approved by state], but not advertised on website)<br />
* [http://www.lkpurelabs.com/ LK Pure Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maine''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.testedlabs.com/ Tested Labs] ($25–35/sample)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maryland''':<br />
<br />
* [http://steephill.com/maryland Steep Hill Maryland] (Pricing not public; plans on expanding here)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Massachusetts''':<br />
<br />
* [http://mcrlabs.com/ MCR Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Michigan''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.greatlakeslabservices.com/ Great Lakes Lab Services] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–$430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://micannalabs.com/ MI Canna Labs] ($60–$100/test package)<br />
* [https://www.psilabs.org/ PSI Labs] ($30–$85, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.steadfastlab.com/ Steadfast] ($25–$90/test)<br />
* [http://mispott.com/ The Spott] ($40–$90/test w/o membership; cheaper with, and can access package test prices)<br />
* [http://www.truenorthlaboratory.com/ True North Laboratory] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://upgclabs.com/ UPGC Labs] ($35/sample for potency testing)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Minnesota''':<br />
<br />
* Not clear; independent labs must be approved by Commissioner of Health.<ref name="KlarqvistMinnesota16">{{cite web |url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/MCTRA.pdf |format=PDF |title=Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research Act |author=Klarqvist, E. |publisher=Minnesota House of Representatives |date=August 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Two labs — Aspen Research and Legend Technical Services — were approved to do testing in 2015, but neither lists those services on their website.<ref name="MDHPublic16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2016/other/160894.pdf |format=PDF |title=Public Health Laboratory Annual Report: Fiscal Year 2015 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory |date=2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Montana''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buboanalytics.com/ Bubo Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://cannabanalysis.com/ Cannabanalysis Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://fidimt.com/ Fidelity Diagnostics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://montanabiotech.com/ Montana BioTech] (From $60)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Nevada''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.374labs.com/ 374 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://certifiedaglab.com/ Certified AgLab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://dblabslv.com/ DB Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://digipath.com/ Digipath] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://g3labsllc.com/ G3 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mmlabtesting.com/ MM Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.newheightslaboratory.com/ New Heights Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.nvcann.com/ NV Cann Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rsrlabs.com/ RSR Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.testlablasvegas.com/ Test Lab Las Vegas] (Pricing not public]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Hampshire''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates testing, but it's not clear which independent laboratories are approved to do so.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Jersey''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis testing is performed by the Department of Health and Senior Services.<ref name="HSS_NJAC8-64">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/documents/final_rules.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medicinal Marijuana Program Rules |publisher=New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services |date=23 November 2011 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Mexico''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.scientificbasesolutions.com/ Scientific Base Solutions] (Pricing not public]<br />
* [http://steephill.com/new-mexico Steep Hill New Mexico] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New York''':<br />
<br />
* "The Department's Wadsworth Center Laboratory will perform initial testing and analysis of final medical marijuana products until independent laboratories receive certification from the New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP)."<ref name="NYSFAQ">{{cite web |url=https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/faq.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |work=New York State Medical Marijuana Program |publisher=New York State Department of Health |date=March 2016 |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''North Dakota''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates that its compassion centers must test cannabis in-house or have it done by a contracted facility, though it's not clear what labs are performing such testing.<ref name="NDPetitionMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Measures%20Info/2016%20General/Measure%205.pdf |format=PDF |title=Initiated Constitutional Amendment No. 5 |publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State |date=2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Ohio''':<br />
<br />
* Licensing requirements for testing labs will become clearer in September 2017.<ref name="OMMCPTesting">{{cite web |url=http://www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/testing |title=Testing: Frequently Asked Questions |work=Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program |publisher=State of Ohio |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Oregon'''<br />
<br />
* Anova Laboratory (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ktvz.com/news/olcc-oks-26-recreational-pot-licenses-3-are-in-bend/101328364 |title=OLCC OKs 26 recreational pot licenses, 4 in Bend |work=News Channel 21 KTVZ |publisher=NPG of Oregon, Inc |date=30 September 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://cascadia-labs.com/ Cascadia Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://chemhistory.com/ ChemHistory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.easternoregonanalytical.com/ Eastern Oregon Analytical] ($50–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public; also see [http://www.kenevirresearch.com/ Kenevir Research], [http://oregonanalyticalservices.com/ Oregon Analytical Services], and [http://www.ghalabs.com/ GreenHaus Analytical Labs])<br />
* [http://www.greenleaflab.org/ Green Leaf Lab] ($50–$355, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://www.juniperanalyticsllc.com/ Juniper Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://lightscale.com/ Lightscale Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mrxlabs.com/ MRX Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://oganalytical.com/ Oregon Growers Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phlabsoregon.com/ pH Labs] (($60–$375, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.phylosbioscience.com/ Phylos Bioscience] ($15–$295; sexing and genotyping only)<br />
* [http://pixislabs.com/ Pixis Labs] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
* [http://www.rosecitylabs.com Rose City Laboratories] ($25–$360, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://spartananalytics.com/ Spartan Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.synpestlab.com/ Synergistic Pesticide Lab] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Pennsylvania''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here. Laboratory testing rules will become clearer later in 2017.<ref name="SchmittPA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.pamcs.org/pa-health-department-asks-public-input-medical-pot-rules/ |title=Pa. Health Department asks public for input on medical pot rules |author=Schmitt, B. |publisher=Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Rhode Island''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.bpanalytical.com/ Baseline Precision Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.ecltesting.com/ East Coast Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Vermont''':<br />
<br />
* The Department of Public Safety "may require laboratory testing of cannabis produced by a registered dispensary. The Department may specify the testing methodology. The registered dispensary shall bear the costs of any testing required by the Department."<ref name="DPSRulesReg15">{{cite web |url=http://vcic.vermont.gov/sites/vcic/files/files/marijuana-registry/MR-Rules-Regulating-Cannabis-for-Symptom-Relief.pdf |format=PDF |title=Rules Regulating Cannabis for Symptom Relief |publisher=Vermont Department of Public Safety |date=30 November 2015 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Washington''':<br />
<br />
* [http://analytical360.com/ Analytical 360] ($70–$120, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.anateklabs.com/ Anatek Labs] (Pricing for cannabis QA testing not clear)<br />
* [http://www.cannalyticsqc.com/ Cannalytics QC] ($35–$70/test)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://conflabs.com/ Confidence Analytics] ($40–$250, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.dragonlaboratory.com/ Dragon Analytical Laboratory] ($25–$1600, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.greengrowerlabs.com/ Green Grower Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.herbalanalytics.com/ Herbal Analytics] ($15–$70/test; contact for test package pricing)<br />
* [http://integritylabsolympia.com/ Integrity Labs] ($40–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.medicinecreekanalytics.com/ Medicine Creek Analytics] ($20–$100, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.peakanalyticslab.com/ Peak Analytics] ($50–$75/test)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/washington Steep Hill Washington] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://traceanalytics.com/ Trace Analytics] ($40–$350, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://tnwlab.com/ True Northwest] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
====Support services====<br />
The following entities are known to provide consulting and support services of various types to cannabis testing labs (as well as cultivators, dispensaries, etc.):<br />
<br />
* [http://www.3ccannabis.com/ 3C Consulting]<br />
* [http://www.americancannabisconsulting.com/ American Cannabis Company]<br />
* [http://c3analytical.com/ C3 Labs]<br />
* [http://cannabisconsultantsfl.com/ Cannabis Business Services (of Florida)]<br />
* [http://michigan-marijuana-lawyer.com/ Cannabis Legal Group]<br />
* [http://www.carbonblueconsulting.com/ Carbon Blue Consulting]<br />
* [https://www.hypur.com/ Hypur]<br />
* [http://www.phytoscienceinstitute.com/ Phytoscience Institute]<br />
* [http://www.phytosciences.com/ PhytoSciences Consultants]<br />
* [http://signoto.com/ Signoto] (Canada)<br />
* [http://steephilllab.com/consulting/ Steep Hill Halent]<br />
* [http://www.vitalescientific.com/services/cannabis/ Vitale Scientific Associates]<br />
<br />
===Testing hardware and supplies vendors===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buchi.com/en/ BÜCHI Labortechnik AG]<br />
* [http://www.emeraldscientific.com/ Emerald Scientific, LLC]<br />
* [http://www.fritsch-international.com/ Fritsch GmbH]<br />
* [http://gentechscientific.com/cannabis-testing/index.php GenTech Scientific]<br />
* [https://us.lgcstandards.com/US/en LGC Standards]<br />
* [http://www.orangephotonics.com/ Orange Photonics, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.restek.com/Landing-Pages/Medical-Marijuana Restek Corporation]<br />
* [http://sageanalytics.com/ Sage Analytics]<br />
* [http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/industry/industry_cannabistesting.cfm Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.spexcertiprep.com/products/cannabis SPEX CertiPrep]<br />
* [http://www.srigc.com/ SRI Instruments]<br />
* [http://vicam.com/ VICAM]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Software vendors===<br />
====Cannabis-oriented LIMS====<br />
<br />
* [http://www.atlab.com/industries/medical-marijuana Accelerated Technology Laboratories, Inc. - Various]<br />
* [[Bika LIMS|Bika Lab Systems (Pty) Ltd. - Bika LIMS]]<br />
* [[CannaSys, Inc.|CannaSys, Inc. - CannaLIMS]] <br />
* [[Guardian Data Systems, LLC|Guardian Data Systems, LLC - ROAR Cannabis Lab Software]]<br />
* [[lablynxwiki:LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis|LabLynx, Inc. - LabLynx LIMS]]<br />
* [[PharmLabs, LLC|PharmLabs, LLC - PharmWare]]<br />
* [[TheraCann International Benchmark Corporation|TheraCann International Corporation - TheraCannSYSTEM]]<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
<br />
See the [[CDMS vendor]] page.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
<br />
This is a representative sample of solutions and not a directory of all available solutions:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.biotrack.com/government-seed-to-sale-tracking/ Bio-Tech Medical Software, Inc. - BioTrackTHC]<br />
* [http://www.chetu.com/agriculture/seed-to-sale.php Chetu, Inc. - Custom software solutions]<br />
* [http://www.traceweed.com/ Dauntless Software, Inc. - TraceWeed]<br />
* [http://viridiansciences.com/ Far-From-Groove'N, Inc. dba Viridian Sciences - Viridian Sciences]<br />
* [https://www.metrc.com/the-system Franwell, Inc. - Metrc]<br />
* [https://mmjmenu.com/ Ghost Management Group, LLC - MMJMenu]<br />
* [https://www.greenbits.com/ Green Bits, Inc. - Green Bits]<br />
* [http://growone.com/ Grow One Software (US), LLC - Grow One]<br />
* [http://kind.financial/agrisoft-seed-to-sale-software/ KindManage, LLC - Agrisoft]<br />
* [https://www.motagistics.com/ Motagistics, LLC - 4S]<br />
* [https://www.proteus420.com/ Proteus Business Solutions, Inc. - PROTEUS420]<br />
* [http://www.webjoint.com/ Pyrotree, Inc. - WebJoint]<br />
* [http://theracanncorp.com/our-products-2/theracannsystem/ TheraCann International Corporation – TheraCannSYSTEM]<br />
* [https://weedtraqr.com/ WeedTraQR, LLC - WeedTraQR]<br />
<br />
===LIMSpec===<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel4&diff=29674User:Shawndouglas/sandbox/sublevel42017-03-30T12:27:48Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div><br />
==Overview of the cannabis industry in the United States==<br />
The following is a brief overview of the cannabis industry in the United States. It's meant to give a quick and concise review of where cannabis use, regulation, testing, and research have been and where they are now. Many of the topics touched upon here will be expanded upon later in this guide.<br />
<br />
===Brief history of cannabis in the U.S.===<br />
[[File:Drug bottle containing cannabis.jpg|right|140px]]''Cannabis'' is a rapid-growing, flowering plant that has been used for centuries for industrial, medicinal, and recreational purposes. The plant includes three species or subspecies: ''indica'', ''ruderalis'', and ''sativa''.<ref name="GRINCannabis11">{{cite web |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomygenus.aspx?id=2034 |title=Genus: Cannabis L. |work=U.S. National Plant Germplasm System |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture |date=01 January 2011 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Both industrial hemp and recreational marijuana are derived from cannabis plants, but with important differences in biochemical composition. Hemp — which has historically been used to create clothing, food and feed, paper, textiles, and other industrial items — tends to have lower levels of the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and higher levels of the non-psychoactive component cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="SwansonControlled15">{{cite journal |title=Controlled Substances Chaos: The Department of Justice's New Policy Position on Marijuana and What It Means for Industrial Hemp Farming in North Dakota |journal=North Dakota Law Review |author=Swanson, T.E. |volume=90 |issue=3 |pages=599–622 |year=2015 |url=https://law.und.edu/_files/docs/ndlr/pdf/issues/90/3/90ndlr599.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="DeitchHemp03">{{cite book |title=Hemp – American History Revisited |author=Deitch, R. |publisher=Algora Publishing |location=New York City |year=2003 |pages=232 |isbn=9780875862262}}</ref> Some cannabis strains have intentionally been bred to produce low levels of THC, while others have been bred with the intent to maximize the psychoactive component. <br />
<br />
Cannabis cultivation began in England's Jamestown colony of America in earnest around 1611, via formal orders. Several years later those orders turned into a royal decree, enacted by the Virginia Company, asking colonists to each grow 100 hemp plants for export to England.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Colonial America continued its growth, use, and exportation of hemp, even beyond the formal founding of the United States. During that time, growers undoubtedly were using the female plant (which flowers and has higher levels of THC) to treat aches and pains as well as enjoy it recreationally. By the time the U.S. Civil War arrived in the 1860s, however, the growth and use of industrial hemp declined as increased cotton and wood use took away much of the profitability of hemp.<ref name="DeitchHemp03" /> Around the same time, local governments began recognizing tonics, tinctures, and extracts from cannabis plants as potentially dangerous substances, labeling them as hypnotics, narcotics, or even poisons.<ref name="Senate1860">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1860/02/16/news/senate-88150825.html |title=Senate |author=U.S. Senate |work=The New York Times |date=15 February 1860 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> In the early twentieth century, U.S. labeling and prescription laws — such as the the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 at the federal level as well as various state laws — saw further restrictions put on cannabis, effectively culminating in the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. With the passage of those acts, hemp and marijuana essentially became illegal, controlled substances.<ref name="WaltonMari38">{{cite book |author=Walton, R.F. |title=Marijuana, America’s New Drug Problem |location=Philadelphia |publisher=B. Lippincott |year=1938 |page=37}}</ref><ref name="WoodwardTax37">{{cite web |url=http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/woodward.htm |title=Taxation of Marihuana |author=Woodward, W.C.; House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means |work=Schaffer Library of Drug Policy |date=04 May 1937 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CaversTheFood39">{{cite journal |title=The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938: Its Legislative History and its Substantive Provisions |journal=Law and Contemporary Problems |author=Cavers, D.F. |volume=6 |pages=2–42 |year=1939 |url=http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/lcp/vol6/iss1/2/}}</ref><br />
<br />
State efforts to decriminalize marijuana were somewhat successful in the early 1970s, though progress towards that goal slowed again with the Reagan Administration's war on drugs.<ref name="MeierPolitics16">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4wYDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT58 |title=The Politics of Sin: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy: Drugs, Alcohol and Public Policy |author=Meier, K.J. |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2016 |page=58 |isbn=9781315287270}}</ref> Progress picked up steam again in the late 1990s into the 2000s, particularly in states such as California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, and Colorado.<br />
<br />
As of March 2017, twenty-eight U.S. states have approved some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization of medicinal and/or recreational marijuana.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16">{{cite web |url=http://time.com/4559278/marijuana-election-results-2016/ |title=These States Just Legalized Marijuana |author=Steinmetz, K. |work=Time |publisher=Time, Inc |date=08 November 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref> Industrial hemp has also been addressed in some regard, with 16 states having legalized commercialized industrial hemp production and the federal government making certain concessions on it (''Cannabis sativa'' containing no more than 0.3 percent THC, grown under a state-sanctioned agricultural pilot program).<ref name="NCSLState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/agriculture-and-rural-development/state-industrial-hemp-statutes.aspx |title=State Industrial Hemp Statuses |publisher=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=19 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="81FR53395">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-19146/statement-of-principles-on-industrial-hemp |journal=Federal Register |title=Statement of Principles on Industrial Hemp |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53395–6 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> However, cannabis, including industrial hemp, remains a Schedule I controlled substance, as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<ref name="LegerMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/11/dea-marijuana-remains-illegal-under-federal-law/88550804/ |title=Marijuana to remain illegal under federal law, DEA says |author=Leger, D.L. |work=USA. Today |publisher=Gannett Company |date=11 August 2016 |accessdate=20 January 2017}}</ref>, including extracts and other derivatives such as cannabidiol (CBD).<ref name="WallaceLegal17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/01/13/hemp-dea-extracts-marijuana-cbd-judicial-review/71387/ |title=Legal challenge filed against DEA’s new marijuana extract rule |work=The Cannabist |author=Wallace, A. |publisher=The Denver Post |date=13 January 2017 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref> This federal classification continues to clash with changing state laws and regulations at an increasing pace, creating both opportunities and difficulties for involved citizens at all points along the industrial, economic, and social chain.<br />
<br />
===Medical and recreational use===<br />
In its 2016 World Drug Report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that 3.8 percent of the global population — roughly 183 million people — used cannabis in 2014.<ref name="UNODCWorld16">{{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/doc/wdr2016/WORLD_DRUG_REPORT_2016_web.pdf |format=PDF |title=World Drug Report 2016 |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |publisher=United Nations |isbn=9789210578622 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Focusing in on the United States, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that in 2014 the country had 35.1 million past-year marijuana users.<ref name="SAMHSAResults16">{{cite web |url=https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.pdf |format=PDF |title=Results from The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use And Health: Detailed Tables |author=Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |editor=RTI International |page=178 |date=08 September 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> It's not clear if that total includes legal medical marijuana users, which numbered roughly 2.4 million that year according to non-profit ProCon.org.<ref name="ProConNumber14">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=006445 |title=Number of Legal Medical Marijuana Patients (as of Oct. 27, 2014) |publisher=ProCon.org |date=27 October 2014 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref> When compared to SAMHSA's estimate of 11.1 million users in 1997<ref name="RabkinDrug99">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZvzBdlolKrQC&pg=PA16 |title=Drug Control: DEA's Strategies and Operations in the 1990s |author=Rabkin, N.J. |publisher=U.S. General Accounting Office |year=July 1999 |pages=172 |isbn=9780788184833}}</ref>, it becomes clear that reported marijuana use has increased in the United States over the past few decades, whether it's through legalization efforts or otherwise. Some have pointed to the expansion of medical marijuana laws acting as gateways for increased adolescent use; however, multiple studies have tried but failed to find such a cause and effect relationship.<ref name="HasinMedical15">{{cite journal |title=Medical marijuana laws and adolescent marijuana use in the USA from 1991 to 2014: Results from annual, repeated cross-sectional surveys |journal=The Lancet Psychiatry |author=Hasin, D.S.; Wall, M.; Keyes, K.M. et al. |volume=2 |issue=7 |pages=601–608 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00217-5}}</ref><ref name="WallAdol11">{{cite journal |title=Adolescent Marijuana Use from 2002 to 2008: Higher in States with Medical Marijuana Laws, Cause Still Unclear |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Wall, M.M.; Poh, E.; Cerdá, M. |volume=21 |issue=9 |pages=714–716 |year=2011 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.06.001 |pmid=21820632 |pmc=PMC3358137}}</ref><ref name="HarperDoMed12">{{cite journal |title=Do Medical Marijuana Laws Increase Marijuana Use? Replication Study and Extension |journal=Annals of Epidemiology |author=Harper, S.; Strumpf, E.C.; Kaufman, J.S. |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=207–212 |year=2012 |doi=10.1016/j.annepidem.2011.12.002 |pmid=22285867}}</ref> Regardless, with 28 U.S. states now having some type of legalization law on the books<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" />, the number of marijuana users isn't likely to decrease any time soon in the U.S.<br />
<br />
===Cultivation and distribution===<br />
At the federal level, marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug and remains illegal.<ref name="GPO21USC812">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title21/html/USCODE-2011-title21-chap13-subchapI-partB-sec812.htm |title=§812. Schedules of controlled substances |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LegerMari16" /> (Federal regulation of cannabis is discussed in detail later under "Regulation and standardization.") This doesn't leave a lot of options for researchers and the like. In fact, the only federally-granted grow operation (grow-op) as of this writing is the University of Mississippi, contracted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to grow marijuana for approved research studies.<ref name="BajajHowThe14">{{cite web |url=https://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/how-the-federal-government-slows-marijuana-research/ |title=How the Federal Government Slows Marijuana Research |author=Bajaj, V. |work=Taking Note: The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=30 July 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CheslerGov15">{{cite web |url=http://weedrush.news21.com/government-restrictions-lack-of-funding-slow-progress-on-medical-marijuana-research/ |title=Government restrictions, lack of funding slow progress on medical marijuana research |author=Chesler, J.; Ard, A. |work=News21: America's Weed Rush |publisher=Carnegie Corporation of New York; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation |date=15 August 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/10/marijuana-medical-research-dea/ |title=DEA decision keeps major restrictions in place on marijuana research |author=Joseph, A. |work=STAT |publisher=Boston Globe Media |date=10 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RudroffMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/marijuana-regulation-blocks-vital-ms-research-544886 |title=Marijuana Regulation Blocks Vital Multiple Sclerosis Research |author=Rudroff, T. |work=Newsweek |publisher=IBT Media, Inc |date=21 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (That may change for the better in 2017; see the next section on testing and research for more.)<br />
