Chromatography Forum

You should check out this very recent LC/GC webcast, it talks about testing for active components, pesticides, residual solvent, and other topics.

Editors’ Series: Chromatographic Methodologies: An Integral Component of the Budding Cannabis Industry. This webcast can now be viewed On-demand.

Use the link below to enter the webcast at any time.

WEBCAST LINK: http://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=997010&s=1&k= ... 24367049BE

I would also recommend buying a copy of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Cannabis Inflorescence, Standards of Identity, analysis, and quality control. Revision 2014). Lots of good info in that.

Many of the States that have legalized MMJ have specific testing requirements, you might want to check out the regulations for your State for guidance.

Also, the analysis of edibles provide a significant challenge compare to the raw or dry plant material (or the extracted oil for that matter). May of the components in the edibles can negatively impact exactions (giving low test results), be careful.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about medical marijuana, I think you can search online about old equipment for training at affordable prices.
Online dispensary

Ive been to marijuana testing and growing labs, They are using GCMS for pesticides (over $150K new) and HPLC (~$70k) for basic THC, CBN and CBD quantification with UV detector. For a solid set up, investors would also need an LCMS too, so now we are talking a million dollars just for lab equipment and no employees. This would cover the full suite of testing.
So to buy this equipment used on 10 cents on the dollar is still $100k and you would likely have to repair it all if its that cheap

I don't want to discourage you but to understand this equipment and software takes alot of experience, especially if the edibles will be consumed by a human, now you are now under FDA inspection/regulations. Even if you bought a used HPLC ( or a 3rd party helped you) you could determine THC, CBN and CBD but it would be "For information only" since you are not approved lab by FDA.
Manufacturing of your edibles ( I assume) if scaled high enough volume would need to be close to a testing lab and paying for the results would be part of doing the business, so maybe you could rent a space closer to the certified lab?

I considered jumping in on the "green rush" as my state is close to legalization but there is so much red tape (state vs federal, politics etc) and initial start up costs, Im not sure its worth it. There are other areas in security (cash only business), renting warehouse for grow rooms that I feel will also be lucrative.

I would suggest maybe partnering with a chemist who handles the testing side logistics while you create the products.
Good Luck!

Answer to someone else's question on this feed:
DAD (diode array detector) is most expensive detector but collects all the wavelengths in a run. VWD (variable wavelength detector) collects only a few that you pre-select in your method. Think of it as your television DVR, the DAD records all your favorite channels while the VWD only records 3 channels that you pre-select the night before.

Ive been to marijuana testing and growing labs, They are using GCMS for pesticides (over $150K new) and HPLC (~$70k) for basic THC, CBN and CBD quantification with UV detector. For a solid set up, investors would also need an LCMS too, so now we are talking a million dollars just for lab equipment and no employees. This would cover the full suite of testing.
So to buy this equipment used on 10 cents on the dollar is still $100k and you would likely have to repair it all if its that cheap

I don't want to discourage you but to understand this equipment and software takes alot of experience, especially if the edibles will be consumed by a human, now you are now under FDA inspection/regulations. Even if you bought a used HPLC ( or a 3rd party helped you) you could determine THC, CBN and CBD but it would be "For information only" since you are not approved lab by FDA.
Manufacturing of your edibles ( I assume) if scaled high enough volume would need to be close to a testing lab and paying for the results would be part of doing the business, so maybe you could rent a space closer to the certified lab?

I considered jumping in on the "green rush" as my state is close to legalization but there is so much red tape (state vs federal, politics etc) and initial start up costs, Im not sure its worth it. There are other areas in security (cash only business), renting warehouse for grow rooms that I feel will also be lucrative.

I would suggest maybe partnering with a chemist who handles the testing side logistics while you create the products.
Good Luck!

Answer to someone else's question on this feed:
DAD (diode array detector) is most expensive detector but collects all the wavelengths in a run. VWD (variable wavelength detector) collects only a few that you pre-select in your method. Think of it as your television DVR, the DAD records all your favorite channels while the VWD only records 3 channels that you pre-select the night before.

Shimadzu makes UHPLCs specifically for testing medical marijuana.

I've bought one from a man who wished to get into the testing business as well, but before legalization took place in his state, he went bankrupt and was forced to sell the equipment.

100 000$ is more than plenty enough for all that you had mentioned, if one is smart with the shopping and has time.

The limiting factor is, and will be, the knowledge. Unless you are well versed in maintaining the equipment, can get manuals that are not publicly available, lack the resources and skill to do repairs, can't develop the methods on your own and optimize the workflow... You will spend more on people who can do that than you will on the equipment.