In this interview, Professor Edvinas Orentas, Department of Organic Chemistry, Vilnius University, Lithuania and Head of Research at Sanobiotec, clears the air surrounding the stigma of synthetic cannabinoids.
I responded positively, largely driven by the possibility to apply the know-how from the academia world to a meaningful practical context and also to contribute to the creation of inspiring environment for young researchers graduating from the university and seeking for industrial career.
A major part of our work revolves around combining the capabilities of synthesis, biosynthesis, and natural extraction which enables the development of optimal production methods for each compound, leading to high-quality products.
In special cases, you might as well have semi-synthetic cannabinoids, where the starting material comes from the plant and is further elaborated in the lab to another compound.
People tend to accept all bioactive natural compounds as perfectly safe and show little concern in using various extracts or teas in large amounts.
The best way to fight back this phobia is with education, preferably starting with high school students, explaining the concept and properties of molecules in a comprehensible way.
These impurities are not typically found in synthetic analogues, as long as sufficiently pure chemicals are used in the synthesis process.
However, the same strict quality requirements apply for natural cannabinoids as well, since organic solvents are used for final purification step via crystallization.
In addition, the quality and the yield of the material is more reproducible and is not a subject to seasonal variations or above-mentioned contamination with pesticides.
Orentas: The chemical synthesis based on a well-developed and robust method is highly reproducible and most of the possible impurities are well-known and traceable.
Orentas: Well, GMP is not a requirement for every product containing natural cannabinoids, unless it is used in very sensitive experimental set-ups, such as clinical trials.
Orentas: Surely, some of the cannabinoids belong to a special list of regulated substances, and all procedures that involve hemp processing in the company are subject to approved state regulations.
That said, it may be a good time to review some of the regulatory requirements, to better reflect the latest scientific research.
Orentas: The market is getting saturated with some cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol , and as a chemist, I think we are in a perfect position to start exploring them as starting material for further structural modifications.