Cannabis Extractions, Concentrates, and Infused Products: A Colorado Perspective
After Colorado legalized medical and recreational marijuana in 2010 and 2014, Denver Environmental Health Public Health Inspections Division was the first regulatory agency that conducted food safety inspections of marijuana infused products manufacturers, dispensaries and testing facilities. This presentation will focus the basics of marijuana grow operations, extractions, approved solvents, marijuana concentrates, personal protective equipment and safety concerns.
Speaker: Thuy Vu
Thuy Vu Consulting, LLC
thuy@thuyvuconsulting.com
303-523-3052
Thuy Vu was previously the Chief Compliance and Regulatory Officer for Nuka Enterprises, LLC and Sima Sciences, LLC. Sima Sciences is a marijuana infused products manufacturer utilizing advanced pharmaceutical techniques and internal testing protocol to produce precisely dosed infused edibles to rapidly deliver specific, controlled experiences through the synergistic effects of premium cacao, cannabis and ethnobotanicals.
Prior to joining Sima Sciences, Thuy was the Director of Infused Products for LivWell, one of the largest vertically integrated marijuana operations in Colorado with fourteen dispensaries statewide. She directed the product development and processing of various types of concentrates extracted from cannabis cultivated from the 130,000+ square foot facility using approved solvent and solventless methods for retail distribution. She coordinated and streamlined the production of infused edibles, vape pens, cartridges and infused topicals for the Infusiasm brand for retail and wholesale distribution. She oversaw the product research, development and manufacturing of the Leafs By Snoop edibles and concentrates, launching the first commercialized, celebrity cannabis product line.
Prior to joining the marijuana industry, Thuy was employed as a Senior Public Health Investigator for Denver Environmental Health Public Health Inspections Divisions for 5 years. She conducted onsite regulatory inspections, complaint investigations, foodborne illness complaint investigations of food establishments as well as routine inspections of mobile food vendors, temporary retail food vendors, marijuana infused product manufacturers, medical and retail marijuana operations. She was the Lead Investigator for foodborne illness outbreak and marijuana outbreak investigations of all licensed establishments in the City and County of Denver. She spearheaded the interpretation, application and regulation of the Denver Food Establishment Regulations for the manufacturing of cannabis concentrates and cannabis-infused edibles which resulted in the first five marijuana infused product recalls in Colorado and the first reported legal marijuana outbreak investigation in the nation. She independently exercised judgment by adapting standard practices and guidelines in situations where precedents had not been established, recommending alternative corrective actions to ensure compliance as required by the Denver Food Establishment Regulations.
Thuy is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and expertise to foster conversations with governmental agencies and public health officials. Thuy has conducted intense 8-hour marijuana training sessions for the Alaska Division of Environmental Health and Hawaii Department of Health. She has also presented on foodborne illness and marijuana outbreaks, as well as marijuana extractions and operations at the following conferences:
- Colorado Chapter of the International Code Council
- Rocky Mountain Food Safety Conference
- Western Association of Food and Drug Officials
- Association of Food and Drug Officials
- Association of Food and Drug Officials for the Southern States (Sept 12, 2016)
- Northwest Food Processors Food and Beverage Expo
- Regional Epidemiology Conference
- Foodborne Illness Tasks Systems Meeting
- Emerging Infections Meeting
- Denver Public Health Meeting
- Public Health Nurses Association of Colorado Conference
