State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick is closely examining Missouri's cannabis program. His goal is to enhance efficiency and transparency as the industry's value nears $1 billion. A recent recall of more than 62,000 cannabis products that didn't meet compliance standards underscores the challenges in overseeing this rapidly evolving market.
This scrutiny is followed by the state's response to another challenge: the introduction of stringent rules against 'lab shopping,' aimed at preventing the manipulation of cannabis product potency results.
Ending 'Lab Shopping': Missouri's Strict Cannabis Testing Rules
Missouri cannabis regulators introduced new rules to combat lab shopping. The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has implemented a "round robin" testing approach, requiring certified labs to cross-check each other's work up to 10 times a year.
This aims to ensure consistent THC potency results and prevent deceptive practices.
Duplicative And Burdensome, Say Critics
However, some lab owners in Missouri have opposed this rule, claiming it duplicates existing requirements and is overly burdensome.
Josh Swider, CEO of Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs and a cannabis industry expert, advocates for interlaboratory comparison to identify flaws in testing methods.
A National Trend In Cannabis Lab Regulation
The move by Missouri follows growing discussions on regulating cannabis testing labs, as federal regulations for marijuana are lacking.
The struggle to establish standardized testing methods has left state agencies grappling with varying results and calls for uniformity in the industry.
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Photo by Michael Förtsch on Unsplash.
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