The Press Herald report “Moldy cannabis is being treated with radiation in Maine” (April 27) presented an incomplete and misleading view of cannabis remediation techniques.

While it highlighted the use of irradiation, it underplayed a key fact: radiation is an established, widely used safety tool in food and medical industries. Framing it as suspicious, rather than standard, creates unnecessary concern.

The report also emphasized that remediation may not eliminate all microbes, and that misses the point. The goal is to reduce contamination to safe, regulated levels, consistent with the mandatory testing standards set out by the Office of Cannabis Policy.

Irradiation is one way to ensure that an entire 20-pound batch of cannabis is within safe limits, not just a representative sample of less than 20 grams.

The report overlooked Maine’s testing limitations, which do not distinguish between harmful and benign microbes. As a result, otherwise safe products can fail these tests, making irradiation a practical and responsible mitigation step as part of a cultivation standard operating procedure — not a substitute for growing quality cannabis.

Most importantly, mitigating the presence of yeast, mold and bacteria in cannabis helps prevent the need for remediation and prevents unsafe products from reaching consumers.

Maine’s cannabis conversation should be grounded in science and context — not misrepresenting legitimate safety practices.

Kaspar Heinrici
Cape Elizabeth