A recent survey indicates the vast majority of cannabis consumers in the USA want their cannabis decontaminated – even if many aren’t aware of what’s involved.
It’s worth noting that the company who conducted the study, XRPure is in the business of decontamination; using X rays to kill microbes.
Decontamination has become a controversial topic in the cannabis industry. “Many cultivators still wear ‘no decontamination’ like a badge of honor, touting untouched flower as a mark of quality. This pride is not without risk and does not always reflect what the consumer wants.
Consumers with compromised immune systems are at particular risk.
Here’s the results of the survey conducted by the company on 516 adult users in the United States. The survey group was a mix of recreational and medical cannabis users, with the majority 30 – 60 years old.
- On the cannabis product label, 90.5% agreed it should state whether products have been cleaned to eliminate mold, mildew or bacteria.
- If they were aware that the cannabis flowers had been cleaned, 53.7% would buy more of it. However, 15.7% would not.
- 91.7 percent of consumers agree that the medical marijuana should be always decontaminated.
- 43.8% of respondents said that they did not understand the difference between decontamination technologies, such as x-rays, ozone, or RF technology (radiofrequency).
XRPure’s complete survey report can be accessed here.
Other types of contamination include heavy metals (including pesticides), residual solvent chemicals, and other contaminants. No amount of X rays, ozone or RF treatments will remove those contaminants.
An investigation last year Out of 42 cannabis products that were tested, 25 contained pesticides at levels above the allowed limits. Contaminants included those linked to neurological damage, cancer, liver disease and thyroid failure. A report by the Office of Cannabis Policy of Maine in 2023 showed that medical cannabis products were contaminated to a large extent. The most common contaminants found were mold and yeast, although pesticides, metals, and heavy chemicals were also present.
The ability of Cannabis to absorb heavy metals from contaminated soils can be a good thing when it is grown for phytoremediation, but not if products are being made for ingestion or topical use.