Regulators in the state of California have begun to standardize marijuana testing as mandated by a new law in the state. The objective of this is to eliminate inconsistencies observed in operational cannabis laboratories in the state.
Advocates believe that the law will improve reliability and quality as well as discourage laboratory shopping and other practices that produce inauthentic test results. Officials involved in the industry claim that some cannabis businesses look for labs that will produce the results they’d like to see with regard to contaminants and THC potency.
Critics also assert that the absence of standards is also affecting the marijuana testing industry, as it undermines consumer confidence in cannabis products and makes it harder for some laboratories to operate. Christina Dempsey, spokeswoman for the state’s Department of Cannabis Control, stated that the initiative would bring additional accountability and consistency among licensed marijuana testing labs.
She explained that with standardized tests, labs could more easily identify and rectify issues, noting that standardization would also ensure integrity. The department has designated a pair of laboratories managed by the state to create procedures that will be used as a blueprint for every cannabis testing laboratory in the state.
The law will also ensure that testing labs are more transparent about their operations and provide more accurate results. This initiative makes California the latest state to have standardized cannabis testing methods. Other states in this category include New York and New Jersey.
The new law, dubbed Senate Bill 544, was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom in October. The law requires that the state’s Department of Cannabis Control establish criteria and guidelines for the testing of marijuana compounds, residual solvents, microbiological contaminants and pesticides.
The bill states that by January 2023, said department should have established standardized operating procedures and testing methods for cannabinoids that all laboratories will be using. Every testing laboratory in the state will be required to implement the department’s operating procedures, which advocates believe will cut down on laboratory shopping.
Currently, state law mandates that distributors act as liaisons between growers and cannabis dispensaries. Distributors are also required to hold inventory until tests are conducted as well as arrange for testing.
The state legalized the growing, sale and use of recreational marijuana in 2016. Jeffrey Raber, an organic chemist who launched one of the first marijuana testing laboratories in the state more than 10 years ago, believes that developing standardized cross validation and methodologies will eliminate bad actors in the market.
Once the uniform testing standards are implemented, the entire sector, including companies such as American Cannabis Partners, is bound to benefit as the industry will climb a notch higher.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to American Cannabis Partners are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/ACP
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