<br />
On the state level, the growth, testing, and distribution of cannabis depends on state law, which can vary from state to state. This topic is discussed further in the "Regulation and standardization" section, but here are the key points:<br />
<br />
* Federal law makes it illegal to cultivate and distribute marijuana, even in a state that has legalized such activity. However, while there's no legally binding guarantee cultivators and distributors won't be pursued by federal law enforcement, they can limit their chances of such federal enforcement by following to the letter state and local law.<br />
<br />
* Despite some of the variances among state laws, one aspect largely remains consistent: it's illegal to distribute marijuana over state lines, even when distributing between two states with similar laws.<ref name="BelvilleCanI16">{{cite web |url=http://www.weednews.co/can-i-take-marijuana-from-one-legal-state-to-another/ |title=Can I Take Marijuana From One Legal State To Another? |work=Weed News |author=Belville, R. |publisher=WN Media, LLC |date=28 November 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
* Regulations on the personal and commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana vary significantly from state to state. Some states make a limited pool of available licenses available; others don't offer them or instead have specific alternative treatment or non-profit centers that handle growth and distribution.<ref name="FindLawMari">{{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="LeaflyHome">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="ProCon28Legal16">{{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016 |accessdate=31 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Testing and research===<br />
[[File:Juan Velez- Planta Cannabis.jpg|left|250px]]One area that continues to expand — while taking advantage of new scientific research and techniques — is the laboratory sphere, particularly in research, regulation, and standardization activities. According to July 2016 testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Division Director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) alone supported 281 cannabinoid research projects totaling more than $111 million in 2015.<ref name="WeissTestimony16">{{cite web |url=https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/asl/testimony/2016-09/the-state-of-the-science-on-the-therapeutic-potential-of-marijuana-and-cannabinoids/index.html |title=Testimony from Susan R.B. Weiss, Ph.D. on The State of the Science on the Therapeutic Potential of Marijuana and Cannabinoids before Judiciary Committee |author=Weiss, S.R.B. |work=ASL Testimony |publisher=U.S. Department of Health & Human Services |date=13 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
While the research, analysis, and processing of cannabis has been ongoing for centuries<ref name="DeitchHemp03" />, it wasn't until 1896 that Wood ''et al.'' conducted one of the first documented chemical experiments to determine the constituents of cannabis. Several years later, the researchers were able to correctly identify the extracted and isolated cannabinol from the exuded resin of Indian hemp as C<sub>21</sub>H<sub>26</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.<ref name="WoodCann1899">{{cite journal |title=III.—Cannabinol. Part I |journal=Journal of the Chemical Society, Transactions |author=Wood, T.B.; Newton Spivey, W.T.; Easterfield, T.H. |volume=75 |pages=30–36 |year=1899 |doi=10.1039/CT8997500020}}</ref> As of mid-2015, 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' have been identified as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15">{{cite journal |title=Isolation and pharmacological evaluation of minor cannabinoids from high-potency ''Cannabis sativa'' |journal=Journal of Natural Products |author=Radwan, M.M.; ElSohly, M.A.; El-Alfy, A.T. et al. |volume=78 |issue=6 |pages=1271-6 |year=2015 |doi=10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00065 |pmid=26000707 |pmc=PMC4880513}}</ref>, "a class of diverse chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in cells that modulate neurotransmitter release in the brain."<ref name="WHOTheHealth16">{{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}</ref><br />
<br />
Yet in the United States, when it comes to 1. enacting the broad level of testing required to ensure public safety — whether it be medical, recreational, or industrial use of cannabis — and 2. researching and better understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (medical use and benefit) of cannabinoids in the human population, many have argued that laboratory testing of cannabis is still in its infancy<ref name="HazekampCanna12">{{cite journal |title=Cannabis - from cultivar to chemovar |journal=Drug Testing and Analysis |author=Hazekamp, A.; Fischedick, J.T. |volume=4 |issue=7–8 |pages=660–7 |year=2012 |doi=10.1002/dta.407 |pmid=22362625}}</ref><ref name="BushWorlds15">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/worldrsquos-strongest-weed-potency-testing-challenged/ |title=World’s strongest weed? Potency testing challenged |author=Bush, E. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=18 February 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RutschQuality15">{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/24/395065699/quality-testing-legal-marijuana-strong-but-not-always-clean |title=Quality-Testing Legal Marijuana: Strong But Not Always Clean |author=Rutsch, P. |work=Shots |publisher=National Public Radio |date=24 March 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15">{{cite journal |title=Unraveling the Cannabinome |journal=The Analytical Scientist |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Lipps, W. |issue=0915 |year=2015 |url=https://theanalyticalscientist.com/issues/0915/unraveling-the-cannabinome/ |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CrombieMari16">{{cite web |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2016/07/marijuana_labs_prepping_for_st.html |title=Marijuana labs prepping for regulation and oversight; no lab licenses issued yet |author=Crombie, N. |work=The Oregonian |publisher=Oregon Live LLC |date=25 July 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16">{{cite web |url=http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170210234439/http://event.lvl3.on24.com/event/13/38/14/4/rt/1/documents/resourceList1484589923854/emerging_cannabis_industry_whitepaper.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Closer Look at Cannabis Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.; Clifford, R.; Winkler, P.; Bankert, W. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=December 2016 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=19 January 2017}}</ref> and evidence-based research of marijuana continues to be slow and bogged down in regulation.<ref name="BajajHowThe14" /><ref name="CheslerGov15" /><ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="RudroffMari17" /> In regards to the first issue, as some form of legalization continues to sweep across states, regulators, users, and industry are recognizing the need for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana; the current state of improper labeling and potentially harmful contaminants<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /> will only serve to hinder the industry. To the second issue, some within the federal government seem to recognize the roadblocks to improved evidence-based research and are working to slowly improve how researchers can legally acquire and test marijuana in the U.S.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis/post/2016-08-15/the-silver-lining-in-the-dea-s-refusal-to-reclassify-cannabis |title=The silver lining in the DEA’s refusal to reclassify cannabis |work=Tracking Cannabis |author=Romza-Kutz, D.; Roth V., F. |publisher=Thompson Coburn LLP |date=15 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
An excerpt from the previously mentioned testimony of NIDA's Dr. Weiss summates this well:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The current state of the research on marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids suggests the potential for therapeutic value for a number of conditions; however, more evidence is needed before marijuana or cannabinoid products (beyond those already approved through the Food and Drug Administration [FDA]) are ready for medical use. Promising preclinical findings do not always prove to be clinically relevant, and even fewer lead to new treatments. Moreover, clinical studies of sufficient quality to meet FDA standards for drug approval are currently lacking for most conditions. Among the factors that impact this research are the specific statutory requirements and treaty obligations that govern research on marijuana. NIH is working closely with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and FDA to explore ways to streamline these processes to facilitate research.<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /></blockquote> <br />
<br />
In the meantime, government entities such as the National Institutes of Health and non-profits such as jCanna push forward with scientific conferences, summits, and roundtables that bring scientists and interested parties together to share existing knowledge and testing techniques.<ref name="NIHMari16">{{cite web |url=http://apps1.seiservices.com/nih/mj/2016/ |title=The Marijuana and Cannabinoids: A Neuroscience Research Summit |publisher=National Institutes of Health |date=23 March 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="jCannaCSC17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Other areas of concern===<br />
When examining the current state of the U.S. cannabis industry, it's important to note a few additional areas of concern that impact it, again tightly linked to federal regulations (which are discussed extensively in the next section): banking and advertising. Issues related to both of these topics continue to limit how state-based grow-ops, dispensaries, and testing laboratories are funded and operated. <br />
<br />
====Banking====<br />
Since the U.S. federal government still considers marijuana to be illegal, by extension banks and credit unions — which are regulated by a patchwork collection of federal (and state) laws — put themselves into potentially dangerous territory by accepting money from depositors engaging in federally illegal activities; the bank can be punished by federal institutions such as that Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).<ref name="HillBanks15">{{cite journal |title=Banks, Marijuana, and Federalism |journal=Case Western Reserve Federal Law Review |author=Hill, J.A. |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=597–647 |year=2015 |url=http://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrev/vol65/iss3/7}}</ref> In an attempt to ease the concerns of industry players as well as banks in states that had implements legalization efforts, the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released a guidance document in February 2014 that "does not grant immunity from prosecution or civil penalties to banks that serve legal marijuana businesses" but rather "directs prosecutors and regulators to give priority to cases only where financial institutions have failed to adhere to the guidance."<ref name="KovaleskiUS14">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/us/us-issues-marijuana-guidelines-for-banks.html |title=U.S. Issues Marijuana Guidelines for Banks |author=Kovaleski, S.F. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Corporation |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FinCEN_BSA14">{{cite web |url=https://www.fincen.gov/resources/statutes-regulations/guidance/bsa-expectations-regarding-marijuana-related-businesses |title=BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses |author=Financial Crimes Enforcement Network |publisher=U.S. Department of the Treasury |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, the guidance has remained just that: guidance; it doesn't prevent federal law enforcement or regulating agencies from taking action. An August 2016 attempt to reclassify marijuana into a lower classification than Schedule I failed<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" />, keeping the FinCEN guidance in place as a recommendation for how federal authorities should enforce existing law. <br />
<br />
According to an Associated Press report in April 2016, the guidance has had some sort of impact, with banks and credit unions willing to handle any money associated with marijuana increasing from 51 in March 2014 to 301 in March 2016.<ref name="HansenBanking16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/804ae396daab4ba98f814b186f872ef6/banking-woes-easing-some-legal-pot-businesses |title=Banking woes easing for some legal pot businesses |author=Hansen, K.; Johnson, G. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=20 April 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> However, this hasn't prevented those in states with newly minted medical and recreational marijuana legalization laws from being worried about how cannabis money will be handled, particularly with the new Trump administration taking the reigns of government. California, which in November 2016 legalized recreational use of marijuana beginning in 2018, has already petitioned that administration to clarify it's policy early on. "We have a year to develop a system that works in California and which addresses the many issues that exist as a result of the federal-state legal conflict," wrote California Treasurer John Chiang to Trump. "Uncertainty about the position of your administration creates even more of a challenge."<ref name="BloodCali16">{{cite web |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d54ea614db274238986a8e0d77dbb147/california-treasurer-asks-trump-guidance-pot-banking |title=California treasurer asks Trump for guidance on pot, banking |author=Blood, M.R. |work=Associated Press: The Big Story |publisher=Associated Press |date=02 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Similar legalization changes in Massachusetts prompted its senator, Elizabeth Warren, along with nine other senators, to write to FinCEN in early 2017 requesting even clearer, more friendly guidance for marijuana vendors.<ref name="LeBlancUSSen17">{{cite web |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/jan/02/us-sen-warren-seeks-to-pull-pot-shops-out-of-banki/ |title=US Sen. Warren seeks to pull pot shops out of banking limbo |author=LeBlanc, S. |work=Las Vegas Sun |publisher=Greenspun Media Group |date=02 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> Yet it remains to be seen if entities outside of grow-ops and dispensaries will see banking relief. In particular, testing laboratories continue to struggle with managing cash flow and acquiring bank lending for their operations<ref name="LampachQA13">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/qa-with-steep-hill-lab-ceo-david-lampach-cannabis-testing-market-could-hit-40m-in-2-years/ |title=Q&A With CEO of Steep Hill Halent: US Cannabis Testing Market Could Hit $40M by 2016 |work=Marijuana Business Daily |author=Lampach, D. |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=20 November 2013 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MartinProfit16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ |title=Profitability in the Cannabis Laboratory Industry |work=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |author=Martin, R.W. |publisher=Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories |date=May 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="TulsiABright16">{{cite web |url=http://www.labmanager.com/research-specific-labs/2016/10/today-s-cannabis-research-market |title=A Bright Future for Cannabis Testing Services |work=Lab Manager |author=Tulsi, B.B. |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=03 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>, causing some to believe consolidation of such labs will occur before the industry can really even take off.<ref name="LampachQA13" /><ref name="DigiPathAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Digipath-Company-Report.pdf |format=PDF |title=A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |date=October 2016 |pages=36 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Advertising====<br />
Advertising of marijuana products is another area of concern, though the regulations and laws regarding it are less clear. When it comes to television and radio broadcasting and its associated advertising, a federally granted broadcasting license stands to be lost, care of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The trouble is, it's not clear if the FCC would act against broadcasters; the FCC hasn't issued guidance in the same way FinCEN has. "I don’t think anybody knows, and that’s the problem," said California Broadcasters Association President Joe Berry in an August 2016 report published by the The Sacramento Bee. "Without a clear indication [from the FCC on marijuana advertising], the vast majority of broadcasters are going to stay away from this issue."<ref name="WhiteIfCali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article96040082.html |title=If California legalizes pot, will TV ads be far behind? |author=White, J.B. |work=The Sacramento Bee |publisher=The McClatchy Company |date=17 August 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> California, of course, made recreational marijuana legal, and its proposed law sought to address the issue of advertising, including "a provision restricting TV and radio ads so they are not targeted to minors," while also addressing the authority of the FCC to enforce regardless.<ref name="McGreevyQA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-proposition-64-marijuana-legalization-qa-20161030-snap-20161029-story.html |title=Q&A: Proposition 64 would legalize recreational use of marijuana though it's illegal under federal law. How will that work? |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=30 October 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Other forms of advertising also remain problematic. In late November 2015, the United States Postal Service (USPS) out of Portland, Oregon published its interpretation of federal law regarding "mailpieces containing advertisements about marijuana," regarding it illegal to distribute certain forms of marijuana advertisement while citing 21 U.S. Code § 843(c).<ref name="ReinThePot15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/12/21/the-pot-business-may-be-legal-but-newspapers-cant-run-ads-for-it-the-u-s-postal-service-says/ |title=The pot business may be legal, but newspapers can’t run ads for it, the U.S. Postal Service says |author=Rein, L. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=21 December 2015 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has, controversially, also gotten involved, stating that trademarking of a "brand controlled substances or related paraphernalia that are illegal to possess or sell" legally doesn't fit within a trademark's commercial viability because at the federal level marijuana is not legal for commerce.<ref name="OxenfordAccepting16">{{cite web |url=http://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2016/12/articles/accepting-advertising-for-marijuana-or-marijuana-paraphernalia-the-trademark-office-rules-on-a-related-issue-that-provides-more-reason-for-caution/ |title=Accepting Advertising for Marijuana or Marijuana Paraphernalia: The Trademark Office Rules on a Related Issue that Provides More Reason For Caution |author=Oxenford, D. |work=Broadcast Law Blog |date=13 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> (Legal experts such as Dariush Adli suggest "creative ways" of getting around this, from registering trademarks in multiple states to registering "non-cannabis merchandise in order to generate some federal protection for their mark."<ref name="AdliObtain16">{{cite web |url=http://adlilaw.blogspot.com/2016/12/obtaining-trademark-protection-for_9.html |title=Obtaining Trademark Protection for Cannabis Businesses |author=Adli, D. |publisher=ADLI Law Group |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>) Even billboards are an issue, with state lawmakers proposing new regulations on billboard-based marijuana advertising weeks after the state passed its recreational legalization laws.<ref name="McGreevyPotAds16">{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-pot-ads-snap-20161221-story.html |title=Pot ads along highways? Lawmakers wrangle over legalization's consequences |author=McGreevy, P. |work=Los Angeles Times |publisher=tronc, Inc |date=21 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> And state laws, such as those found in Alaska, can create their own set of challenges in staying legal with marijuana advertising.<ref name="AndrewsGaps16">{{cite web |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-marijuana/2016/12/26/gaps-in-alaska-marijuana-advertising-rules-cause-worry/ |title=Gaps in Alaska marijuana ad rules cause worry |author=Andrews, L. |work=Alaska Dispatch News |publisher=Alaska Dispatch Publishing |date=27 December 2016 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Despite all this, at least one financial consultant believes marijuana marketing will become more prevalent: GreenWave Advisors' Matthew Karnes estimates spending will jump to $75 million by 2021.<ref name="StilsonWhyMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/why-marijuana-marketing-will-be-bigger-ever-year-175246 |title=Why Marijuana Marketing Will Be Bigger Than Ever This Year |author=Stilson, J. |work=Adweek |publisher=Adweek, LLC |date=03 January 2017 |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Regulation and standardization==<br />
===Federal regulation of cannabis===<br />
[[File:Dea color logo.svg|right|250px]]On October 27, 1970, the Controlled Substances Act put into place five schedules or classifications of drugs that would be regulated in some fashion, and drugs were initially classified into those schedules, followed by annual reviews and updates.<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> Marijuana was initially placed under Schedule I<ref name="GPO21USC812" /> and remains there today.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/alex-grubbs/dea-declines-request-reclassify-marijuana-citiing-its-high-potential-abuse |title=DEA Declines Request to Reclassify Marijuana, Citiing Its 'High Potential for Abuse' |author=Grubbs, A. |work=CNSNews |publisher=Media Research Center |date=13 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> As a Schedule I drug, the federal government is indicating marijuana has<ref name="GPO21USC812" />:<br />
<br />
* "a high potential for abuse";<br />
* "no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States"; and<br />
* "a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision".<br />
<br />
Then came the Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973, which took existing enforcement entities such as the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and placed them into a new, unified entity called the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).<ref name="GPO5USCApp">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title5/html/USCODE-2011-title5-app-reorganiz-other-dup96.htm |title=Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1973 |work=United States Code |publisher=U.S. Government Publishing Office |date=03 January 2012 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="DEAHist7075">{{cite web |url=https://www.dea.gov/about/history/1970-1975.pdf |format=PDF |title=Drug Enforcement Administration: 1970–1975 |work=DEA History In Depth |publisher=U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Then President Richard Nixon said of the transition<ref name="GPO5USCApp" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The enforcement work could benefit significantly, however, from consolidation of our anti-drug forces under a single unified command. Right now the Federal Government is fighting the war on drug abuse under a distinct handicap, for its efforts are those of a loosely confederated alliance facing a resourceful, elusive, worldwide enemy.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The DEA was given numerous responsibilities, including but not limited to the development of enforcement strategy; investigation and prosecution preparation of suspects violating federal law; regulation of drugs and other controlled substances; and coordination and cooperation with state and local government drug enforcement efforts.<ref name="GPO5USCApp" /> Since then the DEA has taken various steps — with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<ref name="HamiltonTheFDA16">{{cite web |url=https://news.vice.com/article/dea-fda-marijuana-schedule-1-status-decision |title=The FDA told the DEA whether pot is medicine — but it won't tell the public |author=Hamilton, K. |work=Vice News |publisher=Vice Media, LLC |date=27 June 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> — to regulate and enforce the availability and use of controlled substances such as marijuana. As the decriminalization and legalization efforts of states have increased in past decades, this has brought federal regulation and enforcement conflicts to those states that have decriminalized and legalized, largely due to the federal government's insistence on maintaining marijuana as a Schedule I drug.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /><ref name="HudakTheCon15">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/conflict-between-federal-and-state-marijuana-laws-claims-victim-345099 |title=The Conflict Between Federal and State Marijuana Laws Claims a Victim |author=Hudak, J. |work=Newsweek |publisher=Newsweek, LLC |date=20 June 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Numerous changes in policy and controversies have occurred since the Controlled Substance Act and DEA were implemented, including a 22-year-long effort by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) to have marijuana rescheduled (1972–1994).<ref name="DPAMAPSTheDEA14">{{cite web |url=http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/DPA-MAPS_DEA_Science_Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=The DEA: Four Decades of Impeding And Rejecting Science |author=Drug Policy Alliance; MAPS |publisher=Drug Policy Alliance |date=June 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> However, the following talking points represent the most recent important federal-level changes and rulings that impact federal regulation of and enforcement of laws relating to cannabis.<br />
<br />
