Meet Yasha Kahn from MCR Labs, the man with the data. In Episode: 015 we discuss how a friend's donation of an HPLC machine, combined with $200 spent on eBay to test weed before legalization, eventually led to the founding of the first licensed cannabis testing lab on the East Coast. Yasha, his brother Mike, and their friend Scott turned that early curiosity into a groundbreaking business.
Yasha shares the journey of building a successful lab, detailing the highs, the lows, and the pivotal events between MCR Labs and the Cannabis Control Commission that pushed him toward a data-driven mission. His goal? To transform an industry plagued by rapid fraud into one where consumers can trust the Certificates of Analysis (COAs) provided by labs
We also dive into the data Yasha obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, which clearly reveals how fraudulent labs operate. He highlights the serious public health risks that come with inaccurate COA reporting and explains the steps he's taken—and continues to take—to urge regulators to enforce testing regulations to protect consumers in Massachusetts
