Common Questions About Sage Analytics’ Cannabis Potency Measuring Tech
Really, How Does Sage Analytics’ (NIR) Spectrometry Technology Work to Measure Cannabis Potency?
What is NIR (near infrared light) spectrometry and how does it work?
A beam of light is shined through a small sample of cannabis or extract. Due to the nature of light, some of the light is absorbed by the sample, some scattered forward, and some reflected back. The portion of light not absorbed by the sample is directed to a spectrometer, which measures the spectrum of the resulting light.
Think of a spectrum like a rainbow. The remaining intensity of different colors produced by separation of the light according to wavelength tell us the materials that the light is passing through. The Sage Analytics Profiler reads the cannabis “rainbow” and allows fast, nondestructive measurement. Another way to look at it is like an inverse finger print. Sage Analytics knows what light is going in and can see how the cannabis absorbs light based on what it’s made of. By reading the light, we have the ability to quantify how much of the four major cannabinoids are in each sample.
Why is it better than traditional testing?
While chemical analyses of cannabis has long been established, it can take days, even weeks, to complete. The process is also high in labor and material costs. Because samples are destroyed during traditional chemical testing, this limits its applications to small sample-size, one-time measurements.
Also, time delay prevents growers from measuring THC levels during cultivation and thus they have no scientific measurement for fluctuation in optimum harvest times for maximum THC levels. Because Sage Analytics uses (NIR) Spectrometry, tests are done with a “scan and read” capability.
This seems like science fiction, but it’s been used to make your pharmaceuticals, supplements, cosmetics, and food and beverages for decades. No samples are destroyed and cultivators and labs can get instant results on potency levels. This is important because as a high-value economical crop, cannabis’ valuation is not so much tied to its weight, but its potency.
Smaller plants, bigger returns; Refining cultivation with technology.
Doing business as a cannabis cultivator is increasingly competitive. In this article learn how cultivators are using cannabis potency testing technology to improve product and decrease overhead. Some growers, like Mission Nurseries are using potency testing technology of Sage Analytics to take the highroad towards boutique flowers – rather than racing to the bottom to compete on price.
By using Sage Analytics testing, Mission Nurseries, was able to correlate THC potency with premium aroma. Because additional vegetative growth wasn’t achieving a higher quality flower, the growth period was shortened. Now they more smaller plants for less time and have a higher ROI.
Contact Lauren for more information on Sage Analytics potency testing technology at laurenw@sageanalytics.com
How dispensaries can benefit from using the Sage Analytics Profiler II.
It’s an exciting time for the cannabis industry as it marches towards the end of prohibition. As the industry matures, businesses must find ways to improve – or else risk being left behind. One of the biggest issues in cannabis today is that many products are inaccurately labeled for potency.
Because cannabis is not federally legal, testing facilities and devices are not federally mandated to adhere to the same reference standards for data. Simply put, this means that there is little or no quality assurance when it comes to potency testing.
Sage Analytics’ Profiler II helps with these concerns and adds value to dispensaries through instant and accurate THC/CBD testing for cured flowers and concentrates. The result of having an accurate potency measurement device on site is the ability to negotiate price and to improve quality control and pass on better products to customers and patients – a luxury that has not even been possible to date due to the high cost and skill requirement.
With the Sage Analytics easy-to-use technology, dispensaries can now measure potency right at the buying table. Near-infrared light is shone through a small measurement window where the product is placed, and the potency results are displayed within seconds. Dispensaries know the true potency of what they are buying on the spot. This translates into buying and offering better products at a fair price, which, in turn, increases consumer confidence, health and safety, and ultimately loyalty.
On-site cannabis testing allows dispensaries to make informed purchasing decisions based on the strength and composition of cannabis products instead of just by weight and relying on what the grower thinks the potency might be. Accurate testing is crucial for medical cannabis patients who need specific therapeutic effects. It’s also important for adult-use consumers because products vary widely in their potency, which will influence the experience.
Dispensaries can learn more by contacting Lauren Wilson at laurenw@sageanalytics.com or calling 650.492.8500.
In the field of pharmacology, potency is a measure of drug activity expressed in terms of the amount required to produce an effect of given intensity. It’s the same concept for cannabis. For the end consumer, understanding potency is critical.
Different people use cannabis for different reasons. Stress relief strains are different than strains used to treat insomnia. Consumers have a right to know what they are buying, its likely effects, and how much of the product is necessary to achieve the desired effects. Dispensaries who truly serve their customers with the most knowledge and best product for their needs will serve the clientele much more effectively. For growers, the valuation of their product is tied to its potency, and for extract and edible processors, creating products with consistent THC or CBD content is paramount for building a brand consumers can trust. Thus, the accurate measurement of cannabinoid content from seed-to-sale is an important process.
While cannabis legislation is evolving, the testing requirements are currently less stringent than those mandated for pharmaceuticals. That being so, the economic importance of being able measure potency consistently from the growth process to the point of sale, is important to industry professionals who are striving to create the best products out there.
THC is the primary and most prevalent psychoactive compound in marijuana. CBD does not provide the psychoactive stimulation of THC, but rather delivers the physiological relaxation associated with anxiety relief, muscle relaxation, and appetite stimulation.
The need exists for a testing standardization that is useful in any state or country, by any business in the industry ecosystem, and by any employee, operator or customer. Meeting this need is critical for the seamless advancement of medical and recreational marijuana in all states and at the federal level. The Sage Analytics Profiler II delivers an eloquent solution to that need!