'''October 19, 2009: The Ogden Memorandum'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden issued a memorandum "intended solely as a guide to the exercise of investigative and prosecutorial discretion" in regards to state-based laws allowing medical cannabis.<ref name="OgdenMemor09">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/blog/memorandum-selected-united-state-attorneys-investigations-and-prosecutions-states |title=Memorandum for Selected United State Attorneys on Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana |author=Ogden, D.W. |work=Justice Blogs |publisher=Department of Justice |date=19 October 2009 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The guidance essentially told U.S. attorneys to not prosecute those entities complying fully with state cannabis laws. Researchers generally agree that this memo acted "as a catalyst for expansion of [state-sanctioned and gray market] cannabis supply in states with poorly defined regulations," though the degree to which it influenced such growth remains poorly documented and requires further investigation.<ref name="CambronState16">{{cite journal |title=State and National Contexts in Evaluating Cannabis Laws: A Case Study of Washington State |journal=Journal of Drug Issues |author=Cambron, C.; Guttmannova, K.; Fleming, C.B. |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=74–90 |year=2017 |doi=10.1177/0022042616678607}}</ref> To be sure, it likely had some effect, as the number of licensed patients using medical marijuana in the state of Colorado increased from 4,800 in 2008 to 41,000 in 2009, and operating dispensaries jumped to more than 900 by mid-2010.<ref name="HIDTATheLeg13">{{cite web |url=http://www.rmhidta.org/html/final%20legalization%20of%20mj%20in%20colorado%20the%20impact.pdf |format=PDF |title=The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: The Impact |author=Rocky Mountain HIDTA |volume=1 |date=August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''June 29, 2011: The Cole Memorandum 1'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a memo as a follow-up to the Ogden Memo, muddying the waters in the process. While stating that the stance of efficiently using department resources as outlined in the Ogden Memo still stood, Cole also made it clear that large grow-ops that didn't qualify as "caregivers" had sprung up since.<ref name="ColeMemo11">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/oip/legacy/2014/07/23/dag-guidance-2011-for-medical-marijuana-use.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 June 2011 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The language of the memo essentially said "get off your butts and nail those suckers."<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13">{{cite web |url=https://blog.simplejustice.us/2013/08/30/the-cole-memo-2-0-this-changes-everything/ |title=The Cole Memo 2.0: This Changes Everything |work=Simple Justice |author=Greenfield, S.H. |date=30 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> Cambron ''et al.''<ref name="CambronState16" /> and Fairman<ref name="FairmanTrends16">{{cite journal |title=Trends in registered medical marijuana participation across 13 US states and District of Columbia |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Fairman, B.J. |volume=159 |pages=72–9 |year=2016 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.015 |pmid=26686277}}</ref> suggest this memo had some impact as evidenced by declines in cannabis patient registration from 2011–2013 in Colorado, Michigan, and Montana.<br />
<br />
'''August 29, 2013: The Cole Memorandum 2'''<br />
<br />
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a follow-up memo to his original two years later, following 1. on the heels of then President Obama reiterating publicly that the Department of Justice (DoJ) was to not focus unnecessarily on states that had passed legalization laws and 2. Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational use of cannabis.<ref name="CambronState16" /> The second memorandum sought to reduce the emphasis on the size of the grow-op and increase emphasis on — by a case-by-case basis — "whether the operation is demonstrably in compliance with a strong and effective state regulatory system."<ref name="ColeMemo13">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/resources/3052013829132756857467.pdf |format=PDF |title=Memorandum for All United States Attorneys |author=Cole, J.M. |publisher=Department of Justice |date=29 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref> The memo also clarified specific cases where federal enforcement would be warranted, including distribution to minors, interstate transport, and preventing drugged driving (though it didn't state how). Generally speaking, states saw little federal intervention except in the case of state law being broken or requiring dispensaries to move further away from schools.<ref name="MPPFederal16">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/federal-enforcement-policy-on-state-marijuana-laws/ |title=Federal Marijuana Enforcement Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=2016 |accessdate=26 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CambronState16" /> Despite the memo, some attorneys continued to see Cole Memorandum 2 as nothing more than unclear language that had no legal weight for anxious growers and distributors in states where cannabis was legalized.<ref name="GreenfieldTheCole13" /><br />
<br />
'''December 16, 2014 to current: Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment'''<br />
<br />
A tenuous truce of sorts arrived with the passage of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment in December 2014. The amendment prohibited the DoJ from spending funds to prevent or enforce against state laws that allow for medical marijuana cultivation, distribution, and use, particularly when those actions are performed consistently with those state laws.<ref name="ArmentanoPres14">{{cite web |url=http://blog.norml.org/2014/12/16/president-to-sign-federal-spending-bill-protecting-state-sanctioned-medical-marijuana-programs/ |title=President Signs Federal Spending Bill Protecting State Sanctioned Medical Marijuana Programs |author=Armentano, P. |work=NORML Blog |publisher=NORML Foundation |date=16 December 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> Before being passed in December 2014, the amendment had actually been introduced and defeated six times in the previous 10 years.<ref name="BrekkeHouse14">{{cite web |url=https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/05/30/house-votes-to-block-medical-pot-prosecution/ |title=House Votes to End Medical Marijuana Prosecutions |author=Brekke, D. |work=KQED News |publisher=KQED, Inc |date=30 May 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref> The DoJ later went on to challenge the amendment on several occasions, from ''U.S. v. Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana'' in 2015 to a collection of 10 different cases from California and Washington in 2016. In both cases, the courts ruled against the DoJ, setting precedent against further department action.<ref name="IngrahamFed15">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/10/20/federal-court-tells-the-dea-to-stop-harassing-medical-marijuana-providers/ |title=Federal court tells the DEA to stop harassing medical marijuana providers |author=Ingraham, C. |work=The Washington Post |publisher=WP Company, LLC |date=20 October 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="FermerTheLargest16">{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/medical-marijuana-9th-circuit_us_57b36a31e4b04ff883990337 |title=The Largest Federal Appeals Court Tells DOJ To Back Off State-Legal Medical Marijuana |author=Fermer, M. |work=The Huffington Post |publisher=TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc |date=16 August 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
One of the downsides of Rohrabacher-Farr is that it has essentially acted as a short-term rider attached to several spending bills since December 2014. As of March 2017, it was last renewed through April 28, 2017; however, with the new Trump administration coalescing — including Trump's demonstrably anti-drug U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions — some in the industry are concerned the amendment may not be renewed, opening the door again for the DoJ to implement stronger enforcement.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /><ref name="SwerdlowApril17">{{cite web |url=http://www.marijuananews.org/afraid |title=April 28, 2017 - Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid + IRS FU |author=Swerdlow, L. |publisher=Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project |date=22 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="YakowiczThePerfect17">{{cite web |url=http://www.inc.com/will-yakowicz/perfect-storm-regulations-could-cripple-marijuana-industry.html |title=The Perfect Storm That Could Cripple the Marijuana Industry Under Trump |author=Yakowicz, W. |work=Inc |publisher=Mansueto Ventures, LLC |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="RohrabacherRohr17">{{cite web |url=https://rohrabacher.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rohrabacher-praises-sessions-urges-ag-nominee-to-respect-federal |title=Rohrabacher praises Sessions, urges AG nominee to respect federal marijuana law |author=Rohrabacher, D. |publisher=State of California |date=11 January 2017 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="MuiTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/14/donald-trump-and-jeff-sessions-anti-legal-pot-industry.html |title=Trump and his attorney general are freaking out the $7 billion pot industry |author=Mui, Y. |work=CNBC |publisher=CNBC, LLC |date=14 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref> Alternative bills are continuing to be proposed, including a more permanent version of Rohrabacher-Farr introduced by Representative Dana Rohrabacher of California; however, Speaker Paul Ryan has implemented rules prohibiting amendments to budgetary legislation, and the fact remains that Congress remains reluctant of hearing bills that would change the country's marijuana laws.<ref name="AdamsMari17">{{cite web |url=https://thefreshtoast.com/cannabis/marijuana-bills-currently-congress-can-change-game/ |title=Marijuana Bills Currently In Congress: How They Can Change The Game |author=Adams, M. |work=The Fresh Toast |publisher=Project Coco, Inc |date=13 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="RuskinSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/news/chemtales/sessions-hints-at-a-war-on-marijuana-now-what/ |title=Sessions Hints at a War on Marijuana. Now What? |author=Ruskin, Z. |work=SF Weekly |publisher=San Francisco Media Co |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
'''August 11, 2016: DEA denies petition to reschedule marijuana out of Schedule I'''<br />
<br />
A request made by two governors and a psychiatric nurse practitioner to the DEA asking it to reschedule marijuana into any other schedule other than Schedule I was denied, as had been done with previous attempts in 2009 and 2011.<ref name="LegerMari16" /><ref name="JosephDEA16" /><ref name="GrubbsDEA16" /> Reasons included known health issues such as prenatal exposure and negative impacts on several biological systems, as well as limited research data and new drug applications.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> At the same time, however, the DEA also recognized the need for further research and the lack of legal marijuana sources for researchers, publishing a policy statement stating intent "to increase the lawful supply of marijuana available to researchers."<ref name="81FR53846">{{cite journal |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/12/2016-17955/applications-to-become-registered-under-the-controlled-substances-act-to-manufacture-marijuana-to |journal=Federal Register |title=Applications To Become Registered Under the Controlled Substances Act To Manufacture Marijuana To Supply Researchers in the United States |volume=81 |issue=156 |date=12 August 2016 |pages=53846–8 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===State and local regulation===<br />
As of January 2017, 28 states have some sort of broad decriminalization or legalization laws for cannabis on the books.<ref name="SteinmetzThese16" /> In October 1973, Oregon became the first state to enact decriminalization laws for marijuana, imposing a $100 fine for possession of less than an ounce. Eleven other states followed a similar path within five years.<ref name="SingleTheImp81">{{cite book |chapter=The Impact of Marijuana Decriminalization |title=Research Advances in Alcohol and Drug Problems |author=Single, E.W. |editor=Israel, Y.; Glaser, F.B.; Kalant, H. et al. |publisher=Springer US |year=1981 |pages=405–424 |doi=10.1007/978-1-4615-7740-9_12 |isbn=9781461577409}}</ref> The next wave of changes began with the passage of medical marijuana legislation in California — the Compassionate Use Act — in November 1996, followed by similar legislation in Oregon and Alaska in 1998, Maine in 1999, and Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada in 2000.<ref name="CambronState16" /><ref name="Alaska98Results">{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/98GENR/results.htm |title=Election Summary Report, State of Alaska 1998 General Election: Official Results |work=Election Results |publisher=State of Alaska Division of Elections |date=1 December 1998 |accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref> Other states continued to add decriminalization and medical marijuana laws in the 2000s. But it wasn't until 2012 that Colorado and Washington became the first states to make recreational marijuana legal, followed by Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia in 2014.<ref name="CambronState16" /> Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada followed suit in 2016.<ref name="BurkeFour17">{{cite web |url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/four-more-states-pass-new-marijuana-laws-california-maine-massachusetts-nevada |title=Four More States Pass New Marijuana Laws: California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada |author=Burke, C. |work=National Law Review |publisher=National Law Forum, LLC |date=04 January 2017 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As shown by Cambron ''et al.'' in 2016 (before the November election results)<ref name="CambronState16" />, dispensaries, possession limits, and interstate ID card acceptance can vary significantly among affected states. California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Washington lead in number of dispensaries; Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington in maximum possession limits; and Arizona plus five others allowed ID cards from other states. Yet allowed dispensaries can number in the single digits, possession limits can be as low as one ounce, and numerous states still don't honor ID cards from other states.<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Then there's the matter of state differences in testing, enforcement, advertising allowances, etc. It helps to turn to professional associations and organizations — who often lead the charge for improved, more relevant standards — to sort through the variances. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), for example, has published its ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs'' to help sort through the confusing tangle of existing testing laws, where they exist. They exemplify this variation of law in their document<ref name="APHLGuide16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016 |accessdate=01 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>As with most programs in the United States, every state takes a different approach. For example as of January 2016, New Jersey’s Public Health & Environmental Laboratories only test cannabis plant material. Just across the Hudson, however, New York’s Public Health Laboratory will not be testing any plant material, only cannabis extracts. In addition, the New York Department of Health will provide an oversight role for commercial cannabis laboratories that are licensed by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and approved for testing cannabis products. On the other hand, New Jersey state government does all testing in-house for the medical cannabis program.</blockquote><br />
<br />
As such, unlike their federal counterpart, it's difficult to make broad generalizations about cannabis regulations and their enforcement in the states. It becomes even more difficult when examining states that don't have clear, well-considered regulations or strong enforcement powers. Cambron ''et al.'' emphasized this issue in regards to the supply side, saying: "States without clearly defined regulations for medical cannabis supply have fostered gray markets for cannabis whereby individuals without documented medical conditions are able to easily obtain medical cannabis authorizations. This scenario has created substantial challenges for law enforcement in multiple states."<ref name="CambronState16" /><br />
<br />
Cole ''et al.'' argue that in the end, it will take pressure on the federal government "to set up policy guardrails to steer state regulatory systems" in a more unified and safe direction. Drugged driving, use by minors, interstate distribution, relation to crime and firearms, consumer safety, and advertising are all issues the government should be tackling towards that goal, they say. Not that states aren't addressing these regulatory concerns; they are, but not in consistent ways.<ref name="ColeAll16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thirdway.org/report/all-state-marijuana-laws-are-not-created-equal |title=All State Marijuana Laws Are Not Created Equal |work=Third Way |author=Cole, T.; Trumble, S.; Hatalsky, L.E. |date=17 February 20116 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Standardization===<br />
While federal, state, and local governments wrestle with the regulatory frameworks surrounding cannabis, scientists and government officials are carrying on, doing what they can to harmonize those regulations with emerging industry standards and guidelines. For example, state officials from Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington teamed up to give a presentation called "State Regulatory Approaches to Cannabis Testing, Operations and Product Logistics" at the July 2016 Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit. That presentation focused on the harmonization of regulatory standards and frameworks across states, as well as discussions of what scientific efforts are required to support those standards and frameworks.<ref name="CQSSS16">{{cite web |url=http://chernislaw.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NEW-Cannabis-Quality-Summit-Main-Summit-Agenda.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Quality, Strategies and Solutions Summit - Agenda |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=July 2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, organizations such as Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), and the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) have been developing standards, methods, and certifications for analysis, extraction, labeling, and laboratory operations surrounding medical (and recreational) marijuana.<ref name="InfocastNew16">{{cite web |url=http://infocastinc.com/industries/new-certification-program-brings-quality-assurance-to-the-medical-marijuana-industry/ |title=New Certification Program Brings Quality Assurance to the Medical Marijuana Industry |publisher=Information Forecast, Inc |date=2016 |accessdate=02 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AHPARecomm16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="AHPCanna14">{{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}</ref><ref name="MarcuJahan16">{{cite web |url=https://www.projectcbd.org/article/jahan-marcu-cannabis-lab-testing-safety-protocols |title=Jahan Marcu: Cannabis Lab Testing & Safety Protocols |work=Project CBD |author=Project CBD; Marcu, J. |publisher=Project CBD |date=16 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16">{{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Notable among those organizations is the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS), which has been working to produce internationally applicable voluntary consensus standards for various parts of the cannabis business chain, including cultivation, extraction, laboratory testing, and packaging. FOCUS completed its public review process and finalized its standards in July 2016, though at that time it wasn't clear how to gain access to them.<ref name="FOCUSPublic16">{{cite web |url=http://www.focusstandards.org/public-review-of-cannabis-standards/ |title=Public Review Completes Development Process |publisher=FOCUS |date=2016 |accessdate=16 February 2016}}</ref> New information came to light in March 2017, when FOCUS and ASTM International announced a collaboration between the two entities, which will, pending April 2017 ASTM board approval, see the formation of volunteer committee D37 at ASTM and the further adaptation of FOCUS' standards for a future ASTM release.<ref name="BirosASTM17">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/news_article/astm-international-launches-cannabis-committee/ |title=ASTM International Launches Cannabis Committee |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ASTMD37">{{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Laboratory testing of cannabis==<br />
[[File:Juan Velez y Sebastian Cortes - Investigadores del Cannabis Medicinal.jpg|right|300px]]The overview mentioned how regulators, users, and industry are calling for improved standardization of the production and testing of medical and recreational marijuana. Without proper testing, several issues are bound to arise<ref name="HazekampCanna12" /><ref name="BushWorlds15" /><ref name="RutschQuality15" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="CANORMLHow11">{{cite web |url=http://canorml.org/news/ringtest.html |title=How Accurate Is Cannabis Potency Testing? |publisher=California NORML |date=21 September 2011 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* label claims may not match actual contents;<br />
* contaminants may linger, causing illness or even death;<br />
* chemical properties and medicinal benefits of specific strains and their unique cannabinoid-turpene profiles can't be isolated; and<br />
* research on potential therapeutic qualities can't be replicated, hindering scientific progress.<br />
<br />
In 2011 — a year before any U.S. state had enacted broad legalization of recreational marijuana — California NORML reported that its assessment of analytical cannabis testing laboratories' accuracy found that while California labs broadly reached +/- 20 percent consistency from a replicate sample, three out of 10 provided unfavorable results on at least half of their tests. Similar wide-ranging discrepancies were also found among edibles, extracts, and tinctures, and NORML found that none of the labs could reach two decimal points precision of cannabinoid results despite laboratory claims stating otherwise.<ref name="CANORMLHow11" /> Another report out of Washington State in January 2015, not long after recreational marijuana sales to the public (requiring accredited lab testing prior) began<ref name="WLCBFAQ">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/mj2015/faqs_i-502 |title=FAQs on I-502 |publisher=Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>, found blind tests of recreational marijuana at dispensaries could range as much as 7.5 percent in accuracy from its corresponding label.<ref name="BushWorlds15" /> Further issues in 2016 with alleged partiality by some Washington testing laboratories prompted emergency proficiency testing rules to be enacted.<ref name="YoungSome16">{{cite web |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/marijuana/some-pot-labs-in-state-failed-no-pot-at-all-says-scientist/ |title=Some pot labs in state failed no pot at all, says scientist |author=Young, B. |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=The Seattle Times Company |date=05 January 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/to-combat-claims-of-inconsistency-washington-testing-labs-turn-to |title=To Combat Inconsistency, Washington Testing Labs Turn to Self-Policing |work=Leafly - Politics |author=Coughlin-Bogue, T. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=11 March 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref> (Proficiency testing essentially requires a laboratory in question to test a sample with known properties, and then those results are compared to those of a neutral third-party lab testing the same sample.)<br />
<br />
These discrepancies and deficiencies highlight the growing need for homogenization of testing methods and procedures, if not nationally at least across an entire state. Such homogenization would, in theory, not only positively affect the quality of product but also provide greater consumer confidence that label and product match. As Marketing Director Scott Kuzdzal of Shimadzu pointed out during a January 2017 webinar on analytic testing of cannabis, poor sample preparation, lack of thorough testing, and the manual process itself — which can introduce user error, particularly when good laboratory practices aren’t used — all can contribute to discrepancies between label and product.<ref name="KuzdzalOpp17">{{cite web |url= http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170119200158/http://www.shimadzu.com.cn/an/news-events/news/2017/4381.html |title=Webinar: Opportunities & Challenges in Cannabis Analytical Testing |author=Kuzdzal, S.A. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=19 January 2017 |archivedate=19 January 2017 |accessdate=03 February 2017 |quote=Source is actual webinar.}}</ref> When dispensaries, edible manufacturers, and supplement companies perform insufficient lab testing or overstate claims on labels, it reduces consumer confidence, and both state and federal authorities — including the FDA — have to interject.<ref name="YoungSome16" /><ref name="Coughlin-BogueToCombat16" /><ref name="FDAWarn16">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm484109.htm |title=2016 Warning Letters and Test Results for Cannabidiol-Related Products |work=Public Health Focus |publisher=U.S. Food and Drug Administration |date=31 August 2016 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
As was mentioned at the end of the previous section on state regulation, efforts to improve testing methods and procedures, with the goal of seeing the best of them become standards, are ongoing. Where are those efforts now, and where are they going? Before we can examine that, we first need to briefly look at what aspects of cannabis are actually being analyzed.<br />
<br />
===Analytical aspects of cannabis===<br />
====Cannabinoids====<br />
