40 Under 40: Jini Glaros

“Knowledge is power, and education is the key to creating that power,” Glaros says.

At Modern Canna Labs, Glaros has implemented a physician education tour program to give individuals a look at the cannabis testing process and has conducted several major research projects focused on different testing parameters to provide industry professionals and the general public with a better understanding of testing processes.

Q&A

What brought you into the cannabis industry?

My story is a little unique in the sense that I originally planned on attending medical school to obtain my MD/PhD and never intended to be in the cannabis industry. However, life happens and that did not work out and I could not be more thrilled about where I ended up. I have a background in environmental chemistry, so after spending time working at the National Institute on Aging as a PostBac Fellow and at the University of Florida Medical School as a Research Technician, I circled back to my roots and found an environmental chemistry job with our sister company, Phoslab Environmental Laboratories. At this time, cannabis was still a relatively new industry in Florida, and Modern Canna was one of the only laboratories in existence. Modern Canna had just secured its first round of funding, which was allocated for purchasing instrumentation, hiring staff, training personnel, expanding facilities, and enhancing R&D capabilities. I ended up transitioning from the environmental lab to the cannabis lab and the rest is history. This industry ended up being the perfect fit for me because it allowed me to combine my passion for medicine and the laboratory together in a way that helped me ensure patients have access to safe medicine.

How has your education helped you in your current roles in the industry? Does any particular course or lesson come to mind?

I have a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of West Florida (UWF) and a master’s in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland – Baltimore (UMB) and I truly believe that both degrees have been imperative for me in this industry. While UWF is a smaller university in Florida, I am confident that they have one of the best chemistry programs available to undergraduates in the state. The hands-on experience I was able to get during my time there with research, instrumentation, and collaborations made me the scientist I am today. The troubleshooting skills I learned during my time at UWF provided me with the tools I needed to be successful in my role at Modern Canna Labs. After working for Modern Canna for several years, I went back to school to obtain my master’s degree. The cannabis program at UMB was the first of its kind and is unique in the fact that it combines both the analytical science and therapeutics of cannabis together. As a trained chemist who had already been in the industry for several years, a lot of the science courses were familiar to me, however, the therapeutic side was all new and extremely enlightening. Having a full understanding of the big picture really helps me to see the impact that our work as a laboratory has on the end user. Without laboratories to ensure products are accurately labeled and free of harmful contaminants consumers can be put at risk, and the program at Maryland allowed me to better understand the therapeutic impact that this may have on a consumer. It’s important to remember that while a lot of people use cannabis recreationally, there are consumers who are using it to help combat serious medical conditions so ensuring and safety of the product is essential. I like to think about it as though it was one of my grandparents using cannabis to alleviate the symptoms of cancer or a friend’s child using it to help with seizures, when you put it into that perspective, I believe it helps others understand why laboratories are so important for the industry.

What would you say has been your biggest milestone thus far in the industry?

I believe my biggest milestone in the industry thus far was my promotion to Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). When I first joined the cannabis industry, I knew a good portion of my passion lies within research and the ability to educate others. When I received the promotion to CSO, I was able to make those passions come to life. I spend a good majority of my days conducting research, writing education materials, and presenting at conferences, symposiums, and webinars. Being able to travel throughout the U.S. to share my knowledge with others and create excitement for cannabis science is truly a dream come true. Knowledge is power and education is the key to creating that power. As CSO, I have been able to implement a physician education tour program that allows cannabis physicians to visit the laboratory to learn more about the work we are doing behind the scenes and how the medicine they are recommending is being tested. Additionally, I have been able to conduct several major research projects focused on different testing parameters including cannabinoids, moisture, water activity, agricultural agents, and heavy metals which are helping push the industry forward by providing laboratories, producers, regulators, and the general public with a clearer understanding of these processes and how laboratories can properly test cannabis products.