Cannabis product testing

Cannabis product testing is product testing of the properties of cannabis destined for consumer use. Analytical chemistry and microbiology laboratories determine cannabinoids, water content, heavy metals, pesticides,[1] terpenes, yeast, mold and mycotoxins, and solvents.[2][3] These laboratories came about when advocates of cannabis testing brought up concerns with potential contaminants.[4][5][6]

History

Colorado

In 2015, the first government standards for testing were proposed in Colorado's legislature, when potency and microbial testing became mandatory in the state.[7][8][9] Colorado cannabis testing laboratories, such as AgriScience Labs, are regulated by the Colorado Department of Revenue's Marijuana Enforcement Division and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.[10] Over the next several years, other tests became mandatory, such as residual solvent analysis and pesticides.[10][11]

Other states

Cannabis testing is also required in other states, such as California,[12] Oregon,[13] Massachusetts,[14] and Nevada.[15]

Standards

Calls have been made to unify cannabis industry standards with existing testing organizations such as ASTM International (ASTM D37)[16] or International Standards Organization (ISO/IEC 17025).[17]

References

1. CEM, C. (2018). "Extraction of Pesticides from Cannabis" (PDF). AP0168: 1–5.
2. Small 2016.
3. St. Louis 2018, p. 384.
4. Matt Ferner (December 4, 2013), "Marijuana Can Be Covered In Mold, E.Coli, Insect Parts And Pollutants", Huffington Post
5. Joel Grover and Matthew Glasser (February 22, 2017), Pesticides and Pot: What's California Smoking? An NBC4 I-Team investigation found evidence suggesting that pesticides could be present in a lot of marijuana legally sold in California, Los Angeles: KNBC-TV NewsCS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
6. Ben Parker Karris (June 22, 2016), "Unknown Unknowns: Why Cannabis Needs Standardized Lab Testing Now – From fentanyl-laced weed to pesticide-polluted flower, the importance of accuracy in lab test results cannot be overstated", Kindland, Kind
7. Kristen Wyatt (March 26, 2015), "Colorado bill seeks to standardize marijuana lab testing", The Cannabist, The Denver Post
8. Jennifer Kovalesk (15 June 2017). "Medical marijuana testing: 5 things you need to know". The Denver Channel. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
9. Lisa Rough (May 10, 2017), Leafly's State-by-State Guide to Cannabis Testing Regulations, Leafly, retrieved 2017-06-26
10. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (14 October 2014). "Inspection of marijuana testing facilities". Retrieved 2018-11-15.
11. Melissa Schiller. "Pesticide Testing is Mandatory in Colorado Starting Aug. 1: Are You Ready?". Cannabis Business Times. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
12. Michael R. Blood. "California testing of cannabis products off to rough start with high failure rate". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
13. Oregon Health Authority. "Marijuana Testing Requirements". Retrieved 2018-11-15.
14. "Medical Use of Marijuana Program product testing". Mass.gov. Retrieved 2019-07-07.
15. Colton Lochhead (24 January 2018). "Nevada officials cracking down on marijuana testing labs". Lad Vegas Review. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
16. "Standards development", Patient Focused Certification (website), Americans for Safe Access, retrieved 2017-04-27
17. "Washington Could Have the Safest Pot in the World If It Just Made This Simple Change", The Stranger, May 31, 2017

Sources

• Small, Ernest (2016), "Monitoring and controlling the production of standardized herbal marijuana", Cannabis: A Complete Guide, CRC Press, ISBN 978-1-315-35059-2
• St. Louis, B.W. (2018). Cannabis: A Clinician's Guide. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-351-39803-9.

See also

• Certificate of analysis