A new state law means regulators in the Golden State will have to standardize cannabis testing to reduce inconsistencies among the 41 labs operating in the state, reports MJBizDaily.
Consistency and accountability
Industry officials allege that some companies involved in producing and distributing cannabis products shop around for higher THC potencies until they get the results they want. Consistent standards are aimed at boosting consumer confidence in regulated cannabis.
“This will bring additional consistency and accountability among licensed cannabis testing laboratories,” Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) spokeswoman Christina Dempsey told MJBizDaily. “With a standardized method, laboratories can more easily identify and correct problems, and it will serve as an additional mechanism to ensure integrity.”
Senate Bill 544
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 544 in October, with a Jan. 1, 2023 deadline for established guidelines for contaminants and potencies. In addition to boosting consumer confidence, it’s designed to reduce the number of false positives for contaminants, which can mean companies have to throw away perfectly good products that don’t contain problematic substances.
‘On the right path’
In addition to developing standards for all labs, cross-referencing results could also be helpful, said Jeffrey Raber, the CEO of The Werc Shop, a former lab-turned-consulting company.
“The lab game still needs so much help,” he said. “I don’t think we’re fully there yet, but we’re on the right path.”
