Testing Pot for Aspergillus

Submitted by GAtherton on 9 February 2015

Part of the health problems associated with the smoking of marijuana stem from the tendency for the plant to be poorly dried or badly stored such that it retains enough moisture to allow the growth of microorganisms including Aspergillus mold. Needless to say the consequences of inhaling deeply the smoke produced by burning such material are that the miniscule Aspergillus spores can penetrate deep into the lungs in sufficient numbers to cause infection – aspergillosis. Aspergillosis is an uncurable debilitating infection that in some cases is likely to be fatal. Consequently aspergillosis contributes to the debate to make smoking marijuana legal/keep it illegal (Medical Recreational)

Despite this the smoking of marijuana goes on – legally in some areas of the world, partially legal in others, completely illegal mostly. The health risk is not eliminated by its legal status so one laboratory in the US (where use is permitted in some areas for some reasons) is providing a service to try to reduce the risk of aspergillosis and other infections/toxicity more directly, by offering to check marijuana for contamination before it is used.