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    Cannabis Technical Authority: Standards for Sampling and Testing Cannabis Products

    The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has developed compliance testing requirements for cannabis and hemp products manufactured or sold by businesses licensed by the office.

    Overview

    Analytical testing of cannabis for contaminants and potency is increasingly recognized as a critical and necessary component of the industry for several reasons:

    1. Laboratory testing minimizes the risk of pesticides, microbes, heavy metals, toxins, and residual solvents from being consumed.
    2. Quantification of cannabinoid profiles and potency ensures consistency with labeling and aids in determining appropriate consumption for individual use.
    3. Laboratory testing evaluates safety and quality for consumers and medical patients.

    The testing requirements in the standards document linked above apply to all cannabis or hemp products produced or sold by operators licensed by OCM. Cultivators and manufacturers are required to comply with the sampling requirements described in rule and this document and are required to contract with a laboratory licensed by OCM to perform the required testing. The laboratories licensed by OCM are required to test the products to the levels described in this document, to communicate the results through the statewide monitoring system, to report the results in compliance with this document, and to use methods meeting performance criteria specified in this document. Consumers can rely on the safety checks in place throughout the system. Consumers may also access testing data for product batches by request.

    Summary of June 13 Updates

    The revisions to the document include some simple corrections:

    • Updated the document name to match that used in the tribal compacts (page 1 and on this web page)
    • Moved a microbial method to the correct category (page 22)

    There are several clarifications:

    • Impartiality of testing facilities, a requirement of ISO 17025, is addressed in roles and responsibilities (page 1)
    • That Tribal businesses will also follow the testing instructions (page 5)
    • Specified the pathogenic species of aspergillus that must be evaluated (page 7)
    • Requirements for methods that were independently developed and validated by the labs are defined (page 21)

    There were a few alterations to the requirements:

    • The amount of product required to be analyzed for microbial contaminants was adjusted to align with the AOAC SMPRs for microbial analyses (page 7)
    • The amount of product required to be sent for batch analysis was correspondingly adjusted based on testing requirements (page 18)
    • The calculation for product stability timelines were adjusted to account for batch to batch variation (page 14)
    • An SOP describing a labs’ conflict of interest policy was added with a description of what should be addressed (page 18)

    Questions?

    For questions about Minnesota’s technical authority on sampling and testing, please contact: cannabis.info@state.mn.us.

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