The Institute of Cannabis Science is an independent nonprofit founded by chemist Jeff Rawson, PhD, to bring scientific scrutiny to cannabis testing and consumer protection. Its work examines whether the laboratory methods, potency claims, contaminant testing, Certificates of Analysis, and regulatory data behind cannabis products are reliable enough to support the safety claims made to patients and consumers.
Rawson combines scientific research, investigative reporting, regulatory review, and technical expertise to evaluate how cannabis testing systems work in practice. Through the Institute and his reporting in Talking Joints Memo, he translates highly technical questions about laboratory practices, data quality, and testing standards into information that patients, consumers, journalists, policymakers, retailers, and regulators can understand and use.
That work matters because confidence in a regulated cannabis market depends heavily on the integrity of its testing system. If laboratory methods are inconsistent, data are incomplete, or oversight is weak, consumers may have little way to know whether labels and safety claims can be trusted. The Institute focuses on those pressure points by independently examining testing practices and making its findings accessible beyond laboratory and regulatory communities.
Rawson also contributes to professional standards development through ASTM International’s D37 cannabis committees and the American Council of Independent Laboratories. In 2024, ACIL recognized him with its Preston S. Millar Award for extraordinary service. His scientific background includes a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Bard College, a master’s degree in organic chemistry from the University of Vermont, and a PhD in chemistry from Duke University.
The Market Watch Award recognizes independent efforts that challenge marketplace safety claims and ask whether the systems behind them deserve public trust. The Institute of Cannabis Science brings scientific expertise directly to that question by examining the testing infrastructure consumers are expected to rely on.
Learn more about the Institute of Cannabis Science:
Organization website: cannsci.org
LinkedIn: Institute of Cannabis Science
LinkedIn: Jeff Rawson, PhD
Cast your vote for the Institute of Cannabis Science for the 2026 Market Watch Award.
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