New THC Testing Device Can Distinguish Between Hemp and Marijuana

GemmaCert has unveiled the first presumptive field test in the United States to effectively detect the percentage of THC present in cannabis (as low as 0.2%) to accurately distinguish within minutes between hemp and marijuana samples. This first-in-industry innovation is achieved by GemmaCert’s patented technology combining near-infrared spectroscopy, image analysis and advanced data analytics.

“With GemmaCert, unjustified crop destructions and unwarranted arrests could be avoided,” said GemmaCert. “Police officers could determine on-the-spot if the substance analysed is below the permissible THC level.”

Any plant material with THC above 0.3% remains illegal under federal law and must be destroyed. Yet, hemp is identical to cannabis, minus the THC, so dogs and police officers cannot smell a difference.

Because of this there have been wrongful arrests across the country. Recently a Texas trooper arrested a driver for transporting over a ton of cannabis. The driver was released after almost a month in jail only after lab results proved the crop was legal hemp. A similar case happened in New York around the same time.

Hemp is the crop with the fastest growth in acres planted in the U.S. According to the USDA, farmers more than quadrupled the land planted with hemp from 27,424 acres in 2018 to 128,320 in 2019. GemmaCert will make life much easier and predictable for these hemp farmers. With the ability to detect THC levels as low as 0.2%, they can effectively track their crop and harvest just-in-time to avoid collecting “hot” hemp.

AP Photo Robert F Bukaty

Prnewswire/GemmaCert