As of mid-2015, researchers have identified 104 of the more than 750 constituents of ''Cannabis sativa'' as cannabinoids<ref name="RadwanIso15" />, active chemical compounds that act in a similar way to compounds our body naturally produces. Many of our body's cells have cannabinoid receptors capable of modulating neurotransmitter release in the brain and other areas.<ref name="WHOTheHealth16" /> The plant's cannabinoids vary, with each bonding to specific receptors in our body, providing differing effects. From a theoretical and medical standpoint, crafting a strain of cannabis that has specific cannabinoids that can aid with a particular malady, while also carefully reproducing the grow conditions to consistently make that strain in the future, is a desirable but difficult goal to achieve.<ref name="RahnCannab14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/cannabinoids-101-what-makes-cannabis-medicine |title=Cannabinoids 101: What Makes Cannabis Medicine? |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=22 January 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabinoids is done primarily as a measure of psychoactive "potency," though cannabinoids have many other potential therapeutic uses. Current laboratory testing looks at only a handful of cannabinoids; more research and development of analytical techniques that can quickly and accurately detect and separate the the rest is required.<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> Some of the major cannabinoids tested for include<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/understanding-cannabis-testing |title=Understanding Cannabis Testing: A Guide to Cannabinoids and Terpenes |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |author=Rahn, B. |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc |date=09 October 2014 |accessdate=03 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''THC (∆9-Tetrahydrocannabinol)''': This is the most commonly known cannabinoid found in cannabis, notable for its strong psychoactive effects and ability to aid with pain, sleep, and appetite issues. Included is its analogue ∆8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (which shows notably less strong psychoactive effects than ∆9<ref name="NIHDelta8">{{cite web |url=https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug?cdrid=485262 |title=delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol |work=NCI Drug Dictionary |publisher=National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>) and its homologue THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin), which tends to appear in trace amounts and has a more pronounced psychoactive effect, but for a shorter duration. THCV shows promise in fighting anxiety, tremors from neurological disorders, appetite issues, and special cases of bone loss. Also notable is Δ9-THCA (Δ9-Tethrahydrocannibinolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to THC. <br />
<br />
* '''CBC (Cannabichromene)''': This non-psychoactive cannabinoid is found in trace amounts; however, it tends to be markedly more effective at treating anxiety and stress than CBD (see next). It's also notable for its anti-inflamatory properties and potential use for bone deficiencies. <br />
<br />
* '''CBD (Cannabidiol)''': CBD is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, typically accounting for up to 35 to 40 percent of cannabis extracts. It acts as a counter-balance to THC, regulating its psychoactivity. It's been researched as a treatment for anxiety, sleep loss, inflammation, stress, pain, and epilepsy, among other afflictions. Included is its homologue CBDV (Cannabidivarin), which is also non-psychoactive and demonstrates promise as a treatment for epileptic seizures. Also notable is CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBD.<br />
<br />
* '''CBG (Cannabigerol)''': This cannabinoid is also non-psychoactive but only appears in trace amounts of cannabis. If has potential as a sleep aid, anti-bacterial, and cell growth stimulant. Also notable is CBGA (Cannabigerolic acid ), a non-psychoactive biosynthetic precursor to CBG.<br />
<br />
* '''CBN (Cannabinol)''': CBN is mildly psychoactive at best and appears only in trace amounts in ''Cannabis sativa'' and ''Cannabis indica''. It occurs largely as a metabolite of THC and tends to have one of the strongest sedative effects among cannabinoids. It shows promise as a treatment for insomnia, glaucoma, and certain types of pain.<br />
<br />
====Terpenes====<br />
Mandated lab testing of terpenes — volatile organic compounds that distinctly affect cannabis aroma and taste — is done primarily as a way to ensure proper labeling of cannabis and related products, including extracts and concentrates, so buyers have confidence in what they are purchasing.<ref name="HabibTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1c-Testing-for-Psychoactive-Agents-Final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing for Psychoactive Agents |author=Habib, R.; Finighan, R.; Davenport, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=24 August 2013 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="CMTLabs">{{cite web |url=http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/test-services/tests-offered/ |title=Tests Offered |publisher=CMT Laboratories |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="WercShop">{{cite web |url=http://thewercshop.com/services/terpene-profiling-services/ |title=Terpene Profiling Services |publisher=The Werc Shop |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> However, additional lab research goes into terpenes as they also show potentially useful pharmacological properties<ref name="HabibTesting13" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16">{{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}</ref>, and they demonstrate synergies (referred to at times as the "entourage effect") with cannabinoids that largely still require further exploration.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="WachsbergerTerpene16">{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomcityclub.com/terpine-testing-the-future-of-cannabis-is-here/ |title=Terpene Testing: The future of Cannabis is here |author=Wachsberger, K. |work=Bloom Blog |publisher=Bloom City Club |date=02 February 2016 |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref> Testing for specific terpenes (discussed later) is less of a standardized practice, though it's rapidly improving.<ref name="HabibTesting13" /> Commonly tested terpenes by third-party testing labs include<ref name="WercShop" /><ref name="CMTLabs" /><ref name="AndreCannabis16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RahnUnder14" /><ref name="SCLabs">{{cite web |url=http://sclabs.com/terpene-analysis/ |title=Terpene Analysis |publisher=SC Labs, Inc |accessdate=08 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Bisabolol<br />
* Caryophyllene<br />
* Cymene<br />
* Humulene<br />
* Limonene<br />
* Linalool<br />
* Myrcene<br />
* Phytol<br />
* Pinene<br />
* Terpinolene<br />
<br />
====Contaminates====<br />
Generally speaking, a contaminate is an unwanted substance that may show up in the final product, be it recreational marijuana or a pharmaceutical company's therapeutic tincture. The following are examples of contaminates that laboratories may test for in cannabis products. <br />
<br />
'''Pesticides''': Pesticides represent the Wild West of not only growing cannabis but also performing analytical testing on it. One of the core issues, again, is the fact that on the federal level marijuana is illegal. Because it's illegal, government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) don't test and create standards or guidelines for what's safe when it comes to residual pesticides, let alone how to best test for them.<ref name="BorelTheWild15">{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/08/pot-marijuana-pesticide-legalization/401771/ |title=The Wild West of Marijuana Pesticides |author=Borel, B. |work=The Atlantic |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group |date=31 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ZhangNobody15">{{cite web |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/nobody-knows-pesticides-legal-marijuana// |title=Nobody Knows What to Do About Pesticides in Legal Marijuana |author=Zhang, S. |work=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |date=07 August 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, researchers face their fair share of difficulties obtaining product to test. The end result is we don't know much about how inhalation of pesticide-coated marijuana smoke affects long-term health<ref name="BorelTheWild15" /><ref name="ZhangNobody15" />, and we don't have standards for pesticide application and testing.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> With numerous pesticide products and little oversight on what growers apply to their plants, combined with the technical difficulty of testing for pesticides in the lab, pesticides remain one of the most difficult contaminates to test for.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> That said, several classes of of pesticides are commonly applied during cannabis cultivation and can be tested for by labs<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/PreventionWellness/marijuana/Documents/oha-8964-technical-report-marijuana-contaminant-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Technical Report: Oregon Health Authority’s Process to Determine Which Types of Contaminants to Test for in Cannabis Products, and Levels for Action |author=Farrer, D.G. |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |date=December 2015 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* '''avermectins''': functions as an insecticide that is useful against mites, which are a common problem for cultivators<br />
* '''carbamates''': functions as an insecticide, similar to organophosphates, but with decreased dermal toxicity and higher degradation<br />
* '''organophosphates''': functions as the base of many insecticides and herbicides, valued for its easy organic bonding<br />
* '''pyrethroids''': functions as the base of most household insecticides and exhibits insect repellent properties<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': In 2003, Canadian Rick Simpson published a recipe of sorts for preparing cannabis extract via the use of solvents such as naphtha or petroleum ether. Claiming the resulting oil helped cure his skin cancer, others hoping for a cure tried it, and the solvent method of preparation grew in popularity. Dubious healing claims aside, the solvent extraction method remains viable, though it has evolved over the years to include less harmful solvents such as supercritical carbon dioxide, which has low toxicity, low environmental impact, and beneficial extraction properties.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RomanoCannabis13">{{cite journal |url=http://www.stcm.ch/en/files/hazekamp_cann-oil_2013.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis oil: Chemical evaluation of an upcoming cannabis-based medicine |journal=Cannabinoids |author=Romano, L.L.; Hazekamp, A. |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=1–11 |year=2013}}</ref><ref name="PeachSuper14">{{cite journal |title=Supercritical carbon dioxide: A solvent like no other |journal=Journal of Organic Chemistry |author=Peach, J.; Eastoe, J. |volume=10 |pages=1878-95 |year=2014 |doi=10.3762/bjoc.10.196 |pmid=25246947 |pmc=PMC4168859}}</ref> However, chemical solvents are still used, and if not evaporated out properly, the remaining solvents can be particularly harmful to sick patients using the extract. As for what solvents should be tested for, it gets a bit trickier, though Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'', the Oregon Health Authority's December 2015 technical report on contaminant testing of cannabis, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's response to public comments on cannabis testing provide helpful guidance. Listed solvents include benzene, butane, cumene, dimethoxyethane, hexane, and pentane, among others.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="USPNF467">{{cite web |url=https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp_pdf/EN/USPNF/generalChapter467Current.pdf |format=PDF |title=<467> Residual Solvents |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="MDPHResponse">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/external-comment-response-020416-final.pdf |format=PDF |title=Response to Public Comments |author=Bureau of Healthcare Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |date=12 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': 2013 research on contaminant testing on the behalf of Washington State provides insights into heavy metals and why they're looked for in cannabis testing. That research, as well as other sources, tell us<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DaleyTesting13">{{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013 |accessdate=09 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Heavy metals contribute to several health problems, including those of a neurological nature.<br />
* Cannabis can "hyperaccumulate metals from contaminated soils."<br />
* Research parallels can be found in tobacco research and how the FDA regulates heavy metal content in foods.<br />
* The most prominently tested heavy metals include arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni).<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': "The ideal conditions for cannabis growth are also ideal for the growth of potentially harmful bacteria and fungi, including yeast and molds," say Shimadzu's Scott Kuzdzal and William Lipps, "therefore microbial contamination poses health risks to consumers and immunocompromised individuals."<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /> In truth, these concerns have already borne out; most recently the University of California, Davis reported in February 2017 one of its patients had contracted an incurable fungal infection from inhaling aerosolized marijuana. They later tested 20 marijuana samples from Northern California dispensaries — using specialized techniques — and found a wide variety of potentially hazardous microorganisms.<ref name="UCDavis17">{{cite web |url=http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/11791 |title=UC Davis study finds mold, bacterial contaminants in medical marijuana samples |publisher=UC Davis |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The degree to which such contaminates commonly appear in grown and stored cannabis material and to which microbiological contaminates should be tested is not clear, however. As mentioned previously, neither the U.S. EPA or neighboring Health Canada provide any significant guidance on cannabis testing, including microbiological contaminates.<ref name="KennardYouAre16">{{cite web |url=https://tantaluslabs.com/populace/you-are-probably-smoking-mouldy-weed-why-does-quality-assurance-matter/ |title=You are Probably Smoking Mouldy Weed - Why Does Quality Assurance Matter? |work=Populace |author=Kennard, M. |publisher=Tantalus Labs |date=02 June 2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> Like heavy metal testing, parallels are drawn from microbial testing guidelines and standards relating to tobacco and food, where they exist.<ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> As warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, maintaining stable moisture levels during cultivation and storage is essential. Regularly measuring water activity — how moist something is — is particularly useful as a front-line preventative tool to better ensure microbial growth is limited.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> Regardless, testing of some kind is still required by many U.S. states, including for organisms such as<ref name="KuzdzalUnrav15" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /><ref name="UCDavis17" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="CANNAMicro14">{{cite web |url=http://www.fundacion-canna.es/en/microbiological-study-cannabis-samples |title=Microbiological study of Cannabis samples |publisher=Fundación CANNA |date=2014 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RussoCann13">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qH-2Lj9x7L4C&pg=PT457&lpg=PT457 |chapter=Chapter 30: Contaminants and Adulterants in Herbal Cannabis |title=Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential |author=McPartland, J.M. |editor=Russo, E.B. |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |pages=478 |isbn=9781136614934}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Aflatoxin<br />
* ''Alternaria''<br />
* ''Aspergillus''<br />
* ''Cryptococcus''<br />
* ''E. coli''<br />
* ''Mucor''<br />
* ''Penicillium''<br />
* ''Salmonella''<br />
<br />
===Methods and guidelines===<br />
Now that we've addressed what's being tested for, we can move on to how they're being tested and what's being done to improve testing methods and procedures, including associated guidelines and recommendations. It would be beyond the scope of this guide to include every state's laws and guidelines on cannabis testing; entities such as [https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations Leafly Holdings]<ref name="RoughLeaflysState">{{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}</ref> and [http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ CannaGuard Security]<ref name="CSCanna16">{{cite web |url=http://cannaguardsecurity.com/cannabiz-resources/ |title=CannaBiz Resources |publisher=CannaGuard Security |date=2016 |accessdate=10 February 2017}}</ref> provide such online resources. Instead, this section will focus on current and promising techniques using generalizations based on information from multiple sources. If any guidelines and recommendations are known, they'll be included.<br />
<br />
====Sampling====<br />
Random, representative sampling is encouraged. When dealing with solid cannabis, BOTEC Analysis recommends a "quartering" method that divides the sample into four equal parts and takes portions from opposite sections of a square-shaped arrangement of the sample. For liquid cannabis products, remembering to stir before sample collection is advised.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> When deriving a sample from a cannabis-laden edible, the QuEChERS approach used by food safety labs for pesticide testing has practical use.<ref name="RigdonExtract16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=25790 |title=Extraction Method for Cannabinoid Analysis in Edibles: Too Much of a Good Thing |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> In fact, a variety of parallels have been drawn from the food and herbal medicine industries' sampling guidelines, including from the Codex Alimentarius Commission's ''CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling'' as well as various chapters of the ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary''.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CACGL50-2004">{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCAC%2BGL%2B50-2004%252FCXG_050e.pdf |format=PDF |author=Codex Alimentarius Commission |title=CAC/GL 50-2004 General Guidelines on Sampling |pages=69 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> As the APHL points out, "[g]ood sampling is key to improving analytical data equivalency among organizations," and it provides a solid base for any future testing and standardization efforts.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> <br />
<br />
Additional sampling insight can be found by examining other states' guidelines, e.g., Massachusetts' ''Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries''.<ref name="DPHMassProto16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
====Cannabinoid testing====<br />
Quantifying cannabinoids for label accuracy is a major goal of testing, though calculation and testing processes may vary slightly from state to state. Despite any differences, laboratorians generally agree that when testing for cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, as well as their respective biosynthetic precursors THCA and CBDA, the methodology used must be scrutinized. The naturally occurring THCA of cannabis isn't psychoactive; it requires decarboxylation (a chemical reaction induced by drying/heating that releases carbon dioxide) to convert itself into the psychoactive cannabinoid THC. Chemical calculations show that the process of decarboxylation results in approximately 87.7 percent of the THCA's mass converting to THC, with the other 12.3 percent bubbling off as CO<sub>2</sub> gas.<ref name="CAWhy1">{{cite web |url=http://conflabs.com/why-0-877/ |title=Why 0.877? |publisher=Confidence Analytics |date=10 February 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> The problem with this in the testing domain is gas chromatography (GC) involves heating the sample solution. If you, the lab technician, require precise numbers of both THCA and THC, then GC analysis poses the risk of under-reporting THC total values.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> As such, liquid chromatography-diode array detection (LC-DAD) may be required if a concise profile of all cannabinoids must be made, primarily because it provides environmental stability for them all during analysis. If GC is used, the analysis requires extra considerations such as sample derivatization.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="RigdonAccurateJuly15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=14961 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids by GC – Is it Possible? |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 July 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RigdonAccurateSept15">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=15135 |title=Accurate Quantification of Cannabinoid Acids and Neutrals by GC – Derivatives without Calculus |author=Rigdon, A. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=09 September 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The APHL briefly describes analysis methods of cannabinoids using both LC and GC on pages 31–32 of their May 2016 ''Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs''. They also point to New York Department of Health - Wadsworth Center's various guidance documents (MML-300, -301, and -303) for methodologies when testing sample types other than solids, particularly using high-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA).<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MML-300">{{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref> Overall, methods used in cannabinoid testing include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="MML-300" /><ref name="SCCann16">{{cite web |url=http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-aldrich/docs/Sigma-Aldrich/General_Information/1/cannabis-testing.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing: Quality You Can Trust |publisher=Sigma-Aldritch Co. LLC |date=2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="AdamsNear16">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/column/near-infrared-gc-and-hplc-applications-in-cannabis-testing/ |title=Near Infrared, GC and HPLC Applications in Cannabis Testing |author=Adams, T.; Bertone, M. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=30 November 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR; has limitations, such as requiring standard samples tested w/ other methods)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like 5α-cholestane, docosane, and tetracosane)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS; requires sample derivatization for both acid and neutral compounds; good with standards like deuterated cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA; stable for all forms of cannabinoids)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography UV detection (HPLC-UV)<br />
* Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
* Thin-layer chromatography (TLC; older, less common technology)<br />
* Ultra-performance chromatography (UPC; newer technology w/ added benefits)<br />
<br />
====Terpene testing====<br />
Identifying and quantifying terpenes is one of the more difficult tasks facing laboratorians<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Terpenes present an analytical challenge because they are nonpolar and structurally similar, and many structural isomers exist. Mass spectrometry (MS) cannot distinguish terpenes that co-elute from a GC column because many have the same molecular weight and share fragment ions.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Of course, types of gas chromatography work; but like cannabinoids, terpenes can degrade with the high heat of gas chromatography.<ref name="AdamsNear16" /> Combined with the problems mentioned above, highly specialized gas chromatography processes that include additional steps — such as full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID) — can be used to produce cleaner results, particularly for volatile components.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> It's less clear if high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used frequently; some entities such as Eurofins Experchem Laboratories claim HPLC works best for them<ref name="AdamsNear16" />, while others such as Restek Corporation claim the method is problematic at best.<ref name="HerringCanHP16">{{cite web |url=http://blog.restek.com/?p=33071 |title=Can HPLC-UV Be Used For Terpenes Analysis In Cannabis? |author=Herring, T. |work=ChromaBLOGraphy |publisher=Restek Corporation |date=29 December 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Overall, methods for terpene identification and analysis include<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="SCLabs" /><ref name="SCCann16" /><ref name="AdamsNear16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS">{{cite web |url=https://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/life_science/shimadzu_cannabis_brochure.pdf |format=PDF |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Solutions |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID; tends to be semi-quantitative)<br />
* Gas chromatography flame ionization detection (GC-FID)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; may have limitations due to coelution of terpenes and cannabinoids at certain ranges<ref name="HerringCanHP16" />)<br />
<br />
====Contaminate testing====<br />
[[File:LC MS pic.jpg|right|400px]]'''Pesticides''': Gas and liquid chromatography methods are by and large the staple of testing methods for pesticides, which remain "the hardest analyses that are going to be done in the cannabis industry."<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Notably, high-performance liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) tends to be one of the most thorough methods says Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon. "Ninety-five percent of the pesticides out there can be analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS, although there are some that you would need a GC-MS/MS for," she says.<ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /> Testing methods that have been used include<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD)<br />
* Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)<br />
* Gas chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS; also high-performance or HPLC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of pesticides in cannabis, the EPA's Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) or FDA's Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) provide guidance to labs.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="FDA_PAM">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Solvents''': Testing for solvents is largely standardized into a couple of options, which have parallels to existing pharmaceutical testing standards outlined in Chapter 467 of ''United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary'' (USP <467>)<ref name="USPNF467" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS)<br />
* Full evaporation technique headspace gas chromatography flame ionization detection (FET-HS-GC-FID)<br />
<br />
Massachusetts and Oregon — and likely other states — have used a variety of guidance documents such as USP <467>, reports from the Commission of the European Communities' Scientific Committee on Food (now the European Food Safety Authority), and the International Conference on Harmonization's (ICH) Q3C(R5)<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="MDPHResponse" /><ref name="FarrerTech15" /> to set their action level testing values for particular solvents.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Heavy metals''': The methods used for quantifying levels of highly toxic metals in plants depend on ease-of-use, level of accuracy, and overall cost. The following methods are most common for testing cannabis and other plants<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="DavisAnalysis15">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/literature/aas/ssi-icp-002.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of "The Big Four" Heavy Metals in Cannabis by USN-ICP-OES |author=Davis, D.; Long, K.; Masone, J.; Firmin, P. |publisher=Shimadzu Corporation |date=August 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="ShimadzuCLTS" />:<br />
