Why Cannabis Testing is Important
Cannabis testing identifies and quantifies phytocannabinoid and terpene content, as well as screens cannabis products for potentially harmful substances and ensures consumer safety. Not only does this information build trust and transparency between your licensed cannabis products and consumers and patients, but it is also usually required by law.
In this article, you will learn:
What is cannabis testing
The importance of cannabis testing
What cannabis testing can analyze
What is cannabis testing?
Cannabis testing refers to the processes performed by an authorized and knowledgeable third-party laboratory to analyze and record information about cannabis product quality and safety.
Cannabis testing can focus on any number of checks, including:
Analyzing a sample for phytocannabinoid content
Whether contaminants are present in the product, such as mold, mildew, or foreign materials
Detecting the terpenes that are present in the sample
Testing is often required by state law, though the precise regulations of what should be tested for varies from state to state. Further, consumers are becoming educated and savvy when it comes to cannabis, so more and more are expecting transparency from cannabis brands -- that means offering third-party lab test results to guarantee quality and ensure consistency in product experience.
Why test cannabis?
Consumer safety. Checking products for contaminants like residual solvents used in the extraction process or heavy metals absorbed from the soil, water, planters, cartridges, and other touch points during the cultivation, harvesting, and manufacturing process. In high enough levels, these types of contaminants could be harmful to consumers, and so cannabis producers are often required to demonstrate their product is clean and safe with cannabis test results.
Required by law: In most states, New Jersey included, extensive cannabis testing is a must. The types of testing required and their substance/compound limits varies from state to state.
Developing cannabis products: Beyond the regulatory imperative, cannabis test results are essential for the research and development of cannabis products. For example, if a manufacturer makes a marijuana infused product (MIP) containing 100mg of THC, they will want to reproduce that product from product to product and from batch to batch. Additionally, as the market matures and consumers’ knowledge of cannabis products continues to evolve, manufacturers need to incorporate cannabinoids into more complex matrices like high-end candies, drinks, and food additives. These complex formulations demand analytical support to ensure the ingredients are compatible, and the stability of the products remains intact over time.
Communicating with consumers: Lab test results can be made available (and in some states, are required to be published) to consumers to inform them about product quality. Cannabis consumers, especially in young adult-use markets like New Jersey, often have a lot of questions. Providing clear, precise cannabis testing results is one way to furnish them with information about product quality. It also differentiates producers as transparent, trustworthy brands, which can help establish consumer loyalty in a developing market.
Is cannabis testing required in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey requires in-depth cannabis testing for every cannabis product.
In New Jersey, the state’s interim testing rules require certified third-party lab tests of cannabis products to include a profile of major phytocannabinoids, including THC and CBD potency, and terpene profiling. The state also requires testing for pesticides, microbes, mycotoxins, heavy metals, and residual solvents. The State of New Jersey currently adheres to regulations set by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission on an interim basis while the Garden States devises its own adult-use cannabis regulatory framework and testing standards.
What do testing facilities check?
Cannabis testing labs like True Labs for Cannabis can perform an array of tests to provide detailed reports that spell out what exactly is in a sample. These tests include:
Compound profile: The cannabinoid content and terpene profile of a cannabis product is together known as the compound profile. This testing includes information like the percentage of THC or CBD in a product, as well as the varying levels of terpenes like myrcene, limonene, or beta caryophyllene, and levels of minor cannabinoids like CBC and CBN.
Pesticides: In New Jersey, all pesticide use on cannabis is banned, and the state requires producers to prove they were not used with test results. Many pesticides can be harmful if ingested, making pesticide testing a moral imperative as much as a compliance requirement.
Microbes: Microbes, such as molds and mildews, can contaminate a cannabis plant at virtually any stage of its life cycle, including after harvest. To ensure your crop is free of these harmful microbes, labs can test samples to identify whether any are present and in what levels. They can also test for water activity, which measures how susceptible cannabis may be to microbe contamination.
Heavy metals: Cannabis plants absorb contaminants like heavy metals alongside water, nutrients, and other healthy materials. Cannabis plants can become contaminated with arsenic, cadmium, and lead, to name a few. These substances can be harmful if consumed in high enough levels and many are restricted by state regulation.
Residual solvents: When it comes to extracts, there is always the risk of residual solvents staying behind. Solvents are required to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant material, leaving behind a highly potent oil. If solvents are not properly removed, however, they could pose a threat to the consumer. Residual solvent testing is often required by state law.
Mycotoxins: Mycotoxins are known to cause a wide range of potentially serious health problems. Mycotoxins are commonly the result of thriving mold or fungal colonies. These substances pose serious risks to consumer health.
Lipids: Lipids are fatty acids found in cannabis plants, but they can pose harm to consumers when present in high levels in inhaled products like cannabis concentrates and vape cartridges.
Moisture content: The amount of moisture in cannabis flower could promote the growth of microbes like molds and fungi. Too-high moisture levels could compromise product safety, while too-low moisture levels can result in a brittle, shoddy final product. Lab testing can identify whether moisture content is in acceptable ranges.
Homogeneity: Homogeneity tests determine the distribution and consistency of cannabis products. To ensure doses remain consistent, homogeneity tests check for even distribution of phytocannabinoids throughout a product. For example, eating one piece of an edible should yield the same experience as eating another piece of the same edible.
Cannabis testing provides quality assurance
In New Jersey, cannabis testing is required by the state for every product. But beyond compliance, consumers in the Garden State -- especially those entering the adult-use market -- will be searching for quality products. Cannabis producers need to take this opportunity to differentiate themselves by demonstrating superior product quality. Detailed test results are the way to do it. Finally, the ability to iterate and innovate will be key to establishing a competitive advantage in New Jersey; but research and development is nigh impossible without accurate lab test results.
True Labs for Cannabis can pull back the curtain on what’s in your product, offering quality assurance you can count on. Our East Hanover, New Jersey-based analytical laboratory goes above and beyond the regulatory standards followed by the state of New Jersey, screening for more harmful contaminants and offering more sensitive tests than the industry average. As a lab wholly and solely dedicated to all things cannabis, our knowledgeable and experienced staff can speak to the trace contaminants that can cause problems for consumers and tank reputations.
Contact True Labs for Cannabis to learn more about how our cannabis testing services can help your facility.