Dr Toby Astill, global market manager - Cannabis and Hemp Markets at PerkinElmer, talks about the growth of cannabis in the pharmaceutical industry and the importance of chromatography to this sector.
Chromatography has an essential role in the future of cannabis for pharmaceutical uses in countries where it is allowed. It is already the most popular analytical technique used to maintain strict quality control throughout the cannabis’ life cycle - from the plant in the ground to the eventual medical product. This is because chromatography can effectively measure the potency and percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.
As more European countries explore the pharmaceutical applications of cannabis, we expect to see increased interest in the infrastructure required for making sure that products are safe, good-quality and able to uphold regulatory standards.