• Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Write For Us
  • Our Team
Extraction Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Botanical Extraction
    • Cannabinoids
    • Psychedelics
    • Nutraceutical
    • Product Refinement
  • Industry News
    • Business
    • Sustainability
    • Safety & Compliance
    • Partners
  • Extraction Technology
    • Equipment
    • Methods
    • Solvents
    • DIY Extraction
    • Analytical Techniques
  • Medical Research
  • Glossary
  • Business Directory
  • Botanical Extraction
    • Cannabinoids
    • Psychedelics
    • Nutraceutical
    • Product Refinement
  • Industry News
    • Business
    • Sustainability
    • Safety & Compliance
    • Partners
  • Extraction Technology
    • Equipment
    • Methods
    • Solvents
    • DIY Extraction
    • Analytical Techniques
  • Medical Research
  • Glossary
  • Business Directory
No Result
View All Result
Extraction Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Extraction Technology DIY Extraction

Preventing Microbial Growth on Cannabis

Mell Green by Mell Green
January 6, 2020
in DIY Extraction
Preventing Microbial Growth on Cannabis

With the cultivation and extraction of cannabis comes the chance of unwanted microbial growth. Microbial growth refers to bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms that are increasing in number, usually caused by various environmental factors. While most are relatively harmless in small amounts, they can become detrimental to the cannabis if not properly handled. The potential dangers that microbial growth can bring are not something to ignore, and it should be managed prior to appearance.

Though microbial growth is a fairly natural occurrence, there are ways to prevent it from happening to your precious plants and products. Understanding how these organisms spread and the potential dangers they bring is crucial in learning exactly what to do to stop this growth from impacting the cleanliness and health of your cannabis.

READ ALSO

Hash Butter: DIY Extraction Of Cannabinoids

Ice Water Extraction — Comprehensive Guide

The Dangers

Microbial growth is not only harmful to the cannabis plant, but can be quite toxic to the human body, especially when inhaled. [1] Bacteria, mold and other fungi can accumulate on plants due to excess moisture and warm temperatures and can cause serious infections within the body when we are exposed to too much.

Dangerous bacteria include Enterobacteriaceae (e.g., E. coli, salmonella, etc.), which are responsible for pneumonia, blood infection, intestinal inflammation, and abdominal infection. [2]  Acinetobacter baumannii can cause infections in the lungs, blood, or wounds. A 2016 study found both varieties of bacteria at levels of greater than 5% in samples from indoor facilities in Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island. [3] Although extraction may destroy microbes, they often leave behind harmful byproducts such as mycotoxins.

Preventative Factors

In order to prevent harmful bacteria and other microbes from infecting your cannabis plants and products, there are various precautions to take.

The first step is making sure that your cannabis is in a clean, sterile environment and isn’t being handled in a non-sterile way. The best way to guarantee this is to require all workers to wear hair and clothes covers, including boots and gloves, ensuring that no outside containments are coming in from any worker or visitor. Keep work areas disinfected.

It’s also vital for cultivators to make sure internal temperatures stay constant while airflow doesn’t. Stagnant air means stagnant moisture, allowing time for microbial growth to spread. Too much moisture is the cannabis plant’s worst enemy during cultivation, so keeping a close eye on your humidity levels is crucial. Storage of the product in a cool, dry environment (e.g., air-sealed) helps prevent infiltration by microbes. [4]

Keeping Your Cannabis Clean

By following strict precautionary measures and procedures, along with giving your plants and products the utmost care and attention, microbial growth prevention is possible. With this, you’re able to cultivate clean plants and develop products that are healthy for us, too.

References

  1. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Damp Indoor Spaces and Health. “4, Toxic Effects of Fungi and Bacteria.” Damp Indoor Spaces and Health. Washington (DC), National Academies Press (US), 2004, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK215642/.
  2. Octavia S., Lan R. The Family Enterobacteriaceae. The Prokaryotes, edited by Rosenberg E., et al. Berlin, Springer, Heidelberg, 2014.
  3. McKernan, K, et al. “Metagenomic Analysis of Medicinal Cannabis Samples; Pathogenic Bacteria, Toxigenic Fungi, and Beneficial Microbes Grow in Culture-Based Yeast and Mold Tests.” F1000Research, vol.5, no.2471, 2016. [Times Cited = 8]
  4. McPartland, John, and Kevin McKernan. “Contaminants of Concern in Cannabis: Microbes, Heavy Metals and Pesticides.” Cannabis Sativa L. – Botany and Biotechnology, edited by Chandra S., et al., 2017, pp. 457–74, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-54564-6_22. [Times Cited = 9]

Image Credit: Rx Leaf

Related Posts

Hash Butter
DIY Extraction

Hash Butter: DIY Extraction Of Cannabinoids

July 16, 2024
Ice Water Extraction
DIY Extraction

Ice Water Extraction — Comprehensive Guide

June 27, 2024
How to Make THC Wax With Everclear
DIY Extraction

How to Make THC Wax With Everclear

December 22, 2022
Live Resin VS Live Rosin
DIY Extraction

Live Resin VS Live Rosin

October 6, 2022
Bubble Hash
DIY Extraction

DIY Bubble Hash

August 21, 2022
Making Your Own  Ginger Gummy Bears!
DIY Extraction

Making Your Own Ginger Gummy Bears!

August 11, 2022
Next Post
Gofire: Hype or Legit?

Gofire: Hype or Legit?

LATEST ARTICLES

Green Extraction Techniques

Green Extraction Techniques and Smart Solvents for Bioactive Recovery

January 10, 2025
Wide angle view at two workers wearing protective suits while inspecting production at modern chemical plant, copy space

Collaborative Approaches in Botanical Extraction: Bridging Science and Industry

January 7, 2025
Areca Catechu

Inside the Betel Nut High: Exploring the Mind-Bending Effects of Areca Catechu

January 1, 2025
The Art of Extraction: Unlocking Nature’s Fragile Secrets

The Art of Extraction: Unlocking Nature’s Fragile Secrets

December 27, 2024

Subscribe Now

Subscribe to our newsletter now to receive quick updates from us



    Background
    About

    Extraction Magazine is the trusted provider of botanical extraction news, ever-changing politics, cool gadgets and technologies, and methods for producing safe, ethical, and compliant formulations.

    Advertisers
    Navigation
    • Botanical Extraction
    • Industry News
    • Extraction Technology
    • Medical Research
    • Glossary
    • Business Directory
    Recent Posts
    • Green Extraction Techniques and Smart Solvents for Bioactive Recovery
    • Collaborative Approaches in Botanical Extraction: Bridging Science and Industry
    • Inside the Betel Nut High: Exploring the Mind-Bending Effects of Areca Catechu
    • The Art of Extraction: Unlocking Nature’s Fragile Secrets
    Subscribe to our Newsletter
    loader

    Sitemap

    © 2025 Extraction Magazine is the trusted provider of botanical extraction news and the leading media in the ever-changing extraction industry.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Industry News
    • Botanical Extraction
    • Medical Research
    • Medical Research
    • Glossary
    • Our Team
    • Write For Us

    © 2023 Extraction Magazine is the trusted provider of botanical extraction news and the leading media in the ever-changing extraction industry.