An outspoken advocate of pro-cannabis legislation, Christopher Wright founded the Cannabis Talk Network in 2018. As a leading expert on the legal cannabis market, Christopher Wright is highly informed on the industry’s regulatory processes, including lab testing standards.
While there are no federal standards for cannabis products, reputable cannabis suppliers and product manufactures conduct rigorous laboratory analyses to ensure the safety and purity of their products. These results are available on a document known as the certificate of analysis, which displays lab results for the following criteria:
- Microbes. Cannabis plants must be cured properly to eliminate water-borne pathogens such as E. coli, fungi, mold, and mildew. Further, the final product can be exposed to contamination if handlers do not practice safe hygiene protocols. Lab tests ensure that no potential dangerous microbes are present.
- Chemicals. Some farmers use pesticides in the growing process, which can increase the level of chemical contaminants in the final product. Other chemicals such as ethanol may be used in the extraction process. Lab tests check for the presence of banned agricultural chemicals and residual levels of extraction chemicals.
- Heavy metals. If cannabis is grown in soil laden with heavy metals, such as mercury and lead, the plant can absorb some of these elements. Consuming large amounts of these metals is dangerous. Cannabis growers test their soil and plants to ensure that they are free from heavy metal contamination.
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