California Develops Standardized Marijuana Testing In Attempt To Clear Up Inconsistencies
Cannabis advocates praise the move saying that it will help raise the quality and reliability standards in the industry, protect consumers and also minimize false test results.
California regulators have begun a new push to standardize cannabis testing with the aim of eliminating inconsistencies among the state’s 41 operational marijuana labs.
Advocates say the effort – mandated by a new state law – will improve quality and reliability while discouraging lab shopping and other practices that produce bogus test results.
Industry officials across the country, for example, allege that some marijuana businesses – think growers, processors, manufacturers or distributors – shop for labs that will give them the results they want to see in the way of THC potency and contaminants.
Critics also say a lack of standards is among the factors plaguing the cannabis testing industry, threatening to undermine consumer confidence in marijuana products and making it harder for some labs to operate.
“This will bring additional consistency and accountability among licensed cannabis testing laboratories,” Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) spokeswoman Christina Dempsey said of the agency’s testing initiative.
What’s in the bill
Senate Bill 544, signed in October by Gov. Gavin Newsom, requires the DCC to establish firm criteria and guidelines for testing dozens of pesticides, microbiological contaminants, residual solvents and cannabis compounds.
Other key aspects of the law:
By Jan. 1, 2023, the DCC must establish a standardized cannabinoids test method and operating procedures that all labs will use.
Labs will now be allowed to correct minor administrative errors, a big win for the industry as clerical and testing mistakes were largely irreversible under former guidelines. That often led to inventory losses. In some cases, for example, incorrect data entries produced failing results.
Cannabis inspection and transportation for testing will be standardized.
For cannabis edibles products, the THC must not exceed 10 milligrams per serving, plus or minus 12%. After Jan. 1 of next year, the permissible margin of error will shrink to 10%.