Irradiated Cannabis Might Still Harbour Toxic Fungi and Residues, McGill Study Finds

Researchers raise concerns about possible health risks for vulnerable users, point to a need for better methods and safeguards

Gamma irradiation, an industry-standard sterilization method for medicinal and recreational cannabis, does not fully eliminate toxic fungi or their chemical residues, a McGill University study has found. Current testing practices may also miss contamination, raising concerns about health risks for vulnerable users, particularly those with weakened immune systems.

The researchers said this is especially significant given that 70 per cent of cannabis is consumed by smoking or vaping, which may deliver toxins directly into the lungs and exacerbate smoking-related injury to lung tissues.

These findings point to a need for stricter testing and better safeguards, they said.

Major health hazards Gamma irradiation works by damaging the DNA and RNA of microbes and degrading mycotoxins – harmful compounds produced by certain fungi. While this process significantly reduces microbial loads, researchers found viable spores of mycotoxigenic fungi, DNA fragments and traces of toxins remained after irradiation.

These remnants pose major health hazards, with heightened risk for such populations as cancer patients, transplant recipients and individuals with HIV/AIDS. However, the study also cites multiple case reports of fungal lung infections and other opportunistic infections in healthy people exposed to contaminated cannabis products.

Read the full article at McGill University