Washington Cannabis Testing Labs
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Does Washington License Independent Cannabis Testing Labs?
Yes. Independent marijuana testing laboratories in Washington must be certified by the state's Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB), as required by WAC 314-55-102, and must participate in proficiency testing stipulated in WAC 314-55-1025. Generally, Washington regulations do not differentiate between medical and recreational cannabis products. Hence, an approved marijuana testing laboratory in the state can conduct lab tests on both adult-use and medicinal cannabis products.
Requirements for Marijuana Testing Labs in Washington
The requirements for certified cannabis testing labs in Washington are outlined in WAC 314-55-0995, and they include the following:
- No person with direct or indirect financial interest in a licensed marijuana processor or producer may have a financial interest in a certified independent cannabis testing laboratory
- An independent marijuana testing laboratory must be certified by the WSLCB. They must also have an ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation
- A third-party cannabis testing laboratory must employ a scientific director whose responsibility is to maintain quality standards of laboratory practices
- As a condition of WSLCB certification, an independent marijuana testing laboratory must adopt minimum good lab practices (GLPs). They must also maintain a quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) program and internal standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Washington Required Tests for Cannabis Products
Certified independent marijuana testing laboratories in Washington are required to conduct the following types of testing on cannabis and marijuana products:
- Mycotoxin screening
- Heavy metal analysis (optional)
- Pesticide analysis (optional)
- Residual solvents screening
- Microbiological testing
- Water activity
- Potency analysis
- Foreign matter inspection
- Terpenes (optional)
- Moisture
How Do Washington Marijuana Testing Labs Submit and Report Test Results?
Quality control test results from certified cannabis testing laboratories in Washington must be reported to the licensee (marijuana producer or processor) and the Liquor and Cannabis Board in the required format. A testing lab must report a cannabis sample as failed if the results for any limits test are over allowable levels stipulated in WAC 314-55-102.
How Much Does It Cost to Test Cannabis in Washington?
Currently, licensed marijuana producers and processors in Washington pay $120 per test for microbial and mycotoxin screenings as well as potency analysis done on cannabis products tested by certified marijuana testing laboratories in the state.
What Happens to Cannabis Products That Fail Lab Tests in Washington?
Any batch of cannabis that fails laboratory testing in Washington may be used to create extracts if approved by the state's Liquor and Cannabis Board. However, the extracts must pass all quality control tests required by state law before being retailed unless they fail tests that need immediate destruction. Pesticide failures cannot be retested, and a batch of any cannabis sample that fails a pesticide test must be destroyed.
In Washington, a licensed processor or producer may request retesting of cannabis that fails a laboratory test to validate a failed test result on a case-by-case basis. Also, a batch of cannabis that fails a first lab test or a retest may be remediated if it is not a pesticide failure. Processors and producers may remediate failed lots, cannabis flowers, or batches as long as the process does not impart any harmful or toxic substance to the usable marijuana products or concentrates. Any failed quantity of remediated marijuana that is not reprocessed or remediated in any way after a first failure cannot be retested.
List of Cannabis Testing Labs in Washington
The WSLCB maintains a list of Washington-certified cannabis testing laboratories.