<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), sometimes called inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) (at times coupled with an ultrasonic nebulizer)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS)<br />
* Inductively coupled plasma tandem-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
For quantification of metals in cannabis, the U.S. FDA's ICP-MS methodology document is often used.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><ref name="FDAAnalysisofFoods11">{{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Mycotoxins and microorganisms''': A standard method of testing for the existence of microorganisms is through the process of culturing a sample in a Petri dish, a common diagnostic method in microbiology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is also used, particularly to identify mycotoxins. However, Petri culture analysis isn't rigorous, and ELISA can be time consuming, as it's limited to one mycotoxin per test.<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /> The following are other, more precise techniques that are improving laboratorians' analyses, particularly using DNA snippets of microbiological contaminates<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="KennardYouAre16" /><ref name="ThompsonAMicro16">{{cite journal |title=A microbiome assessment of medical marijuana |journal=Clinical Microbiology and Infection |author=Thompson III, G.R.; Tuscano, J.M.; Dennis, M. et al. |pages=S1198-743X(16)30605-X |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.cmi.2016.12.001 |pmid=27956269}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)<br />
* Whole metagenome shotgun (WMGS) sequencing<br />
* Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)<br />
* High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)<br />
* Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)<br />
<br />
The extent of mycotoxin testing required remains in question by several entities. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) claims "[t]here is no readily available evidence to support the contention that cannabis harbors significant levels of mycotoxins."<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> The Oregon Health Authority takes a more middle-ground approach, noting that testing for ''E. coli'' and ''Salmonella'' will "protect public health," though ''Aspergillus'' only deserves a warning for people with suppressed immune systems due to its prevalence in the environment.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> USP <561> recommendations largely limit mycotoxin testing of botanical products to those borne from root or rhizome material<ref name="USPNF561">{{cite web |url=https://hmc.usp.org/sites/default/files/documents/HMC/GCs-Pdfs/c561.pdf |format=PDF |title=<561> Articles of Botanical Origin |work=United States Pharmacopeia and The National Formulary |publisher=United States Pharmacopeial Convention |date=01 July 2007 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref>, "which THC-containing cannabis products presumably do not possess," emphasizes the APHL.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Regardless, U.S. Pharmacopeia's Chapter 561 remains a useful document for testing guidelines and limits regarding microbials.<ref name="USPNF561" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> In the less common case of dealing with powdered cannabis — a relatively new THC extract form — Chapter 2023 provides at least some testing parallels, though Dr. Tony Cundell, a microbiologist consulting for the pharmaceutical industry, suggests USP <2023> doesn't go far enough for immunocompromised patients.<ref name="CundellMicro15">{{cite web |url=http://www.americanpharmaceuticalreview.com/Featured-Articles/177487-Microbiological-Attributes-of-Powdered-Cannabis/ |title=Microbiological attributes of powdered cannabis |work=American Pharmaceutical Review |author=Cundell, T. |publisher=CompareNetworks, Inc |date=31 July 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Somewhat related and worth mentioning is moisture content testing. As previously mentioned, warm, moist environments are conducive to microorganism growth, and regularly measuring water activity is useful for the prevention of microbial growth.<ref name="FarrerTech15" /> The APHL references specifications from the Dutch Office of Medical Cannabis that recommend water content be between five to ten percent in cannabis.<ref name="APHLGuide16" /><br />
<br />
===Reports===<br />
There's little in the way of standardization for lab reporting of cannabis test results, though some U.S. states have outlined requirements for what must be included in such reports. The Oregon Health Authority's ''Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 333, Division 64, Section 0100: Marijuana Item Sampling Procedures and Testing'' stipulates that any report must include total THC and total CBD (by dry weight) and, if discovered, "up to five tentatively identified compounds (TICS) that have the greatest apparent concentration." It also lays out requirements for pesticides, failed tests, limits of quantification, and specimen identifiers such as test batch number.<ref name="OHA333-064-0100">{{cite web |url=http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_300/oar_333/333_064.html |title=Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division, Division 64, Accreditation of Laboratories |work=Oregon Administrative Rules |publisher=Oregon Secretary of State |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In late January 2017, Pennsylvania released its temporary regulations in support of its new medical marijuana program (28 Pa. Code Chapter 1171), which includes a section on test results and reporting (1171.31). The regulations stipulate reporting by electronic tracking system, with stipulations on using certificates of analysis which include lot/batch number and the specific compounds and contaminates tested.<ref name="28PA1171">{{cite journal |url=http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/M-P/MedicalMarijuana/Documents/Chapter%201171%20Laboratories%201-26-17.pdf |format=PDF |title=Title 28 - Health and Safety, Department of Health - 28 Pa. Code Ch. 1171 |journal=Pennsylvania Bulletin |author=Pennsylvania Department of Health |volume=46 |issue=52 |pages=8036–8041 |date=24 December 2016}}</ref> Regulations aside, it's largely up to the laboratory — and often by extension, the software they're using — to decide how a report is formatted. Some labs like Seattle-based Analytical 360 offer clean, color-based certificates of analysis, with high-magnification photographs, the chromatogram, potency, cannabinoid content, contaminate content, and explanation of limits, with the name of the approving analyst.<ref name="CC_A360">{{cite web |url=http://cannabis-chronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/Godzilla.pdf |format=PDF |title=Certificate of Analysis - Sample: Godzilla |publisher=Cannabis Chronicles |date=07 July 2014 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="C360Results">{{cite web |url=http://analytical360.com/testresults |title=Current Test Results |publisher=Analytical 360, LLC |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Others may simply generate a computer printout with the basic data and a legend.<ref name="HydrioCan16">{{cite web |url=http://beyondchronic.com/question/can-you-help-me-analyze-lab-reports-of-cannabis-oil/ |title=Can you help me analyze lab reports of cannabis oil? |author=Hydrio |work=Beyond Chronic: Ask Old Hippie |date=August 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref> Reports may originate from the measuring device itself (e.g., an integrator in a chromatography device), a middleware or data station attached to the instrument, or a laboratory information management system that accepted data from the instrument.<ref name="McKennaSetting15">{{cite web |url=http://www.slideshare.net/GenTechScientific/ica2015-cannabis-presentation |title=Setting Up Your Cannabis Lab for Potency Testing |author=McKenna, M. |work=SlideShare |publisher=GenTech |date=18 June 2015 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
Though not directly related to laboratory testing, it's worth noting states also have their own reporting requirements for growers, processors, and dispensaries. Both Oregon and Washington, for example, require monthly reports related to medical marijuana transfers.<ref name="OMMPReporting">{{cite web |url=https://public.health.oregon.gov/DiseasesConditions/ChronicDisease/MedicalMarijuanaProgram/Pages/reporting.aspx |title=Reporting Requirements for Tracking Medical Marijuana |author=Public Health Division |publisher=Oregon Health Authority |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="314-55 WAC">{{cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=314-55&full=true |title=Chapter 314-55 WAC: Marijuana Licenses, Application Process, Requirements, and Reporting |work=Washington Administrative Code |publisher=Washington State Legislature |date=16 November 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Lab equipment===<br />
As indicated in previous sections, spectrometry and chromatography have played and will continue to play an important role in cannabis laboratory testing. This should not be surprising: "mass spectrometry is superior to other spectral techniques in such features as sensitivity, selectivity, generation possibility of molecular mass/formula, and combinability with chromatography."<ref name="MilmanTech10">{{cite book |chapter=Chapter 2: Techniques and Methods of Identification |title=Chemical Identification and its Quality Assurance |author=Milman, B.L. |publisher=Springer Berlin Heidelberg |year=2010 |pages=23–39 |isbn=9783642153617 |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-15361-7_2}}</ref> Analyzing complex chemical compounds that have many features and which are at times difficult to differentiate from each other proves challenging, but these technologies excel in meeting that task.<ref name="MilmanTech10" /> Refer to the previous "Methods and guidelines" section to note the specific technology associated with each molecule and contaminate. Aside from spectrometry and chomatography equipment, the analysis of microorganisms in cannabis may turn to DNA analysis methods that require additional equipment such as a thermal cycler (qPCR) or sequencer (WMGS), or ELISA, which utilizes a photometer or spectrophotometer. Of course, preparing and storing samples requires equipment as well, such as microplates, centrifuges, comparison standards, capillaries, chemicals, columns, Petri dishes, scales, and disposable gloves. Software-based data management systems may also constitute as equipment and are discussed in the next section.<br />
<br />
When it comes to purchasing lab equipment specifically for cannabis testing, a 2015 interview with Emerald Scientific's CTO Amanda Rigdon (then with Restek Corporation) provides good advice<ref name="TaylorCanna15">{{cite web |url=http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/article/2015/06/cannabis-testing-opens-whole-new-market |title=Cannabis Testing Opens Up a Whole New Market |author=Taylor, M. |work=Laboratory Equipment |publisher=Advantage Business Media |date=23 June 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* Industry-specific instrumentation isn't needed in most cases as most of the techniques and equipment used in food and herbal medicine testing have strong parallels to cannabis testing.<br />
* That said, some sample preparation tools, standards, and consumables specifically marketed to the industry may very well make the job quicker and more reliable.<br />
* Appropriate sample preparation techniques are just as vital as the equipment you use.<br />
* Do your research; many instrument companies are examining methodologies usable on conventional equipment, lessening the need for more expensive devices.<br />
* If buying used equipment, make sure the original manufacturer is still in-business and producing consumables and replacement parts. Make sure your planned methods match the equipment, and make sure it's not so old that it can't be serviced by a qualified technician.<br />
<br />
===Software===<br />
Laboratories increasingly depend on software to analyze, store, and share critical data from instruments and experiments.<ref name="VI11">{{cite web |url=http://www.virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150425070143/http://virtualinformatics.com/content/Laboratory_informatics.htm |title=Laboratory Informatics |publisher=virtualinformatics.com |date=09 April 2011 |archivedate=25 April 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> This has led to the development of laboratory-specific software like the [[laboratory information management system]] (LIMS), [[electronic laboratory notebook]] (ELN), and [[chromatography data management system]] (CDMS; sometimes simply CDS). These and other software systems such as "seed-to-sale" programs can also play an important role in the cannabis testing laboratory.<br />
<br />
====LIMS====<br />
Laboratories of all types use LIMS software to manage the wide variety of data, testing and analysis workflows, and other enterprise activities typical of them. This generally includes — but is not limited to — sample reception, workflow management, sample tracking and analysis, quality control, instrument data management, data storage, reporting, and document management.<ref name="SkobelevLab11">{{cite journal |title=Laboratory information management systems in the work of the analytic laboratory |journal=Measurement Techniques |author=Skobelev, D.O.; Zaytseva, T.M.; Kozlov, A.D. et al. |volume=53 |issue=10 |pages=1182–1189 |year=2011 |doi=10.1007/s11018-011-9638-7}}</ref> The cannabis testing laboratory is no exception, though its activities differ slightly from, for example, a clinical pathology laboratory. As such, a few additional features outside of what's typically found in a generic LIMS are required.<br />
<br />
Features that may be incorporated into a cannabis testing LIMS that you might not necessarily find in an all-purpose LIMS include<ref name="BirosUsing15">{{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/feature_article/using-lims-in-cannabis-laboratories/ |title=Using LIMS in Cannabis Laboratories |author=Biros, A.G. |work=Cannabis Industry Journal |publisher=Innovative Publishing Co. LLC |date=23 October 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PromiumELIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=https://www.promium.com/main/element-lims-cannabis |title=LIMS for Managing Cannabis Testing |publisher=Promium, LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="PharmWareHome">{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmware.net/ |title=PharmWare |publisher=PharmLabs LLC |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LLLIMSCanna">{{cite web |url=http://www.lablynxpress.com/index.php?title=LabLynx_LIMS_-_Cannabis |title=LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis |publisher=LabLynx, Inc |date=20 January 2017 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* sample loading screens optimized for the industry, including differentiation between medical and recreational marijuana<br />
* pre-loaded compliant test protocols, labels, and reports optimized and readily adjustable for a rapidly changing industry<br />
* tools for creating new, compliant test protocols, labels, and reports<br />
* a web API to integrate with state-required compliance reporting systems<br />
* chain-of-custody (CoC) tracking, when necessary<br />
* support for inventory reconciliation<br />
<br />
As previously discussed, industry-specific test protocols largely focus on cannabinoids, terpenes, and a wide variety of contaminates, including excess water. However, as regulations continue to be in a state of flux and not particularly standardized, most LIMS developers are including the ability for users to adjust their protocols and even add new ones. And while CoC functionality is not entirely foreign to generic LIMS, it's particularly important in an industry where currently transporting even a cannabis test sample across state lines can create huge problems.<br />
<br />
In cases where daily sample processing is infrequent and only a couple of chromatography machines are used, laboratories may weigh a decision between a LIMS and a chromatography-specific CDMS.<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
Scientists on the research side of cannabis are certainly using CDMSs from Agilent, Thermo Scientific, Waters, and other to manage the data coming out of their chromatography equipment<ref name="PurschkeDevelop16">{{cite journal |title=Development and validation of an automated liquid-liquid extraction GC/MS method for the determination of THC, 11-OH-THC, and free THC-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) from blood serum |journal=Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry |author=Purschke, K.; Heinl, S.; Lerch, O. et al. |volume=408 |issue=16 |pages=4379-88 |year=2016 |doi=10.1007/s00216-016-9537-5 |pmid=27116418 |pmc=PMC4875941}}</ref><ref name="AlbertiniDeterm15">{{cite web |url=http://tools.thermofisher.com/content/sfs/posters/PO-GC-MS-THC-Metabolites-Triple-Quad-EN.pdf |format=PDF |title=Determination of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Its Main Metabolites Using GC Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry |author=Albertini, T.; Caruso, A. |publisher=Thermo Fisher Scientific |date=2015 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="LaytonAnalysis17">{{cite web |url=https://www.perkinelmer.com/lab-solutions/resources/docs/APP_Analysis-of-Cannabinoids-in-Hemp-Seed-Oils-by-HPLC-012317_01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Cannabinoids in Hemp Seed Oils by HPLC Using PDA Detection |author=Layton, C.; Reuter, W.M. |publisher=PerkinElmer, Inc |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref>, and slowly but surely some of those CDMSs are beginning to also support spectrometer data management in a similar way.<ref name="DaviesCentral16">{{cite web |url=http://www.spectroscopyeurope.com/articles/tony-davies-column/3676-central-spectroscopic-data-systems-why-are-chromatographers-so-much-better-equipped |title=Central spectroscopic data systems: Why are chromatographers so much better equipped? |author=Davies, A.N. |work=Spectroscopy Europe |publisher=John Wiley & Sons Ltd; IM Publications LLP |date=12 April 2016 |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref> Additionally, some chromatography system developers will collaborate with CDMS vendors to develop software drivers — code that essentially acts as a translator between a device and a program — so chromatography devices can interact fully with the CDMS.<ref name="ShimadzuWaters">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/products/product.cfm?product=gcdriver |title=Waters Empower Shimadzu GC Driver Version 2 |publisher=Shimadzu Scientific Instruments |accessdate=17 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The CDMS likely has a place in the cannabis testing lab as well, though it may depend on the lab's data management needs and goals. In more complex labs with multiple instruments and significant daily processing workflows, a LIMS may make more practical sense.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
The use of seed-to-sale software is an emerging trend that is only tangentially related to laboratory testing of cannabis. Rather than at testing laboratories, seed-to-sale software is found at cultivation sites, production facilities, and dispensaries, and that software is typically designed to be able to integrate with testing laboratory or other software. The goal: create a complete record of transaction, from the grown plant to the lab, producer, and seller. This sort of tracking is mandated in various ways by many U.S. states with legalization laws. "It’s there to prevent the diversion of marijuana, which the federal government still lists as a Schedule I substance, the most dangerous class of drugs," wrote Daniel Rothberg of the ''Las Vegas Sun'' in December 2015. "Tracking also ensures product safety, assists with audits and helps facilitate recalls."<ref name="RothbergSoft15">{{cite web |url=http://www.govtech.com/state/Software-Firms-Benefit-from-Governments-Seed-to-Sale-Marijuana-Tracking.html |title=Software Firms Benefit from Government’s Seed-to-Sale Marijuana Tracking |author=Rothberg, D. |work=Government Technology |publisher=e.Republic, Inc |date=29 December 2015 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref> This type of software is able to track plant yields, attempted theft or diversion, patient preferences, extraction methods, batch weights, and various financial statistics for analysis.<ref name="SmythTrack16">{{cite web |url=https://mjfreeway.com/blog/track-and-trace-vs-seed-to-sale |title=Track and Trace vs. Seed to Sale |author=Smyth, H. |work=MJ Freeway Blog |publisher=MJ Freeway, LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="RothbergSoft15" /><br />
<br />
==Future of cannabis regulation, testing, and market trends==<br />
===Regulation and market===<br />
[[File:Medical cannabis demo 2.JPG|right|250px]]On February 23, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer indicated for the first time that the Trump administration would indeed be ramping up enforcement in states that have legalized recreational marijuana use, stating "I do believe that you’ll see greater enforcement," adding that "there’s a big difference between the medical use ... that’s very different than the recreational use, which is something the Department of Justice will be further looking into."<ref name="KumarTrump17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article134608704.html |title=Trump administration plans crackdown on recreational marijuana |author=Kumar, A.; Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Five days later, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions continued to send pessimistic signals, stating he was "dubious about marijuana," and that "[w]e have a responsibility to use our best judgment ... and my view is we don’t need to be legalizing marijuana."<ref name="WheelerSessions17">{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/regulation/administration/321525-sessions-we-dont-need-to-be-legalizing-marijuana |title=Sessions: 'We don't need to be legalizing marijuana' |author=Wheeler, L. |work=The Hill |publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp |date=28 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Several days later, seemingly in response to both Spicer's and Sessions' comments, 11 U.S. senators sent a letter to Sessions asking him to keep in mind Trump's campaign promises of letting states decide their own fate on legalization efforts.<ref name="HotokainenEleven17">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article135996463.html |title=11 senators call on Trump team to allow sale of recreational marijuana |author=Hotokainen, R. |work=McClatchy DC |date=02 March 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Until demonstrably intrusive federal enforcement actions take place in states with legalized recreational marijuana, it won't be clear if the administration is simply making an implied, noisy threat in order to bring more in the industry to heel. More certain is mounting evidence that a growing majority of U.S. voters believe the federal government should not be enforcing its laws in such states: 64 percent agreed on this in 2012<ref name="NewportAmericans12">{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/159152/americans-federal-gov-state-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=Americans Want Federal Gov't Out of State Marijuana Laws |author=Newport, F. |publisher=Gallup, Inc |date=10 December 2012 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>, rising to 71 percent in 2017.<ref name="QuinnipiacRepublicans17">{{cite web |url=https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2432 |title=Republicans Out Of Step With U.S. Voters On Key Issues, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Most Voters Support Legalized Marijuana |publisher=Quinnipiac University |date=23 February 2017 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Despite such support, it may largely be up to the states in the future to twist the arm of the federal government. Legal representatives at Thompson Coburn expressed this idea well in a blog post in November 2016<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry may have to consider forcing the federal hand by providing credible data on the safety of cannabis as it was invited to do in the DEA decision, in addition to the continuing to support the groundswell of approval at the state level. At some point, in the near future, the state regulatory position and the federal position will have to be reconciled. The industry can and should prompt that reconciliation by a clear united message to federal lawmakers. Without that, it remains unlikely that agencies, such as the FDA, will change its position on cannabis. A lack of change will inhibit market growth and prevent the cannabis industry from reaching its potential.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The obvious issue with expanding research and testing on cannabis and of its safety is acquiring the product within a legal framework and a reasonable time frame. As mentioned previously, the DEA has recognized the need for more federally approved growers than the NIDA center at the University of Mississippi (which came under fire in March 2017 for not testing its provided samples for mold and other contaminants in any standardized fashion<ref name="HellermanScientists17">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/scientists-say-governments-pot-farm-moldy-samples-no-guidelines/ |title=Scientists say the government’s only pot farm has moldy samples — and no federal testing standards |author=Hellerman, C. |work=PBS NewsHour |publisher=NewsHour Productions, LLC |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=15 March 2017}}</ref>), and they've begun accepting applications for additional entities looking to grow marijuana for researchers.<ref name="81FR53846" /> Assuming the Trump administration doesn't force the DEA to change course — and signs point to the administration at least being on spoken record of supporting medical marijuana and associated research<ref name="MPPTrumpMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://www.mpp.org/federal/trump-marijuana-policy/ |title=Trump on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |date=12 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — researchers will optimistically have more options for acquiring research-quality cannabis in the future. This should in turn allow researchers a shot at more focused studies that provide efficacy and safety data related to the medical use of cannabis.<ref name="Romza-KutzTheSilver16" /> In fact, this has been a goal of Dr. Susan Weiss, Division Director of Extramural Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for some time. In July 2016 testimony to the U.S. Judiciary Committee<ref name="WeissTestimony16" /> and in a February 2017 research paper set to be published in ''The International Journal of Drug Policy''<ref name="WeissBuilding17">{{cite journal |title=Building smart cannabis policy from the science up |journal=International Journal of Drug Policy |author=Weiss, S.R.B.; Howlett, K.D.; Baler, R.D. |year=2017 |doi=10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.01.007 |pmid=28189459}}</ref>, Weiss cautiously recognizes and promotes the need for further evidence-based cannabis research, emphasizing both the healthy and detrimental effects evident so far in the plant and its constituents. She said of recent federal actions towards this goal<ref name="WeissTestimony16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Multiple agencies (NIH, ONDCP, DEA, and FDA) are working together to find ways to streamline the process to facilitate research while meeting international and legislative obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the Controlled Substances Act. In addition to actions taken by the Department of Health and Humans Services to eliminate the Public Health Services (PHS) committee review for non-federally funded marijuana research, the DEA recently streamlined the administrative process for CBD research to allow researchers to obtain a waiver of the requirement for review of changes to an approved protocol in their DEA research registrations, and is attempting to address the marijuana diversity and product development concern by licensing additional manufacturers.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Another recent and significant body of research that may have future influence on cannabis research itself is a massive January 2017 cannabis literature review published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This 440-page report detailed the National Academies' findings after reviewing more than 10,700 abstracts related to cannabis. Among its final recommendations, the authors called for<ref name="NASEMTheHealth17">{{cite web |url=http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/reports/2017/health-effects-of-cannabis-and-cannabinoids.aspx |title=The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research |author=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine |publisher=The National Academies Press |pages=440 |doi=10.17226/24625 |date=12 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* public and private entities to fund and support a national cannabis research initiative that looks to fill key knowledge gaps;<br />
