In a tightly regulated industry like pharmaceuticals, quality control is more than just a protocol; it's an ongoing process to ensure patient safety and strict adherence to regulatory guidelines. At every point in the manufacturing and production process, QC (quality control) plays a critical role in identifying and remedying issues early to ensure all products meet industry quality standards before reaching the market. Rather than picturing it as a single instance, it's better to think of QC as multilayered process, with checks from the sourcing of raw materials to the final product.
This rigorous testing at every phase is necessary not just to guarantee a safe and high-quality product, but also an effective one that performs as intended. While numerous articles and studies have been published on this topic in general, the same cannot be said about medical cannabis. Although there has been some progress since 1996 when California became the first US state to legalize cannabis for medical use, little has been done about QC and Quality Assurance (QA) to fill the knowledge gaps, reduce consumer harm and optimize therapy efficiency. Despite the unique nature of cannabis as an organic plant with a complex chemical composition, which varies depending on the strains, growing conditions, and extraction methods, there is still a need for rigorous quality control and assurance practices to ensure patient safety and drug efficacy.
