Methods of detecting microbial content in Cannabis

A method comprising:

• (a) introducing a DNase I enzyme into a sample comprising (i) lysed cells of a Cannabis plant and (ii) live microbial cells comprising microbial genomic DNA;
• (b) introducing lithium dodecyl sulphate (LiDS) as an anionic detergent into the sample, wherein the LiDS is in an amount effective to inactivate the DNase I enzyme in the sample and lyse the live microbial cells in the sample, thereby releasing the microbial genomic DNA from the microbial cells;
• (c) introducing a known quantity of control DNA into the sample;
• (d) contacting the sample with a plurality of polynucleotide capture agents that bind polynucleotides from the microbial genomic DNA and the control DNA in the sample;
• (e) isolating the plurality of polynucleotide capture agents, thereby isolating polynucleotides from the microbial genomic DNA and the control DNA in the sample;
• and
• (f) amplifying at least a portion of the polynucleotides from the microbial genomic DNA and the control DNA isolated in step (e).