* government agencies to develop research methods and standards that may act as a guide towards higher-quality cannabis research;<br />
* government agencies, non-profit associations, and state and local health departments to fund and support efforts to improve federal, state, and local public health surveillance systems and efforts; and<br />
* government, non-government, and industry entities to work together towards developing a report on existing regulatory barriers to research and how to overcome them.<br />
<br />
However, some researchers such as Mayo Clinic psychiatrist and researcher Michael Bostwick are less convinced that the barriers will fall — claiming federal entities shift too much focus on the detrimental effects and not enough on the potential benefits — and aren't optimistic about the direction the Trump administration will take.<ref name="GrantMari17">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/48122/title/Marijuana-Research-Still-Stymied-by-Federal-Laws/ |title=Marijuana Research Still Stymied by Federal Laws |author=Grant, B. |work=The Scientist |publisher=LabX Media Group |date=23 January 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Despite this pessimism, predictions of substantial revenues in states where recreational marijuana is legalized or could be legalized persist.<ref name="MorrisTheNext16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/21/the-next-big-billion-dollar-cannabis-markets-investors-are-rushing-to.html |title=The next big billion-dollar cannabis markets investors are rushing to |author=Morris, C. |work=CNBC |date=21 October 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="ThomasBigPot17">{{cite web |url=http://ctmirror.org/2017/02/07/big-pot-of-money-waiting-if-ct-legalizes-marijuana-analysts-say/ |title=Big pot of money waiting if CT legalizes marijuana, analysts say |author=Thomas, J.R. |work=The CT Mirror |publisher=The Connecticut News Project |date=07 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="HoughtonTown17">{{cite web |url=http://www.capenews.net/mashpee/news/town-manager-marijuana-shops-could-boost-tax-revenue/article_c27b9b71-fb63-52de-bc24-fda320f38a32.html |title=Town Manager: Marijuana Shops Could Boost Tax Revenue |author=Houghton, S. |work=The Mashpee Enterprise |publisher=Enterprise Newspapers |date=14 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> The latest national estimates by market research and analytics company New Frontier Data put the U.S. marijuana industry at $24 billion by 2025, with 255,000 total jobs by 2019.<ref name="WallaceReport17">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/02/22/report-united-states-marijuana-sales-projections-2025/74059/ |title=Report: America’s marijuana industry headed for $24 billion by 2025 |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 February 2017 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Yet entities such as the Denver-based Marijuana Policy Group and cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg LLC preach caution when dealing with tax revenue estimates and economic projections in the U.S. cannabis market<ref name="WallaceReport17" />, pointing to CIBC World Markets' grossly inflated tax revenue estimate of $142 CAD ($106 USD) per resident in January 2016, an overshot of about 300 percent.<ref name="WallaceWhat16">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/12/22/marijuana-sales-pot-taxes-colorado-estimates-projections/69831/ |title=What legal states need to know about sketchy pot tax predictions |author=Wallace, A. |work=The Cannabist |publisher=The Denver Post |date=22 December 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> "This is a fast-paced, changing market with varying different dynamics that have more to do based on governmental and regulatory dynamics than they do on consumer dynamics," said Vicente Sederberg's director of economics and research Andrew Livingston.<ref name="WallaceReport17" /> <br />
<br />
Indeed, current and future regulatory dynamics seem to be the biggest wildcards in making market-based predictions, with predicted tax and associated revenue estimates capable of both being significantly too high (by inadequately taking into account local and regional cultural and economic statuses) or too low (by not anticipating new states legalization efforts, research breakthroughs, or ties to other mainstream but related industries).<ref name="WallaceReport17" /><ref name="WallaceWhat16" /> Additionally, too much regulation can put a stranglehold on a state's cannabis program development — as it has done in Minnesota<ref name="PotterBig16">{{cite web |url=http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/08/12/big-losses-for-minn-medical-marijuana-providers |title=Big losses for Minn. medical marijuana providers |author=Potter, K. |work=MPR News |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio |date=12 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> — causing related grow-ops and laboratories to take significant losses or even go out of business.<br />
<br />
===Lab testing===<br />
Future-looking estimates on cannabis lab testing are more difficult to find. The primary numbers being floated around originate from a June 2015 market report published by GreenWave Advisors titled ''Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays''. GreenWave suggested that if the U.S. were to quickly legalize cannabis at the federal level, lab testing revenues alone would be $553 million by 2020, $866 million including related activities such as data analysis and consulting.<ref name="DPAUnique16">{{cite web |url=http://digipath.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/DigiPath-Investor-Presentation-11.3.pdf |format=PDF |title=DigiPath, Inc.: A Unique Investment Vehicle in Laboratory Testing |publisher=DigiPath, Inc |pages=28 |date=November 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SBSignal15">{{cite web |url=https://signalbay.com/company-news/signal-bay-makes-strategic-acquisition-in-the-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=Signal Bay Makes Strategic Acquisition in the $850M Cannabis Testing Market |publisher=Signal Bay, Inc |date=24 September 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="GWMari15">{{cite web |url=https://www.greenwaveadvisors.com/research/marijuana-lab-testing-an-in-depth-analysis-of-investing-in-one-of-the-industrys-most-attractive-plays/ |title=Marijuana lab testing: An in depth analysis of investing in one of the industry’s most attractive plays |publisher=GreeenWave Advisors, LLC |date=June 2015 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
As for advances in cannabis lab testing, Kuzdzal ''et al.'' of Shimadzu envision a future where improvements in standardization, quality control, and research will shift what is tested and how its tested<ref name="KuzdzalACloser16" />:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The cannabis industry and cannabis testing are in their infancies. As the need for better quality control continues and standardization is introduced, it is likely that lower limits for the various cannabis contaminants will be established and regulations will be introduced. Mass spectrometry will likely play a greater role in quantitation as detection levels are lowered and confirmatory tests are required. The health benefits of terpenes present in cannabis will also provide a fertile area of scientific research. CBD, CBG and other compounds appear to have a synergistic relationship with each other as well as with various THC forms and terpenes. This field needs much more investigation to determine mechanisms of action, bioavailability and health benefits.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Lab testing of cannabis should continue to provide more exact and useful results as methods and standards continue to evolve. Disparity of results between two labs for the same sample are continuing to narrow as states increasingly add testing requirements to their cannabis legislature.<ref name="NelsonHas16">{{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/has-lab-testing-turned-a-corner/ |title=Has Lab Testing Turned A Corner? |author=Nelson, S. |work=Cannabis Business Times |publisher=GIE Media, Inc |date=03 August 2016 |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref> Those testing requirements are increasingly based off a growing body of recommendations, guidance, and standards developed by the likes of the Americans for Safe Access Foundation (ASAF), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS), and the Association of Public Health Laboratories.<ref name="InfocastNew16" /><ref name="AHPARecomm16" /><ref name="AHPCanna14" /><ref name="MarcuJahan16" /><ref name="CassidayTheHighs16" /><ref name="APHLGuide16" /> Proficiency tests such as the Emerald Test<ref name="EmeraldTest">{{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC |accessdate=03 March 2017}}</ref>, which allows multiple labs to test an anonymous sample and compare results, should also continue to drive improved performance from cannabis testing labs.<ref name="NelsonHas16" /><br />
<br />
Another potential trend to keep an eye on with these testing laboratories: consolidation. Currently there's not a lot of data on the extent consolidation has affected the number of cannabis testing labs or how they operate; the industry is arguably still in its infancy. Regardless, mentions in press and practical examples demonstrate that consolidation is a real concern for the industry, if not now in the future. Suggestion of such came from Steep Hill Halent's CEO David Lampach in late 2013, anticipating "huge consolidation in general and fewer companies as a result."<ref name="LampachQA13" /> The previously mentioned GreenWave Advisors as well as CannaSafe Analytics have also lent their voices to this idea in recent years.<ref name="TMIDigiPath15">{{cite web |url=http://marijuanaindex.com/digipath-digp-well-positioned-to-take-advantage-of-850m-cannabis-testing-market/ |title=DigiPath (DIGP) Well Positioned To Take Advantage of $850M Cannabis Testing Market |work=The Marijuana Index |author=CannabisFN |publisher=MJIC, Inc |date=16 July 2015 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SchroyerIndustry16">{{cite web |url=https://mjbizmagazine.com/industry-snapshot-testing-labs/ |title=Industry Snapshot: Testing Labs |author=Schroyer, J. |work=Marijuana Business Magazine |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc |date=January 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Production===<br />
Outside the lab, on the production side, resides a glimpse of technology that ties several of the previously mentioned ideas together: growing cannabis as an environmentally modified organism (EMO). A June 2016 article published in <em>Motherboard</em> references the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) in Canada and its effort to apply innovations in growing plants in closed environments (such as on spaceships) to cannabis production.<ref name="OwensHow16">{{cite web |url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/how-space-technology-will-produce-the-best-weed-marijuana-cannabis-pot |title=How Space Technology Will Produce the Best Weed Ever |author=Owens, B. |work=Motherboard |publisher=Motherboard-IPTV LLC |date=21 June 2016 |accessdate=07 March 2017}}</ref> Specifically, the researchers see promise in being able to precisely control grow conditions to produce a plant with a particular ratio of active chemicals. As such, the previously mentioned synergistic relationship of cannabis' chemicals can be more carefully studied, and the end product, once studied and methodically tested, could potentially "achieve the status of a conventional pharmaceutical commodity that a doctor can rely on and prescribe."<ref name="OwensHow16" /> CESRF isn't alone in developing grow technology that can tailor the necessary conditions for a particular strain. Several Israeli-linked start-ups (see the last section "Non-U.S. policy" for more) like Corsica Innovations (LEAF) and Flux (Eddy) have been developing similar grow technology that may transform future research.<ref name="GustafsonStartup16">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinegustafson/2016/12/07/it-just-became-incredibly-easy-to-grow-marijuana-at-home-meet-leaf/print/ |title=Startup Launches Automated System It Claims Makes It Easy To Grow Marijuana At Home |author=Gustafson, K. |work=Forbes |publisher=Forbes.com LLC |date=07 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="SolomonIsreali16">{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startup-creates-idiots-guide-to-home-grown-food/ |title=Israeli startup creates idiot’s guide to home-grown food |author=Solomon, S. |work=The Times of Israel |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="PressFive17">{{cite web |url=https://www.israel21c.org/5-reasons-israel-is-dominating-the-cannabis-industry/ |title=5 reasons Israel is dominating the cannabis industry |author=Press, V.S. |work=ISREAL21c |date=13 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
With better research, more definitive fact-based decisions can be made in the regulatory sphere, better guiding medical and recreational marijuana policy. That said, keep an eye on developments in controllable production methods; advances in this area stand to improve many of the other facets of research and testing discussed.<br />
<br />
===Big Marijuana===<br />
Both U.S. states and the federal government have a long, sometimes torturous history with regulating and controlling the production and sale of drug-containing products such as pharmaceuticals, tobacco, beer, wine, and spirits. As such, it seems intuitive to examine the successes and failures of those past efforts when considering what to do with cannabis. One aspect of that examination that raises concern among some is the likelihood of a narrow group of commercial interests taking over all aspects of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales. Taking from "Big Pharma," "Big Tobacco," and "Big Alcohol," some fear a similar "Big Marijuana" industry will develop.<ref name="HudakWorry16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana—not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These fears can be found among small private growers at the hyper-local level<ref name="SolovitchHow16">{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/marijuana-legalization-big-business-alcohol-214198 |title=How Big Alcohol Is About to Get Rich Off California Weed |author=Solovitch, S. |work=POLITICO |publisher=POLITICO, LLC |date=29 August 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>, all the way up to the state government level.<ref name="SteeringPathways15">{{cite web |url=https://www.aclunc.org/sites/default/files/20150721-brc_pathways_report.pdf |format=PDF |title=Pathways Report: Policy Options for Regulating Marijuana in California |author=Steering Committee of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |publisher=Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy |date=22 July 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
In fact, in a 2015 Pathways Report, the state of California — including its Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom — expressed this very concern in regards to how best to regulate marijuana in the state. When considering the marijuana industry structure, they found that controls should be put in place to better incentivize smaller industry players, stating "[t]he goal should be to prevent the growth of a large, corporate marijuana industry dominated by a small number of players, as we see with Big Tobacco or the alcohol industry."<ref name="SteeringPathways15" /> Despite that advice, major California-based industry players such as Steve DeAngelo — who owns one of the largest medical marijuana dispensaries in the world and co-founded Steep Hill Labs — remain concerned that mandates for distribution, which mirror alcohol regulations, will only undermine small cannabis businesses in the state.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><br />
<br />
Anti-marijuana alliances such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and corporation-friendly pro-cannabis Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) act as opposing special interest groups, one fighting against Big Marijuana, the other borrowing from a libertarian approach proposing regulation of marijuana in a way similar to alcohol.<ref name="SolovitchHow16" /><ref name="WallachBoot16">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="CRPTheMoney15">{{cite web |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/issues/marijuana/ |title=The Money in Marijuana: The political landscape |work=OpenSecrets.org |publisher=Center for Responsive Politics |date=November 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> These and other special interest groups inevitably bring about the perception that, as the Brookings Institution puts it, "the marijuana industry is as self-serving as any other commercial lobby," further propelling worries of Big Marijuana.<ref name="WallachBoot16" /><br />
<br />
If worries of large corporations taking over significant portions of cannabis production, testing, distribution, and sales markets actually come to fruition, how will they potentially manifest? The previously mentioned concern of increased consolidation of testing labs is arguably one sign, as is DeAngelo's concern of forced distribution contracts taking away from smaller businesses. Brookings also points out concerns of large firms gaining hold over the evolving regulatory status as well as upward trends in antisocial marketing, though they also argue against undue alarmism of commercialization at the same time.<ref name="HudakWorry16" /><br />
<br />
Another manifestation of how Big Marijuana may be taking hold is through the patenting of cannabis strains and methods. PBS' ''Nova'' reported in October 2016 that a group of California growers were granted a patent for "compositions and methods for the breeding, production, processing and use of specialty cannabis,"<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/evolution/patenting-pot/ |title=The Rise of Marijuana™ (Patent Pending) |author=Arnold, C. |work=Nova Next |publisher=PBS |date=19 October 2016 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref> raising concerns about how Big Pharma could capitalize. Mowgli Holmes — founder of Phylos Biosciences, a genetics testing laboratory for cannabis — says as much: "Everyone is terrified of some big corporation with deep pockets coming in and taking over ... and they should be." To fight against the misappropriation of patents for "public domain" cannabis strains, he and others have developed Phylos Galaxy to better track relations between existing cannabis strains and the creation of new strains. From a lab testing perspective, a small but increasing number of qualified labs could test not only for potency, terpenes, and pesticides but also genetically verify in a standardized format that a unique strain is actually what it is claimed to be, providing slight competitive advantage.<ref name="ArnoldTheRise16" /> As the patenting trend continues (most recently a patent was issued to a Florida company for an "apparatus and methods for biosynthetic production of cannabinoids"<ref name="LivniTheUS17">{{cite web |url=https://qz.com/927649/the-us-government-grants-cannabis-patents-though-weed-is-illegal/ |title=The US government grants cannabis patents even though weed is illegal |author=Livni, E. |work=Quartz |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group, Inc |date=08 March 2017 |accessdate=10 March 2017}}</ref>) the intellectual property war over strains and methods is bound to get more heated; as such, the development of accurate and open genetic and other laboratory testing methods may become increasing vital.<br />
<br />
===Non-U.S. policy===<br />
[[File:Treaty decades.png|right|800px]]Aside from a few mentions of Canada and European regulation, this guide has focused solely on the state of cannabis and related lab testing in the United States. However, it would be remiss to not look at how policy elsewhere may potentially impact the U.S. cannabis market, if nothing else at least indirectly. Broadly speaking, other countries like the Netherlands and Portugal have put more emphasis on decriminalization and recreational legalization of marijuana than on researching and providing marijuana for medical purposes.<ref name="JohnsonPast15">{{cite journal |title=Past 15-year trends in adolescent marijuana use: Differences by race/ethnicity and sex |journal=Drug and Alcohol Dependence |author=Johnson, R.M.; Fariman, B.; Gilreath, T. et al. |volume=155 |pages=8–15 |year=2015 |doi=10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.08.025 |pmid=26361714 |pmc=PMC4582007}}</ref> Israel has been one of the major exceptions to this generalization, arguably "up to 10 years ahead of other countries in innovation in the cannabis industry."<ref name="PressFive17" /> The country has been involved with cannabis research since the 1960s, and today it has its hands in many medical research-based initiatives (though recreational marijuana is still illegal), including<ref name="PressFive17" /><ref name="KershnerIsrael16">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/17/world/middleeast/israel-a-medical-marijuana-pioneer-is-eager-to-capitalize.html?_r=0 |title=Israel, a Medical Marijuana Pioneer, Is Eager to Capitalize |author=Kershner, I. |work=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=17 December 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref>:<br />
<br />
* The Green Book, a set of written protocols and policy detailing how doctors should work with medical marijuana (still in draft phase as of March 2017) as well as how it would be commercialized across the country; includes training and certification of 100 doctors for prescribing it<ref name="EfratiIsraeli16">{{cite web |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.747985 |title=Israeli Pharmacies Prepare to Sell Medical Cannabis |author=Efrati, I. |work=Haaretz |publisher=Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd |date=20 October 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="iCANIsrael16">{{cite web |url=http://journal.cannabislaw.report/israel-a-peek-inside-the-israeli-knessets-special-committee-on-medical-cannabis/ |title=Israel: A Peek Inside the Israeli Knesset’s Special Committee on Medical Cannabis |author=iCAN Israel |work=Cannabis Law Journal |date=01 September 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
* the creation of the Medical Cannabis Unit, a government agency that regulates medical cannabis research and use<br />
* the development of significant investment and infrastructure for clinical trials involving medical cannabis<br />
* the development of a national institute for medical marijuana research<br />
* the discussion of potentially exporting cannabis and/or cannabis-related extracts and derivatives<br />
* several higher education facilities offering courses and research opportunities on cannabis<br />
* several start-ups developing improved cultivation, pharmaceutical, and medical device technology<br />
<br />
Another major country challenging traditional cannabis regulation is Uruguay, which in December 2013 adopted the first stages of regulatory legislation that will ultimately make the cultivation, sale, and use (recreational and medical) of cannabis in the country legal and government-controlled. In part due to concerns regarding gang-related violence and a tentative but not proven connection to black-market cannabis, the country has since carefully and methodically implemented the laws and regulations with the goal of keeping in mind evidence-based research and the potential social impact.<ref name="RamseyGetting16">{{cite web |url=https://www.wola.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Getting-Regulation-Right-WOLA-Uruguay.pdf |format=PDF |title=Getting Regulation Right: Assessing Uruguay's Historic Cannabis Initiative |author=Ramsey, G. |publisher=WOLA |date=November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> In fact, a late February 2017 press release from Canadian company Emblem Corp. stated it and Uruguayan ICC International Cannabis Corporation would, pending finalization of regulatory processes between the two countries, begin a partnership that would have Emblem import CBD (cannabidiol) from ICC "to help fulfill the demand in the Canadian market."<ref name="NCVEmblem17">{{cite web |url=https://www.newcannabisventures.com/emblem-to-import-cbd-from-uruguay-into-canada/ |title=Emblem to Import CBD from Uruguay into Canada |work=New Cannabis Ventures |publisher=NCV Media, LLC |date=27 February 2017 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
