Inside Michigan's Push For State-Owned Cannabis Testing Facility
Michigan's Cannabis Regulatory Agency is advocating for a new bill that would give them the authority to establish a state-run testing facility to enforce regulations in the cannabis industry. The agency has received funding but has not built the lab yet, prompting them to seek additional legislative power. If successful, changes to the current laws governing recreational cannabis could occur. The proposed lab aims to standardize practices, enhance oversight, and improve auditing capabilities in an industry lacking unbiased third-party testing labs. Critics, like Viridis Laboratories CEO Greg Michaud, dispute the need for a state lab, questioning its fairness and transparency. Viridis Laboratories had past conflicts with the CRA over test accuracy and THC potency, leading to a legal dispute. The bill's passing will require three-fourths of lawmakers' support in Michigan's Senate and House of Representatives.