The CannaMetric Profile™ measured by the Profiler II™ brings transparency and consistency to the potency measurements of cannabis products for all phases of the eco-system. Growers, edibles & extract processors, labs, and dispensaries will all communicate potency levels in a consistent, timely manner. Ultimately, the CannaMetric Profile readings measured by the Profiler II will give consumers and the different businesses within the industry supply chain the power to confidently determine the cannabis strain, or extract that best suits their needs.
Michigan Releases Medical Marijuana Regulations, Opens Licensing Applications
“Michigan’s testing requirements are the government’s first line of defense for the consumer. Growers should test their product in their own facilities when possible to ensure they know what to expect from lab results.” – Alexander Makowski, Ph.D, chief scientist at Sage Analytics
Sage Analytics Humboldt Profiler II Featured in The Portland Pheonix
THIS MACHINE TESTS HOW STRONG YOUR BUD IS — HERE’S HOW IT WORKS.
The Profiler II uses near-infrared spectroscopy to analyze a marijuana sample. There’s some hard science behind this, which involves measuring the overtones and combinations of bond vibrations in molecules. The cannabis sample is bathed in near-infrared light and by measuring and comparing the wavelengths of what’s reflected and what’s absorbed by the sample, an observer can calculate exactly what’s in it. Light particles, known as photos, contain a lot of information. Thankfully, you don’t need to know anything about the electromagnetic spectrum, because the machine does all the heavy lifting, spitting out data after about 10 seconds. Near-infrared technology is a fast, reliable, and non-destructive technique used already in the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries.
The technology is typically only available for people in scientific careers priced at hundreds of thousands of dollars, however, it has been used through these smaller devices by growers, extract producers, edible manufacturers, and dispensaries for a couple years now.
“We took the same technology that was being used in pharma to test drugs and designed it to test the potency of cannabis,” said Wilson. “It’s an FDA approved technology and it’s very inexpensive.”
Press Release: Sage Analytics Debuts Next Generation Cannabis Potency Testing Device at MJBizCon 2017
Profiler II – Humboldt Special Edition™ Meets Demands among Varied Cannabis Business Professionals for Real-Time and Cost-Effective Cannabis Potency Testing
Los Altos, CA November 14, 2017 – Sage Analytics, the developers of portable, laboratory-quality cannabis potency measurement systems that deliver cost-effective and faster testing solutions, debuts the next generation Profiler II – Humboldt Special Edition™ (HSE) at the Marijuana Business Conference (MJBizCon) 2017.
The Profiler II HSE is the latest edition of Sage Analytics’ line of spectroscopy-based potency devices that enables accurate measurement of THC & CBD within seconds. Designed for the everyday potency-testing needs of cannabis growers, extract processors and dispensaries alike, this lightweight and easy-to-use new device is used to test potency in process and drastically improve both the quality and consistency of cannabis products. Its sleek new design contains the most up-to-date scientific models at an affordable price.
“We are experiencing unprecedented growth in cannabis testing needs, which is only expected to increase with further legalization in the coming year. With that growth comes much uncertainty, and cannabis businesses must find ways to adapt,” says Alexander J. Makowski, Ph.D., chief scientist, Sage Analytics. “Growers and extract processors are showing new interest in technologies to help stay ahead of the curve. With our product line, especially our latest Profiler II HSE, we can meet the demands of these businesses by providing cost-effective and faster testing solutions to help their businesses flourish in a fast-growing and uncertain market.”
Sage Analytics’ cutting edge potency profilers, including the classic Beacon, and now the newest Profiler II HSE, employ optical spectroscopy (the science of light and how it interacts with matter) to provide instantaneous, real-time, accurate measurements. The use of light as an analytical tool affords a number of distinct advantages over alternative methods. Because the light used is non-destructive, the measurements require no toxic chemicals for sample prep or analysis, leaving the sample intact for future use. Ultimately, this means fast, repeatable, and accurate data collection every time.
The name Profiler II – Humboldt Special Edition™ (HSE) pays homage to Humboldt County for how it’s paved the way for the production of cannabis for over three decades. Humboldt understands cannabis in a way that growers, extract and edible processors everywhere can learn from, so Sage Analytics’ newest device had a fitting name.
Sage Analytics will take the opportunity at MJBizCon to also showcase its products with its all-new extract model and software update, now available for customers via download. The update developed by the Sage Analytics team of scientists allows the profilers to now test virtually every extract out on the market today including kief, hash, distillates, resins and isolates, in addition to producing faster results, and is equipped with an improved and simpler user interface.
Sage Analytics will be at MJBizCon 2017 on November 14-17 at booth #2517. Those visiting the booth can catch a sneak peek of the Profiler II HSE via live demo given by Alexander J. Makowski, Ph.D, in addition to hearing about their newest extract model and software update.
For more information on Sage Analytics’ cannabis testing devices, visit: www.sageanalytics.com, or call: 619-847-4477
About Sage Analytics:
Sage Analytics has created a shift in the cannabis industry by adopting FDA-approved technology currently in use in the pharmaceutical industry to test potency in marijuana with a high degree of accuracy and affordability. Depending on the application, the devices from Sage Analytics can replace or augment current testing methodologies, which are expensive and often insufficient due to the inherent drawbacks of testing small sample lots that ultimately are destroyed and never sold. Consumers, regulators, and business owners are demanding quicker and more accurate testing solutions, and Sage Analytics provides a significant component to improving this industry-wide challenge.
