Ensuring the safety of cannabis products is a growing concern as regulators implement stringent testing requirements. Contamination from mold, mildew, E. coli, and Salmonella poses serious health risks, with potential consequences ranging from mild respiratory issues to severe infections. Rad Source Technologies has developed an innovative solution that eliminates these threats without compromising the quality of cannabis.
“People have microbials on cannabis like mold, mildew, E. coli, Salmonella, and if you see the news every day, people are dying and getting sick from food that have these types of microbials in it,” said George Terry, Executive Vice President of Rad Source. “We’ve got a solution that’s onsite that uses X-ray, which is just photons—so it’s light—to purify the cannabis, and it doesn’t impact the terpenes or the cannabinoids or the moisture or anything else.”
The Science Behind Photonic Decontamination
Rad Source has pioneered the use of X-ray technology for cannabis decontamination, applying the same principles used in medical sterilization and aerospace inspections. Unlike traditional methods that degrade the quality of cannabis, Rad Source’s approach utilizes a Quastar® photon emitter that penetrates cannabis flower and neutralizes microbial DNA, preventing further reproduction.
“It goes, penetrates through the flower, and it destroys the DNA of the microbes so they can’t reproduce and become viable. So it basically cleans the cannabis, which avoids aspergillosis and other nasty diseases,” Terry explained.
This method is particularly valuable for ensuring compliance with state-mandated testing regulations. “The states, they mandate testing requirements because they want to make sure that there’s a safe supply of cannabis out there,” he added. “We help the people on the sterility side to make sure that it’s not contaminated with nasty things that could get people sick.”
A Solution for Growers of All Sizes
Rad Source offers a range of decontamination units suitable for both small-scale cultivators and large multi-state operators. While larger growers processing over 100 pounds per week typically invest in their own units, smaller cultivators can utilize shared facilities to ensure compliance with safety standards.
“In other cases, we also have customers that have units that can process the smaller growers through their units for a fee,” Terry said. “So no matter what size your grow is, especially if you’re a medical patient, you want to make sure you have clean cannabis, you want to make sure it goes through one of these units.”
Unlike ozone treatment, microwave sterilization, or other X-ray systems not designed for cannabis, Rad Source’s technology was specifically engineered for the industry. “We were the first ones to do this,” said Terry. “We tried the other technologies, they don’t work. We have plenty of customers. We have plenty of test data. We have studies that show that our patented Quastar photon emitter at our wavelength and our filtration achieves the best lab results possible.”
Innovation for the Future
Rad Source continues to advance its technology, with its latest generation of decontamination units allowing for future upgrades. “I always tell people it’s like taking a hundred-watt light bulb and then six months later, putting a 120-watt light bulb in, then a 150-watt light bulb,” Terry said. “As you change the light bulb, it gets brighter and brighter and brighter, which is more photons, which actually helps to speed up the time of treatment, and also it doesn’t impact the terpenes or the cannabinoids.”
The company has expanded globally, with installations in Canada, Europe, and South America. Many facilities have transitioned from gamma radiation to Rad Source’s X-ray technology, benefiting from cost savings and improved efficiency.
“There are some people out there that are just trying to make a buck by scaring people, and it’s just not right for the industry,” Terry said. “Let the growers do what they need to do in order to keep the product past testing and get it to the consumer in a safe way that’s approved by the state.”
As cannabis regulations continue to evolve, Rad Source’s Photonic Decontamination technology is setting a new standard for safety, ensuring that consumers receive clean, high-quality products without unnecessary compromise.