The reality of all this — combined with the legalization momentum in the U.S. and other countries — means that new pressures are being applied to organizers of international treaties and policy, and any future changes to those treaties and policy may inversely apply pressure back on the U.S. government to update its stance on cannabis. An October 2014 Brookings Institution interview revealed some of the issues "straining the limits of an international drug control regime that most participants, including the United States, have long understood to be quite strict."<ref name="RauchMari14">{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2014/10/16/marijuana-legalization-poses-a-dilemma-for-international-drug-treaties/ |title=Marijuana Legalization Poses a Dilemma for International Drug Treaties |author=Rauch, J. |work=Brookings FIXGOV: Making Government Work |publisher=The Brookings Institution |date=16 October 2014 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> Drug treaties such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), and United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988) represent hard policy that the U.S. government (as well as other federal governments) has followed steadfastly for years. However, a dichotomy begins to form when federal governments bend those treaties either through outright legalization or, as is the case in the U.S., by allowing the states power to determine their own laws.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><br />
<br />
As a result of these stresses, policy experts around the world are shining light on the need for not only federal governments but also international agencies such as the United Nations' World Health Organisation (WHO) to move forward with critical reviews of existing cannabis research in the social and medical domains and determine if revising cannabis' scheduling is appropriate. Additionally, policy experts urge United Nations members to discuss and amend existing treaties, even if such amendments only provide greater flexibility in regards to marijuana.<ref name="RauchMari14" /><ref name="HamiltonWhyWHO16">{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/why-who-needs-a-radical-rethink-of-its-draconian-approach-to-cannabis-68209 |title=Why WHO needs a radical rethink of its draconian approach to cannabis |author=Hamilton, I.; Monaghan, M.; Rolles, S. et al. |work=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation US, Inc |date=23 November 2016 |accessdate=08 March 2017}}</ref> <br />
<br />
Whether or not the decriminalization and legalization efforts of Israel, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and other foreign governments has a noticeable impact on international and U.S. federal law remains to be seen. However, it would be foolish to entirely ignore foreign policy when considering the future of cannabis — and by extension its laboratory testing — in the United States.<br />
<br />
==Final thoughts==<br />
This guide has attempted to provide insight into various aspects of the current status of laboratory testing of cannabis in the U.S. By extension, it has required a closer look at many non-testing or tangentially related aspects of cannabis, including history, regulations, standards, methods, equipment, and software. The guide has also attempted to look at the potential future of testing, a more difficult feat that has required inspection of — and speculation on — a mix of statistics and politics, as well as government and social policy and how they may all affect the future of cannabis testing. We learned that many point fingers at the U.S. federal government for being responsible for several cannabis-related issues, including lack of clear government support for cannabis research, lack of standardization of testing and analysis methods for said research, and wavering policy that remains inconsistent at best. At root is the fact that the federal government maintains cannabis (and its constituents) as a Schedule I drug, by extension declaring that it has no respectable medical use. This and related decisions have slowed down the academic study of cannabis, including its analysis, quality testing, and research and use as a medical treatment. The development, implementation, and reassessment of cultivation and testing standards and methods have largely been piecemeal; additionally, those efforts have been enacted in an environment where, despite the legal status in a state, fear that the federal government will inevitably intervene slows progress even further.<br />
<br />
Despite these barriers, the speed at which U.S. states have adopted some form of legalization of cannabis has pushed scientists and researchers to collaborate and improve standards and methods. Necessity continues to be the mother of invention, driving those in the industry to adapt or perish in a difficult, inconsistent market. State officials are teaming up at industry conferences and sharing ideas. Non-profit organizations are joining forces with major standards agencies to expand and improve good laboratory practices. Researchers — whether on their own or with the help of others internationally — are learning more about the cannabinoid and its interaction with terpenes, driving new insight into potential therapeutic remedies. Overall public perception about marijuana consumption and use is gradually shifting towards a positive light, even when so little is still understood about the long-term ramifications of its use. Commercial interests are taking notice, and so are international treaty makers. All of this adds up to forward momentum in the cannabis industry, with warts and all.<br />
<br />
Many factors will affect the future of cannabis regulation, testing, and research in the future; in the process, we're certain to see both ups and downs as political and social climates continue to change. However, as marijuana consumption and hemp-based manufacturing methods continue to see expanded support, consumers and manufacturers, as well as all those involved in between, will always clamor for a safer product that is "as advertised." Laboratory analysis will play an important role in that effort, whether it's in the medical research lab, the quality control lab, or the manufacturer's lab. It will be imperative for all interested parties to further work together to ensure methods are sound and standardized in a realistic and beneficial way to ensure that in the end consumers will get the best possible product available.<br />
<br />
==Resources==<br />
===Key reading===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite journal |title=''Cannabis sativa'': The plant of the thousand and one molecules |journal=Frontiers in Plant Medicine |author=Andre, C.M.; Hausman, J.-F.; Guerriero, G. |volume=7 |pages=19 |year=2016 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2016.00019 |pmid=26870049 |pmc=PMC4740396}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-highs-and-lows-of-cannabis-testing-october-2016 |title=The Highs and Lows of Cannabis Testing |author=Cassiday, L. |work=INFORM |publisher=American Oil Chemists' Society |date=October 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/big-marijuana-1.pdf |format=PDF |title=Worry about bad marijuana — not Big Marijuana |author=Hudak, J.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=18 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/bootleggers.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bootleggers, Baptists, bureaucrats, and bongs: How special interests will shape marijuana legalization |author=Wallach, P.; Rauch, J. |publisher=The Brookings Institution |pages=22 |date=June 2016}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Reference material===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/bookstore/state-legislatures-magazine/marijuana-deep-dive.aspx |title=Marijuana Deep Dive |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170117133745/https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuanainfo |title=Marijuana Resource Center |author=Office of National Drug Control Policy |archivedate=17 January 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis/en/ |title=The health and social effects of nonmedical cannabis use |author=World Health Organization |editor=Hall, W.; Renström, M.; Poznyak, V |publisher=World Health Organization |pages=95 |year=2016 |isbn=978921510240}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Law and regulation====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 |title=28 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC: Laws, Fees, and Possession Limits |work=ProCon.org |date=28 December 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/home-cannabis-cultivation-laws-a-state-by-state-guide |title=Home Cannabis Cultivation Laws: A State-by-State Guide |work=Leafly - Cannabis 101 |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/business-laws-and-regulations/marijuana-business-licenses-permits-and-planning.html |title=Marijuana Business: Licenses, Permits, and Planning |work=FindLaw |publisher=Thomson Reuters}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx |title=State Medical Marijuana Laws |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=09 November 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/leaflys-state-by-state-guide-to-cannabis-testing-regulations |title=Leafly’s State-by-State Guide to Medical Cannabis Testing Regulations |author=Rough, Lisa |work=Leafly - Industry |publisher=Leafly Holdings, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Publications and blogs====<br />
<br />
* ''[http://www.liebertpub.com/overview/cannabis-and-cannabinoid-research/633/ Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research]''<br />
* ''[https://www.cannabisindustryjournal.com/ Cannabis Industry Journal]''<br />
* ''[http://mjbizdaily.com/ Marijuana Business Daily]''<br />
* ''[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v525/n7570_supp/index.html Nature Outlook: Cannabis]''<br />
* ''[http://www.beyondthc.com/ O’Shaughnessy’s]''<br />
* ''[http://terpenesandtesting.com/ Terpenes and Testing Magazine]''<br />
* ''[http://www.thompsoncoburn.com/insights/blogs/tracking-cannabis Tracking Cannabis]'' - Thomas Coburn LLP<br />
<br />
<br />
====Standards and guidance====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/D37.htm |title=Committee D37 on Cannabis (Pending approval from the ASTM Board of Directors, April 26, 2017) |publisher=ASTM International |date=01 March 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm2006955.htm |title=Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration |date=07 June 2015 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/UCM272693.pdf |format=PDF |title=Analysis of Foods for As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) |publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition |date=25 April 2011}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://archive.epa.gov/pesticides/methods/rammethods/web/html/ram12b.html |title=Residue Analytical Methods (RAM) |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=14 February 2017}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/quality/medical-marijuana/lab-protocols/finished-mmj/final-revised-mdph-mmj-mips-protocol.pdf |format=PDF |title=Protocol for Sampling and Analysis of Finished Medical Marijuana Products and Marijuana-Infused Products for Massachusetts Registered Medical Marijuana Dispensaries |author=Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |publisher=Massachusetts Department of Public Health |pages=25 |date=05 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ahpa.org/Portals/0/pdfs/AHPA_Recommendations_for_Regulators_Cannabis_Operations.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Operations |author=Cannabis Committee, AHPA |publisher=American Herbal Products Association |date=02 February 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |url=http://www.herbal-ahp.org/order_online.htm |title=''Cannabis Inflorescence'': ''Cannabis'' spp. |publisher=American Herbal Pharmacopoeia |editor=Upton, R.; Craker, L.; ElSohly, M. et al. |year=2014 |isbn=1929425333}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Accreditation and certification====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientfocusedcertification.org/ |title=Patient Focused Certification |author=Americans for Safe Access Foundation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://certified-kind.com/ |title=Certified Kind: Certification for Responsibly Grown Cannabis |author=Certified Kind, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cleangreencert.org/ |title=Clean Green Certified |author=Clean Green Certified}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldtest.com/ |title=The Emerald Test |author=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.pjlabs.com/accreditation-programs/medical-marijuana-testing |title=Accreditation Programs: Medical Marijuana Testing |author=Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc}}<br />
<br />
<br />
====Testing====<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.a2la.org/appsweb/cannabis_testing.cfm |title=Cannabis Testing Laboratory Accreditation |author=American Association of Laboratory Accreditation}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.aphl.org/aboutAPHL/publications/Documents/EH-Guide-State-Med-Cannabis-052016.pdf |format=PDF |title=Guidance for State Medical Cannabis Testing Programs |author=Association of Public Health Laboratories |pages=35 |date=May 2016}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://lcb.wa.gov/publications/Marijuana/BOTEC%20reports/1a-Testing-for-Contaminants-Final-Revised.pdf |format=PDF |title=Testing ''Cannabis'' for Contaminants |author=Daley, P.; Lampach, D.; Sguerra, S. |publisher=BOTEC Analysis Corp |date=12 September 2013}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/ST-NAR-40-Ebook.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of cannabis and cannabis products |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=September 2009}} (Note year; still provides historical perspective)<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/STNAR48_Synthetic_Cannabinoids_ENG.pdf |format=PDF |title=Recommended methods for the identification and analysis of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in seized materials |author=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |date=June 2013}}<br />
<br />
'''New York State Department of Health''':<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/359205661/MML-303-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Mycotoxins by LC-MS/MS, NYS DOH MML-303 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=43 |date=18 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/576578963/MML-300-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Measurement of Phytocannabinoids using HPLC-PDA, NYS DOH MML-300 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=34 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.wadsworth.org/sites/default/files/WebDoc/1495494332/MML-301-01.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medical marijuana sample preparation protocols for potency analysis, NYS DOH MML-301 |author=Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Analytical Chemistry |publisher=New York State Department of Health |pages=13 |date=03 November 2015}}<br />
<br />
* For all other methods documents, see [https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana https://www.wadsworth.org/regulatory/elap/medical-marijuana].<br />
<br />
<br />
===Scientific conferences and trade shows===<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://2017.canntencon.com/ |title=Cann10 |publisher=Paragon Israel}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.cannabisbusinesssummit.com/oakland-2017/ |title=Cannabis Business Summit and Expo |publisher=National Cannabis Industry Association}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.cannabisscienceconference.com/ |title=Cannabis Science Conference |publisher=jCanna, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.canna-tech.co/ |title=CannaTech |publisher=iCAN Israel Cannabis}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://www.theemeraldconference.com/ |title=Emerald Conference |publisher=Emerald Scientific, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.csupueblo.edu/institute-of-cannabis-research/2017-conference/ |title=Institute of Cannabis Research Conference |publisher=Colorado State University - Pueblo}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://internationalcbc.com/ |title=International Cannabis Business Conference |publisher=International Conferences Group, LLC}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://mjbizconference.com/ |title=Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Anne Holland Ventures, Inc}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=http://patientsoutoftime.org/2017-national-clinical-conference-on-cannabis-therapeutics/ |title=National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics |publisher=Patients Out of Time}}<br />
<br />
* {{cite web |url=https://www.compassionatecertificationcenters.com/conference-overview/ |title=World Medical Marijuana Business Conference & Expo |publisher=Present Syndikos LLC}}<br />
<br />
<br />
===Associations, organizations, and interest groups===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agriculturalgenomics.org/ Agricultural Genomics Foundation]<br />
* [http://americancannabisnursesassociation.org/ American Cannabis Nurses Association]<br />
* [https://www.aocs.org/ American Oil Chemists Society]<br />
* [http://www.safeaccessnow.org/ Americans for Safe Access]<br />
* [http://www.cacannabislabs.com/ Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories]<br />
* [http://www.australiancannabisindustry.org/ Australian Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.chascience.com/ Cannabis Horticultural Association]<br />
* [http://cannabissafetyinstitute.org/ Cannabis Safety Institute]<br />
* [https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/organization/workgroups-interest-groups-consortia/cannabis-science-interest-csi-group Cannabis Science Interest (CSI) Group], part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse<br />
* [http://cannabisandsocialpolicy.org/ Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy]<br />
* [http://www.cocannabischamber.com/ Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce]<br />
* [http://dfcr.org/ Doctors for Cannabis Regulation]<br />
* [https://www.cannabis-med.org/ International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines]<br />
* [http://icrs.co/ International Cannabinoid Research Society]<br />
* [http://thecannabisindustry.org/ National Cannabis Industry Association]<br />
* [http://www.nvcla.org/ Nevada Coalition Laboratory Association for Public Safety]<br />
* [http://norml.org/ NORML]<br />
* [http://patientsoutoftime.org/ Patients Out of Time]<br />
* [https://www.projectcbd.org/ Project CBD]<br />
* [https://learnaboutsam.org/ Smart Approaches to Marijuana]<br />
* [http://cannabisclinicians.org/ Society of Cannabis Clinicians]<br />
* [https://themedicalcannabisinstitute.org/ The Medical Cannabis Institute]<br />
* [http://www.vetscp.org/ Veterans Cannabis Project]<br />
* [http://womengrow.com/ Women Grow]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Testing labs and pricing info===<br />
<br />
The prevalence of testing laboratories in any given state depends on a few factors: legalization status, state laws regarding testing, and strictness of regulations. Labs typically appear as stand-alone, third-party entities. Though not common, some testing laboratories are located within dispensaries (e.g., Champlain Valley Dispensary in Vermont<ref name="CVDOurQuality">{{cite web |url=http://www.cvdvt.org/products/quality-commitment/ |title=Our Quality Commitment |publisher=Champlain Valley Dispensary, Inc |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>) and treatment centers (e.g., Sanctuary ATC in New Hampshire.<ref name="SATCAnalysis">{{cite web |url=http://www.sanctuaryatc.org/laboratory-analysis-nh.php |title=New Hampshire Therapeutic Cannabis Laboratory Analysis — Therapeutic Uses |publisher=Sanctuary ATC |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref>).<br />
<br />
The following are known active cannabis testing labs (those currently in the licensing process are not included):<br />
<br />
'''Alaska'''<br />
<br />
* [http://www.canntest.com/ Canntest] ($70–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/alaska Steep Hill Alaska] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arizona''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.arizonaanalytical.com/ Arizona Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.c4lab.com/ C4 Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.deltaverdelaboratory.com/ Delta Verde Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://desertvalleytesting.com/ Desert Valley Testing] ($15–$360, single and package tests)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Arkansas''':<br />
<br />
* Laboratory testing requirements being drafted<br />
<br />
<br />
'''California''':<br />
<br />
* [http://anresco.com/ Anresco Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://budgenius.com Bud Genius] ($50/sample)<br />
* [https://www.cannalysislabs.com/ Cannalysis] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [https://coastalanalytical.com/ Coastal Analytical] ($77–$249, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.cblabstesting.com/ CS Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cwanalytical.com/ CW Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.flowertesting.com/ Flower Potency Testing] ($65–80/test type)<br />
* [http://greenherbanalytics.com/ GreenHerb Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenstyleconsulting.com/ Green Style Analytics] ($55–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.harrenslab.com/ Harrens Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.sdpharmlabs.com PharmLabs] ($40–$569, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://pureanalytics.net/ Pure Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.sequoia-labs.com Sequoia Analytical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/california Steep Hill California] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Colorado''':<br />
<br />
* [http://agricorlabs.com/ Agricor Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.aurum-labs.com/ Aurum Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://bonafideslab.com/ Bonafides Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.cmtlaboratory.com/ CMT Laboratories] ($15–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://gobianalytical.net/ Gobi Labs] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [https://greenlabsolutionscompany.com/ Green Lab Solutions Company] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://greenhilllab.com/ GreenHill Laboratories] ($45–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://www.nordicanalytic.com Nordic Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phytatech.com/ PhytaTech CO] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rm3.us/ Rm3 Labs] ($35–$237, single and package tests)<br />
* Shilo Labs (Licensed<ref name="COLGovMLab16">{{cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/MLab%2007012016%20%20%20this%20one%20.pdf |format=PDF |title=MLab 07012016 this one |publisher=State of Colorado |date=01 July 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://www.teqanalyticallabs.com/ TEQ Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://goodlabcolorado.com/ The Good Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Connecticut''':<br />
<br />
* [http://altascilabs.com/ AltaSci Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Delaware''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.agrolab.us/ Agrolab Organics] (State-contracted<ref name="FloodState16">{{cite web |url=http://www.capegazette.com/article/state-contracts-medical-marijuana-tester/120159 |title=State contracts medical marijuana tester |author=Flood, C. |work=Cape Gazette |date=15 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref>)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''District of Columbia''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Florida''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis Testing Lab Florida, LLC (Active but no website?)<br />
* [http://www.marijinc.com/ MariJ Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] (Mobile lab; pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.moderncanna.com/ Modern Canna Science (MCS)] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Hawaii''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hitestmedicallabs.com/ HI Test Medical Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.hipharmlabs.com/ PharmLabs Hawaii] ($50–$775, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/hawaii Steep Hill Hawaii] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Illinois''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.gracelabinc.com/ Grace Analytical Laboratory, Inc.] ([https://www.agr.state.il.us/medical-cannabis-pilot-program/ Approved by state], but not advertised on website)<br />
* [http://www.lkpurelabs.com/ LK Pure Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maine''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.testedlabs.com/ Tested Labs] ($25–35/sample)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Maryland''':<br />
<br />
* [http://steephill.com/maryland Steep Hill Maryland] (Pricing not public; plans on expanding here)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Massachusetts''':<br />
<br />
* [http://mcrlabs.com/ MCR Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.proverdelabs.com/ ProVerde Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Michigan''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.actlaboratoriesinc.com/ ACT Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.greatlakeslabservices.com/ Great Lakes Lab Services] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–$430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://micannalabs.com/ MI Canna Labs] ($60–$100/test package)<br />
* [https://www.psilabs.org/ PSI Labs] ($30–$85, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.steadfastlab.com/ Steadfast] ($25–$90/test)<br />
* [http://mispott.com/ The Spott] ($40–$90/test w/o membership; cheaper with, and can access package test prices)<br />
* [http://www.truenorthlaboratory.com/ True North Laboratory] ($30–$120, depending on test type)<br />
* [http://upgclabs.com/ UPGC Labs] ($35/sample for potency testing)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Minnesota''':<br />
<br />
* Not clear; independent labs must be approved by Commissioner of Health.<ref name="KlarqvistMinnesota16">{{cite web |url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/MCTRA.pdf |format=PDF |title=Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research Act |author=Klarqvist, E. |publisher=Minnesota House of Representatives |date=August 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref> Two labs — Aspen Research and Legend Technical Services — were approved to do testing in 2015, but neither lists those services on their website.<ref name="MDHPublic16">{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2016/other/160894.pdf |format=PDF |title=Public Health Laboratory Annual Report: Fiscal Year 2015 |publisher=Minnesota Department of Health Public Health Laboratory |date=2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Montana''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buboanalytics.com/ Bubo Analytics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://cannabanalysis.com/ Cannabanalysis Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://fidimt.com/ Fidelity Diagnostics] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://montanabiotech.com/ Montana BioTech] (From $60)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Nevada''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.374labs.com/ 374 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://certifiedaglab.com/ Certified AgLab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://dblabslv.com/ DB Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://digipath.com/ Digipath] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://g3labsllc.com/ G3 Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mmlabtesting.com/ MM Lab] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.newheightslaboratory.com/ New Heights Laboratory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.nvcann.com/ NV Cann Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.rsrlabs.com/ RSR Analytical Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://www.testlablasvegas.com/ Test Lab Las Vegas] (Pricing not public]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Hampshire''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates testing, but it's not clear which independent laboratories are approved to do so.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Jersey''':<br />
