Contaminants In Cannabis: Potential Risk For Vulnerable Patients, Study Shows More Research Needed

While various studies have confirmed marijuana’s medical value and some 40 states and the District of Columbia have legalized it for therapeutic purposes, there are still many unanswered questions about this special plant.

One new study explores how harmful fungi contaminate plants, which could result in adverse effects on the individuals who consume it. The research, recently published in the form of a peer-reviewed journal article in Frontiers in Microbiology focuses on individuals who have suppressed immune systems.

“Hemp and cannabis are new crops, and we are in the early stages of understanding relationships with their pathogens,” Kimberly Gwinn, professor of entomology and plant pathology at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, told Morning AG Clips. “Several pathogens produce mycotoxins, compounds that negatively impact human health and are regulated in other crops. In this review, we summarize the current literature on mycotoxins in hemp and cannabis products, identify research gaps in potential mycotoxin contamination in hemp and cannabis, and identify potential developments based on research in other crop systems.”

While fungi and mycotoxins are common and well-researched in various crops, they have not been studied as much in marijuana and hemp. One of the reasons is that cannabis remains federally illegal and therefore lacking in robust scientific research. 

“Additionally, the wide range of consumer uses of cannabis and hemp flowers, including for medical use by patients with susceptible conditions, makes it uniquely challenging to assess and manage human health risk of these contaminants,” the authors added.

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Cancer, HIV, Type 1 Diabetes Patients Most Vulnerable

The report considers Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Mucor, and other fungi known to infect the plants and which can produce mycotoxins. Per reviewed studies, some fungi can cause infection in lung and skin tissues, and these infections happen more often when marijuana is smoked, and not consumed in food. The findings also indicate that cancer patients who turn to cannabis to ease nausea and improve appetite, HIV, and type 1 diabetes patients are mostly vulnerable to infection. What’s more, studies revealed that workers who harvest cannabis could be at risk.

The authors of the study advise users with compromised immune systems to use sterilized products, until further research is available.

Researchers call for more studies and possible change of regulations, highlighting that a prevalent class of fungal contaminants in agricultural commodities, Fusarium mycotoxins, that can cause vomiting, is not regulated. One possible solution, per the report that could “reduce potential harm to medical users of cannabis from toxigenic fungi is to develop a two-tier system that distinguishes products intended for medical and recreational use.”

Continue reading at Morning AG Clips.

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Photo: Courtesy of CRYSTALWEED cannabis on Unsplash