Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"Beyond Total Yeast & Mold: Toward Modern, Risk-Based Microbial Standards" panel discussion at CannMed 2026, covering species-specific detection, pathogen risk, and microbial testing regulation.
As food and pharmaceutical safety frameworks continue to evolve toward pathogen- and species-specific risk assessment, the cannabis sector faces critical decisions about how to modernize its microbial testing standards. This panel examines the historical role of Total Yeast & Mold (TYM), its scientific and operational limitations, and emerging regulatory models that better reflect actual health risk.
Panelists explore how risk-based, species-specific detection can improve safety outcomes, regulatory defensibility, and operational decision-making, while reducing unintended consequences associated with broad microbial thresholds.
Key discussion points include the historical role and limitations of Total Yeast & Mold as a safety metric, why plating-based total counts often fail to reflect pathogenic risk, the advantages of species-specific detection for actionable risk management, regulatory considerations when transitioning to modern microbial frameworks, and balancing public health, compliance clarity, and laboratory feasibility.
Panelists:
Sherman Hom, PhD (Moderator), Director of Regulatory Affairs, Medicinal Genomics
Zamir Punja, PhD, Professor of Plant Biotechnology, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Nandakumara Sarma, Director, Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicines, US Pharmacopeia (USP)
Heather Krug, M.S., Deputy Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment
Jean Smith-Gonnell, Partner, Frantz Ward LLP
Victoria Pretti, Research Scientist and Manager, Laboratories Unit, New York State Office of Cannabis Management
This panel was part of the CannMed Compliance & Regulatory Workshop, a program focused on regulatory and quality frameworks for cannabis operations.
This presentation was given at the CannMed 2026 Innovation & Collaboration Summit, held June 15-18 at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort. Visit cannmedevents.com to learn more.
"Beyond Total Yeast & Mold: Toward Modern, Risk-Based Microbial Standards" panel discussion at CannMed 2026, covering species-specific detection, pathogen risk, and microbial testing regulation.
As food and pharmaceutical safety frameworks continue to evolve toward pathogen- and species-specific risk assessment, the cannabis sector faces critical decisions about how to modernize its microbial testing standards. This panel examines the historical role of Total Yeast & Mold (TYM), its scientific and operational limitations, and emerging regulatory models that better reflect actual health risk.
Panelists explore how risk-based, species-specific detection can improve safety outcomes, regulatory defensibility, and operational decision-making, while reducing unintended consequences associated with broad microbial thresholds.
Key discussion points include the historical role and limitations of Total Yeast & Mold as a safety metric, why plating-based total counts often fail to reflect pathogenic risk, the advantages of species-specific detection for actionable risk management, regulatory considerations when transitioning to modern microbial frameworks, and balancing public health, compliance clarity, and laboratory feasibility.
Panelists:
Sherman Hom, PhD (Moderator), Director of Regulatory Affairs, Medicinal Genomics
Zamir Punja, PhD, Professor of Plant Biotechnology, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Nandakumara Sarma, Director, Dietary Supplements and Herbal Medicines, US Pharmacopeia (USP)
Heather Krug, M.S., Deputy Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment
Jean Smith-Gonnell, Partner, Frantz Ward LLP
Victoria Pretti, Research Scientist and Manager, Laboratories Unit, New York State Office of Cannabis Management
This panel was part of the CannMed Compliance & Regulatory Workshop, a program focused on regulatory and quality frameworks for cannabis operations.
This presentation was given at the CannMed 2026 Innovation & Collaboration Summit, held June 15-18 at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort. Visit cannmedevents.com to learn more.
