Dr. Scialdone is a recognized expert in the field of organic chemistry specializing in natural product chemistry including plant oil extraction, analysis and chemical modification.  He is an inventor of 37 issued US patents and has authored 17 publications in the peer-reviewed scientific literature during more than two decades of both fundamental and product development research.  He has given invited lectures at more than 30 different academic institutions and international symposia.

Dr. Scialdone holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Chemistry from Michigan Technological University, a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from Wayne State University and was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Colorado State University.

Dr. Scialdone was employed as a principal investigator at DuPont Central Research and Development at the Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware from 1994 to 2013.  He then founded BetterChem Consulting to provide chemistry consulting services worldwide in the chemical, food, plant essential oil and cannabis industries.  He has worked with more than a dozen clients on processing license applications, facility design and build out, equipment installation, SOP, and prototype development, process optimization, hiring and training staff for operational startup, and QA analytical support for both cannabis and hemp processing facilities.

Dr. Scialdone has conducted original chemical research to discover new, valuable compositions and is the inventor of new patented cannabinoid compounds including Hexahydrocannabinolic Acid (HHCA).

Dr. Scialdone is a member of the ASTM D37 Committee on Cannabis, the NCIA Testing Policy Working Group and is a founding member of the Cannabis Chemistry Subdivision of the American Chemical Society from which he received the Award for Excellence and Commitment to Cannabis Chemistry in 2018.  He currently serves on the editorial board for the American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine. 

1. ∆8-Iso Tetrahydrocannabinol and Neuronal Cell Signaling, June 27, 2023, ICRS 2023 Toronto 

2. The Dark Side of Cannabidiol: The Unanticipated Social and Clinical Implications of Synthetic Δ8-THC, October 19, 2022, Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

3. Building a Sustainable Industrial Hemp Processing Business, March 23, 2022, American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego CA.

4. Minor Cannabinoids, March 11, 2022, Future Cannabis Project

5. What is HHC and how does it affect the body?  Dec 14, 2021, The Cannigma 

6. Historical Perspective on Early Cannabinoid Isolation, American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine, Vol. 3, Issue 1, 2021, pp. 47-49  

7. The Identification of Δ-8 Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (Δ-8-THCA) by NMR and LCMS Techniques, 255th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New Orleans, LA March 18th-22nd, 2018, Abstract CHAS-041 

8. Hydrogenation of Cannabis Oil, US patent 10,071,127, September 11th, 2018

9. Hydrogenation of Cannabis Oil, US patent 9,694,040, July 4th, 2017

10. Hydrogenation of Cannabis Oil, CannMed 2017, Joseph B. Martin Conference Center, Harvard Medical School, April 9th-11th 2017

11. Hydrogenated Cannabis Oil, 252nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Philadelphia, PA August 21st-25th, 2016, Abstract CHAS-026 

12. Characterization of Cannabis Concentrates by NMR, Americans for Safe Access Unity Conference, March 28th, Washington DC, 2015 

1. Waiting for CBD regulations in the US - Without oversight of hemp products, delta-8-THC, other cannabinoids flourish in unregulated market - C&E News

2. Expert Gives Delta-8 THC Thumbs Down - Organic Chemist Mark A. Scialdone, PhD, warns about unregulated synthetic intoxicants being sold under the guise of “hemp.” - Project CBD

3. Raphael Mechoulam's Cannabis Chemistry Legacy - Curious About Cannabis

4. A Complete Guide to THCH: Research, Products, Potency & Effects - ACS Laboratory Blog

5. A Tribute to Raphael Mechoulam with Marcus Richardson, Ethan Russo, Robert Clarke and David Watson - Hash Church

6. Discovering Cannabis: A Deep Dive in Cannabinoid Science History with Mark Scialdone, PhD - Curious About Cannabis

7. What is THCP and How Does it Effect You? - The Cannigma

8. Cannabis Magic, Synthetic Cannabinoid Contaminants, and Hydrophobic Greaseballs: A Conversation with Dr. Mark Scialdone - Terpenes and Testing Magazine

9. How Delta-8 THC Became the Hot Semi-Legal High - Rolling Stone

10. Steep Hill Vermont Opens Testing Lab

11. Cannabis Chemistry History, Hydrogenated Cannabinoids, Science and Art - Curious About Cannabis Podcast

12. ACS CANN Journal Club D8 Panel Discussion

13. Plastics May Degrade Cannabis Potency in Food - Food Quality and Safety

14. AgroRefiner Commences Operation of Hemp Extraction Facility Focused on CBD

15. Weeding Through Marijuana:  Experts, Advocates Talk Cannabidiol (CBD) - Aspen Times

16. Cannabinoid Analogues Offer a Promising Future for Medical Cannabis - National Cannabis Industry Association Committee Blog

17. Discovery Channel "Innovations" featuring Heidolph, Moxie, Dr. Mark Scialdone