<br />
* Cannabis testing is performed by the Department of Health and Senior Services.<ref name="HSS_NJAC8-64">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/health/medicalmarijuana/documents/final_rules.pdf |format=PDF |title=Medicinal Marijuana Program Rules |publisher=New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services |date=23 November 2011 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''New Mexico''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.scientificbasesolutions.com/ Scientific Base Solutions] (Pricing not public]<br />
* [http://steephill.com/new-mexico Steep Hill New Mexico] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''New York''':<br />
<br />
* "The Department's Wadsworth Center Laboratory will perform initial testing and analysis of final medical marijuana products until independent laboratories receive certification from the New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP)."<ref name="NYSFAQ">{{cite web |url=https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/faq.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |work=New York State Medical Marijuana Program |publisher=New York State Department of Health |date=March 2016 |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''North Dakota''':<br />
<br />
* The state mandates that its compassion centers must test cannabis in-house or have it done by a contracted facility, though it's not clear what labs are performing such testing.<ref name="NDPetitionMMJ">{{cite web |url=https://vip.sos.nd.gov/pdfs/Measures%20Info/2016%20General/Measure%205.pdf |format=PDF |title=Initiated Constitutional Amendment No. 5 |publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State |date=2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Ohio''':<br />
<br />
* Licensing requirements for testing labs will become clearer in September 2017.<ref name="OMMCPTesting">{{cite web |url=http://www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/testing |title=Testing: Frequently Asked Questions |work=Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program |publisher=State of Ohio |accessdate=24 February 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Oregon'''<br />
<br />
* Anova Laboratory (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16">{{cite web |url=http://www.ktvz.com/news/olcc-oks-26-recreational-pot-licenses-3-are-in-bend/101328364 |title=OLCC OKs 26 recreational pot licenses, 4 in Bend |work=News Channel 21 KTVZ |publisher=NPG of Oregon, Inc |date=30 September 2016 |accessdate=14 March 2017}}</ref> but no website)<br />
* [http://cascadia-labs.com/ Cascadia Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [https://chemhistory.com/ ChemHistory] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.easternoregonanalytical.com/ Eastern Oregon Analytical] ($50–$230, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.eviolabs.com/ EVIO Labs] (Pricing not public; also see [http://www.kenevirresearch.com/ Kenevir Research], [http://oregonanalyticalservices.com/ Oregon Analytical Services], and [http://www.ghalabs.com/ GreenHaus Analytical Labs])<br />
* [http://www.greenleaflab.org/ Green Leaf Lab] ($50–$355, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://www.ironlaboratories.com/ Iron Laboratories] ($40–430, single and package tests w/o membership; cheaper with)<br />
* [http://www.juniperanalyticsllc.com/ Juniper Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [https://lightscale.com/ Lightscale Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://mrxlabs.com/ MRX Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://oganalytical.com/ Oregon Growers Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://phlabsoregon.com/ pH Labs] (($60–$375, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.phylosbioscience.com/ Phylos Bioscience] ($15–$295; sexing and genotyping only)<br />
* [http://pixislabs.com/ Pixis Labs] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
* [http://www.rosecitylabs.com Rose City Laboratories] ($25–$360, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://spartananalytics.com/ Spartan Analytics] ($50–$325, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.synpestlab.com/ Synergistic Pesticide Lab] (Licensed<ref name="KTVZ_OLCC16" /> but doesn't list service on website)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Pennsylvania''':<br />
<br />
* Steep Hill plans on expanding to here. Laboratory testing rules will become clearer later in 2017.<ref name="SchmittPA16">{{cite web |url=https://www.pamcs.org/pa-health-department-asks-public-input-medical-pot-rules/ |title=Pa. Health Department asks public for input on medical pot rules |author=Schmitt, B. |publisher=Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society |date=09 November 2016 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Rhode Island''':<br />
<br />
* [http://www.bpanalytical.com/ Baseline Precision Analytical] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.ecltesting.com/ East Coast Laboratories] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Vermont''':<br />
<br />
* The Department of Public Safety "may require laboratory testing of cannabis produced by a registered dispensary. The Department may specify the testing methodology. The registered dispensary shall bear the costs of any testing required by the Department."<ref name="DPSRulesReg15">{{cite web |url=http://vcic.vermont.gov/sites/vcic/files/files/marijuana-registry/MR-Rules-Regulating-Cannabis-for-Symptom-Relief.pdf |format=PDF |title=Rules Regulating Cannabis for Symptom Relief |publisher=Vermont Department of Public Safety |date=30 November 2015 |accessdate=02 March 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
<br />
'''Washington''':<br />
<br />
* [http://analytical360.com/ Analytical 360] ($70–$120, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.anateklabs.com/ Anatek Labs] (Pricing for cannabis QA testing not clear)<br />
* [http://www.cannalyticsqc.com/ Cannalytics QC] ($35–$70/test)<br />
* [http://csalabs.com/ Cannasafe Analytics] ($79–$159, single and package tests; monthly plan also available)<br />
* [http://conflabs.com/ Confidence Analytics] ($40–$250, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.dragonlaboratory.com/ Dragon Analytical Laboratory] ($25–$1600, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.greengrowerlabs.com/ Green Grower Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://www.herbalanalytics.com/ Herbal Analytics] ($15–$70/test; contact for test package pricing)<br />
* [http://integritylabsolympia.com/ Integrity Labs] ($40–$295, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.medicinecreekanalytics.com/ Medicine Creek Analytics] ($20–$100, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://www.peakanalyticslab.com/ Peak Analytics] ($50–$75/test)<br />
* [http://sclabs.com SC Labs] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://steephill.com/washington Steep Hill Washington] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://thewercshop.com The Werc Shop] (Pricing not public)<br />
* [http://traceanalytics.com/ Trace Analytics] ($40–$350, single and package tests)<br />
* [http://tnwlab.com/ True Northwest] (Pricing not public)<br />
<br />
====Support services====<br />
The following entities are known to provide consulting and support services of various types to cannabis testing labs (as well as cultivators, dispensaries, etc.):<br />
<br />
* [http://www.3ccannabis.com/ 3C Consulting]<br />
* [http://www.americancannabisconsulting.com/ American Cannabis Company]<br />
* [http://c3analytical.com/ C3 Labs]<br />
* [http://cannabisconsultantsfl.com/ Cannabis Business Services (of Florida)]<br />
* [http://michigan-marijuana-lawyer.com/ Cannabis Legal Group]<br />
* [http://www.carbonblueconsulting.com/ Carbon Blue Consulting]<br />
* [https://www.hypur.com/ Hypur]<br />
* [http://www.phytoscienceinstitute.com/ Phytoscience Institute]<br />
* [http://www.phytosciences.com/ PhytoSciences Consultants]<br />
* [http://signoto.com/ Signoto] (Canada)<br />
* [http://steephilllab.com/consulting/ Steep Hill Halent]<br />
* [http://www.vitalescientific.com/services/cannabis/ Vitale Scientific Associates]<br />
<br />
===Testing hardware and supplies vendors===<br />
<br />
* [http://www.buchi.com/en/ BÜCHI Labortechnik AG]<br />
* [http://www.emeraldscientific.com/ Emerald Scientific, LLC]<br />
* [http://www.fritsch-international.com/ Fritsch GmbH]<br />
* [http://gentechscientific.com/cannabis-testing/index.php GenTech Scientific]<br />
* [https://us.lgcstandards.com/US/en LGC Standards]<br />
* [http://www.orangephotonics.com/ Orange Photonics, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.restek.com/Landing-Pages/Medical-Marijuana Restek Corporation]<br />
* [http://sageanalytics.com/ Sage Analytics]<br />
* [http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/industry/industry_cannabistesting.cfm Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc.]<br />
* [http://www.spexcertiprep.com/products/cannabis SPEX CertiPrep]<br />
* [http://www.srigc.com/ SRI Instruments]<br />
* [http://vicam.com/ VICAM]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Software vendors===<br />
====Cannabis-oriented LIMS====<br />
<br />
* [http://www.atlab.com/industries/medical-marijuana Accelerated Technology Laboratories, Inc. - Various]<br />
* [[Bika LIMS|Bika Lab Systems (Pty) Ltd. - Bika LIMS]]<br />
* [[CannaSys, Inc.|CannaSys, Inc. - CannaLIMS]] <br />
* [[Guardian Data Systems, LLC|Guardian Data Systems, LLC - ROAR Cannabis Lab Software]]<br />
* [[lablynxwiki:LabLynx LIMS - Cannabis|LabLynx, Inc. - LabLynx LIMS]]<br />
* [[PharmLabs, LLC|PharmLabs, LLC - PharmWare]]<br />
* [[TheraCann International Benchmark Corporation|TheraCann International Corporation - TheraCannSYSTEM]]<br />
<br />
====CDMS====<br />
<br />
See the [[CDMS vendor]] page.<br />
<br />
====Seed-to-sale====<br />
<br />
This is a representative sample of solutions and not a directory of all available solutions:<br />
<br />
* [https://www.biotrack.com/government-seed-to-sale-tracking/ Bio-Tech Medical Software, Inc. - BioTrackTHC]<br />
* [http://www.chetu.com/agriculture/seed-to-sale.php Chetu, Inc. - Custom software solutions]<br />
* [http://www.traceweed.com/ Dauntless Software, Inc. - TraceWeed]<br />
* [http://viridiansciences.com/ Far-From-Groove'N, Inc. dba Viridian Sciences - Viridian Sciences]<br />
* [https://www.metrc.com/the-system Franwell, Inc. - Metrc]<br />
* [https://mmjmenu.com/ Ghost Management Group, LLC - MMJMenu]<br />
* [https://www.greenbits.com/ Green Bits, Inc. - Green Bits]<br />
* [http://growone.com/ Grow One Software (US), LLC - Grow One]<br />
* [http://kind.financial/agrisoft-seed-to-sale-software/ KindManage, LLC - Agrisoft]<br />
* [https://www.motagistics.com/ Motagistics, LLC - 4S]<br />
* [https://www.proteus420.com/ Proteus Business Solutions, Inc. - PROTEUS420]<br />
* [http://www.webjoint.com/ Pyrotree, Inc. - WebJoint]<br />
* [http://theracanncorp.com/our-products-2/theracannsystem/ TheraCann International Corporation – TheraCannSYSTEM]<br />
* [https://weedtraqr.com/ WeedTraQR, LLC - WeedTraQR]<br />
<br />
===LIMSpec===<br />
<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}<br />
<br />
<!--Place all category tags here--></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Book:HIPAA_Compliance_-_LII_007&diff=25859Book:HIPAA Compliance - LII 0072016-06-15T18:39:22Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Saved book<br />
|title=HIPAA Compliance - LII 007<br />
|subtitle=Study Guide<br />
|cover-image=Hipaa compliance.png<br />
|cover-color=#e6f2ff<br />
| setting-papersize = letter<br />
| setting-toc = auto<br />
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}}<br />
<br />
== HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 ==<br />
=== Study Guide ===<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 00. Course Introduction|Introduction]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 01. What Is HIPAA?|Chapter 1: What Is HIPAA?]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 02. Who Needs to Comply?|Chapter 2: Who Needs to Comply?]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 03. What Data Are Protected & General Privacy Principle|Chapter 3: What Data Are Protected & General Privacy Principle]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 04. Use and Disclosure|Chapter 4: Use and Disclosure]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 05. Administration|Chapter 5: Administration]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 06. Security|Chapter 6: Security]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 07. Additional Compliance Guidance|Chapter 7: Additional Compliance Guidance]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Book:HIPAA_Compliance_-_LII_007&diff=25858Book:HIPAA Compliance - LII 0072016-06-15T18:39:01Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{Saved book<br />
|title=HIPAA Compliance - LII 007<br />
|subtitle=Study Guide<br />
|cover-image=File:Hipaa compliance.png<br />
|cover-color=#e6f2ff<br />
| setting-papersize = letter<br />
| setting-toc = auto<br />
| setting-columns = 1<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 ==<br />
=== Study Guide ===<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 00. Course Introduction|Introduction]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 01. What Is HIPAA?|Chapter 1: What Is HIPAA?]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 02. Who Needs to Comply?|Chapter 2: Who Needs to Comply?]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 03. What Data Are Protected & General Privacy Principle|Chapter 3: What Data Are Protected & General Privacy Principle]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 04. Use and Disclosure|Chapter 4: Use and Disclosure]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 05. Administration|Chapter 5: Administration]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 06. Security|Chapter 6: Security]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 07. Additional Compliance Guidance|Chapter 7: Additional Compliance Guidance]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=Book:HIPAA_Compliance_-_LII_007&diff=25857Book:HIPAA Compliance - LII 0072016-06-15T18:34:38Z<p>Avaughan: Created page with "{{Saved book |title= |subtitle= |cover-image= |cover-color= | setting-papersize = letter | setting-toc = auto | setting-columns = 1 }} == HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 ==..."</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Saved book<br />
|title=<br />
|subtitle=<br />
|cover-image=<br />
|cover-color=<br />
| setting-papersize = letter<br />
| setting-toc = auto<br />
| setting-columns = 1<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 ==<br />
=== Study Guide ===<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 00. Course Introduction]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 01. What Is HIPAA?]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 02. Who Needs to Comply?]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 03. What Data Are Protected & General Privacy Principle]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 04. Use and Disclosure]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 05. Administration]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 06. Security]]<br />
:[[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 07. Additional Compliance Guidance]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=File:Hipaa_compliance.png&diff=25853File:Hipaa compliance.png2016-06-15T18:28:30Z<p>Avaughan: Avaughan uploaded a new version of File:Hipaa compliance.png</p>
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<div></div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=LII:HIPAA_Compliance_-_LII_007_00._Course_Introduction&diff=25850LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 00. Course Introduction2016-06-15T17:53:37Z<p>Avaughan: /* Goals of This Course */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:LabCourses Transparent.png|left|300 px]]<br />
===Reason for the Course, and Scope===<br />
In the U.S. healthcare industry there are two main regulatory laws: CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988) and HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996). The first is aimed at clinical laboratories and the second applies to the vast majority of healthcare settings (the exact specifications are described in Lesson 2, [[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 02. Who Needs to Comply?]]). This course is aimed at providing those required to comply with HIPAA some accurate and useful training. Indeed, HIPAA training is mandated in the law itself. This from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ([[HHS]]):<br />
<br />
'''''Workforce Training and Management'''. Workforce members include employees, volunteers, trainees, and may also include other persons whose conduct is under the direct control of the [covered] entity (whether or not they are paid by the entity).<ref name="45CFR160.103">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title45-vol1/pdf/CFR-2007-title45-vol1-sec160-103.pdf |title=45 C.F.R. §160.103. (2013 HIPAA Omnibus Rule) |publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref> A covered entity must train all workforce members on its privacy policies and procedures, as necessary and appropriate for them to carry out their functions.<ref name="45CFR164.530">{{cite web |url=http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=28d0e67c8c8eed49253d4940e6a7d2e0&mc=true&node=se45.1.164_1530&rgn=div8 |title=45 C.F.R. §164.530 Administrative Requirements |publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref> A covered entity must have and apply appropriate sanctions against workforce members who violate its privacy policies and procedures or the Privacy Rule.''<br />
<br />
Anyone involved in healthcare has probably already realized that while their own entity's policies and procedures may well be in compliance, there is still a great deal of misunderstanding out there regarding HIPAA, as well as a general lack of knowledge of it beyond those measures that are in place where they happen to work. And it is also a matter of concern that we have encountered an alarming number of courses purporting to provide an acceptable level of training that prove to be significantly lacking in scope, clarity and in some cases accuracy.<br />
<br />
This course is designed to provide a substantive, reasonably comprehensive understanding of all of the aspects of HIPAA that have bearing on most healthcare industry professionals. It is based almost completely on first-hand materials from the [[HHS|U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]] (which the law charges with administration of HIPAA) and the actual Health Information and Portability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) law itself, rather than relying on secondary and tertiary interpretations and paraphrasing - although several other of these were taken into account to gather and present the fullest comprehension of the materials and their relevance for the covered entities it affects. However, it does not and cannot provide every detail for all scenarios. Therefore, citations of source materials are provided, along with links to resources for further research.<br />
<br />
===Goals of This Course===<br />
[[File:Studying.jpg|right|400 px]]The primary aim of this course is to meet the requirement for HIPAA training as described above. Whether used to fulfill that directive, or as source for your own course or academic or other research, it is designed to provide the most comprehensive, clear and accurate general familiarity with HIPAA possible as it relates to those attempting to be compliant. The successful completion of this course should stand as a recognized achievement of intermediate to expert level of HIPAA training.<br />
<br />
===How it is put together and how it works===<br />
This course, '''LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007''', comprises several elements:<br />
<br />
* '''Study Guide''' - Wiki pages were created at [http://limswiki.org LIMSwiki.org] corresponding to each of the seven lessons of the course, plus this introduction page.<br />
* '''LabCourses Course''' - The course proper was built using the resources at [http://labcourses.com LabCourses.com], and is accessed there. It is designed to be self-contained, and as such contains several components, including:<br />
** Lessons<br />
** Embedded videos, images, .pdfs etc.<br />
** Links to resources for further study<br />
** Quizzes<br />
<br />
To take the course, simply navigate to http://labcourses.com, click on the '''Course Library''' and enter the partial or full course title in the search field (or simply click on the course if you see it displayed). <br />
<br />
'''''IMPORTANT''''': ''You'll need to log in with your LinkedIn login in order to take this or any other courses. If you don't already have a LinkedIn account it is quite straightforward to create one. Neither LabCourses nor LabLynx, Inc. share any user information, and do not gain access to your LinkedIn login details.''<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references /><br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:LabCourses material (all)]]<br />
[[Category:LabCourses material on regulations and standards]]</div>Avaughanhttps://www.limswiki.org/index.php?title=LII:HIPAA_Compliance_-_LII_007_00._Course_Introduction&diff=25848LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 00. Course Introduction2016-06-15T17:47:49Z<p>Avaughan: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:LabCourses Transparent.png|left|300 px]]<br />
===Reason for the Course, and Scope===<br />
In the U.S. healthcare industry there are two main regulatory laws: CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988) and HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996). The first is aimed at clinical laboratories and the second applies to the vast majority of healthcare settings (the exact specifications are described in Lesson 2, [[LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007 02. Who Needs to Comply?]]). This course is aimed at providing those required to comply with HIPAA some accurate and useful training. Indeed, HIPAA training is mandated in the law itself. This from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ([[HHS]]):<br />
<br />
'''''Workforce Training and Management'''. Workforce members include employees, volunteers, trainees, and may also include other persons whose conduct is under the direct control of the [covered] entity (whether or not they are paid by the entity).<ref name="45CFR160.103">{{cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2007-title45-vol1/pdf/CFR-2007-title45-vol1-sec160-103.pdf |title=45 C.F.R. §160.103. (2013 HIPAA Omnibus Rule) |publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref> A covered entity must train all workforce members on its privacy policies and procedures, as necessary and appropriate for them to carry out their functions.<ref name="45CFR164.530">{{cite web |url=http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=28d0e67c8c8eed49253d4940e6a7d2e0&mc=true&node=se45.1.164_1530&rgn=div8 |title=45 C.F.R. §164.530 Administrative Requirements |publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref> A covered entity must have and apply appropriate sanctions against workforce members who violate its privacy policies and procedures or the Privacy Rule.''<br />
<br />
Anyone involved in healthcare has probably already realized that while their own entity's policies and procedures may well be in compliance, there is still a great deal of misunderstanding out there regarding HIPAA, as well as a general lack of knowledge of it beyond those measures that are in place where they happen to work. And it is also a matter of concern that we have encountered an alarming number of courses purporting to provide an acceptable level of training that prove to be significantly lacking in scope, clarity and in some cases accuracy.<br />
<br />
This course is designed to provide a substantive, reasonably comprehensive understanding of all of the aspects of HIPAA that have bearing on most healthcare industry professionals. It is based almost completely on first-hand materials from the [[HHS|U.S. Department of Health and Human Services]] (which the law charges with administration of HIPAA) and the actual Health Information and Portability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) law itself, rather than relying on secondary and tertiary interpretations and paraphrasing - although several other of these were taken into account to gather and present the fullest comprehension of the materials and their relevance for the covered entities it affects. However, it does not and cannot provide every detail for all scenarios. Therefore, citations of source materials are provided, along with links to resources for further research.<br />
<br />
===Goals of This Course===<br />
The primary aim of this course is to meet the requirement for HIPAA training as described above. Whether used to fulfill that directive, or as source for your own course or academic or other research, it is designed to provide the most comprehensive, clear and accurate general familiarity with HIPAA possible as it relates to those attempting to be compliant. The successful completion of this course should stand as a recognized achievement of intermediate to expert level of HIPAA training.<br />
<br />
===How it is put together and how it works===<br />
This course, '''LII:HIPAA Compliance - LII 007''', comprises several elements:<br />
<br />
* '''Study Guide''' - Wiki pages were created at [http://limswiki.org LIMSwiki.org] corresponding to each of the seven lessons of the course, plus this introduction page.<br />
* '''LabCourses Course''' - The course proper was built using the resources at [http://labcourses.com LabCourses.com], and is accessed there. It is designed to be self-contained, and as such contains several components, including:<br />
** Lessons<br />
** Embedded videos, images, .pdfs etc.<br />
** Links to resources for further study<br />
** Quizzes<br />
<br />
To take the course, simply navigate to http://labcourses.com, click on the '''Course Library''' and enter the partial or full course title in the search field (or simply click on the course if you see it displayed). <br />
<br />
'''''IMPORTANT''''': ''You'll need to log in with your LinkedIn login in order to take this or any other courses. If you don't already have a LinkedIn account it is quite straightforward to create one. Neither LabCourses nor LabLynx, Inc. share any user information, and do not gain access to your LinkedIn login details.''<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
<references /><br />
<!---Place all category tags here--><br />
[[Category:LabCourses material (all)]]<br />
[[Category:LabCourses material on regulations and standards]]</div>Avaughan