Different literature suggests that cannabis use is a major problem for public health. Cannabis,\r\nthrough its illegal nature, reaches its users without complying with any suitable standards of\r\ngrowth, storage, processing and transport, which may generate diverse pollutants, which\r\ncan be chemical, physical or microbial. The presence of microbial pollutants is a risk for the\r\nuser’s health, especially in patients whose immune system is compromised. In Costa Rica\r\nthere are no studies on the presence of microbial pollutants in commercialized cannabis,\r\nwhich is why the aim of this study was to establish the presence of the aforementioned\r\npollutants in cannabis samples seized in six regions of Costa Rican territory and to relate\r\nthis fact to risks for the health of its consumers. These samples were tested for their\r\ntotal count in aerobic bacteria, yeast and fungi according to procedures established by\r\nthe Pharmacopoeia of the United States (USP). Identification of potentially pathogenic\r\nmicroorganisms was performed using methods described by USP; using the API system\r\nand methodology for morphological identification of fungi. The total counts of bacteria,\r\nyeast and fungus exceed limits set by USP on most of the seized samples. Four types of\r\nfungus were found: Aspergillus sp, Scopulariopsis sp, Fusarium sp and Penicillium sp, and\r\nfive bacterial species: Staphylococcus aureus, S. xylosus, S. lentus, Enterobacter cloacae\r\nand E. sakazakki. The contamination found requires a debate for establishing a genuine\r\npolicy of cannabis regulation, both for therapeutic or recreational purposes.
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Authors
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Sandra Badilla-Chaves - Universidad de Costa Rica, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacéuticas (INIFAR)
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Jonathan Pérez Rocha - Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Psicología, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacéuticas (INIFAR)
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Sandra Hernández Salon - Universidad de Costa Rica, Estudiante de la Maestría Académica en Bioquímica y Fisiología Celular
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Nien Tzu Weng Wang - Universidad de Costa Rica, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacéuticas (INIFAR)
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Jessica Morera Huertas - Universidad de Costa Rica, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacéuticas (INIFAR) Universidad de Costa Rica, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacéuticas (INIFAR)
Keywords:
Microbiological contaminants, cannabis, infections and disease.