With the growing legal cannabis industry in the US, cannabis testing has become essential to ensure product safety and regulatory compliance. Several states that have legalized medical and adult-use cannabis require mandatory testing of cannabis products for contaminants, potency, and consistency. This has led to the rapid growth of cannabis testing laboratories across the country.
History and Regulation of Cannabis Testing
The earliest beginnings of regulated cannabis testing in the US can be traced back to the late 1990s when some medical cannabis programs started requiring basic testing of cannabis for potency and contamination. However, it was not until around 2014 that more states started implementing comprehensive Cannabis testing Market regulations as the industry expanded.
Today, over 20 states that have legalized medical or adult-use cannabis require mandatory cannabis product testing by licensed testing facilities.
Some of the key aspects covered under state cannabis testing regulations include:
– Potency Analysis: Testing for THC, CBD, CBG and other cannabinoid levels to ensure proper labeling and dosage.
– Microbial and Mycotoxin Screening: Screening for pathogens like E.coli and Salmonella as well as toxins produced by molds.
– Residual Solvent Testing: Testing cannabis extracts for any residual solvents used during the extraction process.
– Heavy Metal Testing: Screening for toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic that may have contaminated the product.
– Pesticide Residue Testing: Testing for residues from unpermitted pesticides that may remain on or in the cannabis plant post-harvest.
– Terpene Profiling: Testing to quantify terpene levels and understand aroma/flavor profiles.
– Foreign Matter Inspection: Visual inspection for presence of foreign materials like stems, seeds, leaves in extracts or flowers.
– Homogeneity Testing: Testing to ensure consistency in cannabinoid/terpene levels within a batch.
Types of Cannabis Testing Laboratories
The burgeoning demand for regulated cannabis safety testing has led to the emergence of various types of testing laboratories across the US offering specialized services:
– In-House Laboratory: Licensed producers may set up in-house labs to conduct mandatory tests on their own cannabis batches for compliance and quality control.
– Third-Party Laboratory: Independent commercial labs that provide analytical testing services to multiple cannabis businesses. They are preferred for more objective regulatory compliance testing.
– Mobile Testing Companies: Companies that deploy mobile labs and field technicians to collect samples from producers directly and deliver swift test results.
– R&D and Novel Testing Labs: Specialized labs focusing on developing new testing techniques and conducting research in areas like nanotechnology applications.
– Legacy Lab Upgrades: Conventional chemical labs upgrading capabilities to also serve the cannabis industry needs with validated test methods and certified staff.
Commonly Tested Cannabis Products
With the diversity of cannabis products available, laboratories test various formats to ensure safety:
– Flower/Buds: Tests potency, moisture levels, microbiological safety, pesticides/toxins residue.
– Extracts/Concentrates: Tests residual solvent levels, heavy metals, terpene profiles in oil, wax, shatter, distillate etc.
– Edibles: Tests cannabinoid levels, ingredient lists, labeling accuracy, contaminants in infused foods/beverages.
– Topicals: Tests for carrier oil purity, microbial safety in creams, balms applied to skin or mucous membranes.
– Vape Cartridges/Pens: Tests for Vitamin E acetate, heavy metals in vape oils used in pens/cartridges that are inhaled.
Quality Standards and Accreditation
Laboratories adhere to established quality standards and undergo rigorous third-party accreditation processes to ensure reliability of test results:
– ISO/IEC 17025 Documents the technical competence for accurate testing and calibration. Labs go through onsite assessment for this accreditation.
– AOAC International Accreditation Validates method validation and testing ability for mycotoxins, pesticides etc.
– Vendor/Regulator Audits Third party or state agency audits assess lab compliance with SOPs and regulations periodically.
– Proficiency Samples Labs must accurately test blind samples to demonstrate testing competency over time.
– Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) Track samples, results digitally with robust data management systems.
