Connecticut Cannabis Testing Labs
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Does Connecticut License Independent Cannabis Testing Labs?
Connecticut licenses independent testing laboratories to test cannabis under SB 1201. Section 16 of Public Act 23-79 created a license type (cannabis testing laboratory) required for independent testing laboratories seeking to analyze marijuana in the state. The Department of Consumer Protection issues the Connecticut cannabis testing laboratory license.
Requirements for Marijuana Testing Labs in Connecticut
Per Public Act 23-79, a cannabis testing laboratory must meet the requirements of 7 CFR 990.3 and be accredited as a testing laboratory in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 by a third-party accrediting agency such as the Assured Calibration and Laboratory Accreditation Select Services or the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation. The laboratory must also be located in Connecticut and be approved by the State Department of Consumer Protection to analyze marijuana in the state.
Connecticut Required Tests for Cannabis Products
Per Section 21a-408-60 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, immediately prior to manufacturing a marijuana product or packaging raw marijuana for sale to a dispensary, a producer must segregate all harvested marijuana into homogenized batches for testing.
The marijuana producer must make each of such batches available at the production facility for a laboratory employee to select a random sample. The laboratory then conducts an active ingredient analysis and tests each sample for:
- Microbiological contaminants
- Mycotoxins
- Heavy metals
- Pesticide chemical residue
How Do Connecticut Marijuana Testing Labs Submit and Report Test Results?
Per Section 21a-408-60 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, a marijuana testing laboratory must file with the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) an electronic copy of each test result for any batch that fails the microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy metal, or pesticide chemical residue test. At the same time, the testing laboratory must transmit such test results to the marijuana producer who submitted the samples for testing. In addition, the testing laboratory must maintain the test results and make them available as the Department of Consumer Protection may require.
How Much Does It Cost to Test Cannabis in Connecticut?
Sample quantity, test type, and facility expertise or reputation are all factors that may impact marijuana testing costs in Connecticut. However, typical testing costs are included below:
- Mycotoxin test: $70-$150 per sample
- Heavy metal or pesticide chemical residue test: $150-$300 per sample
- Microbial test: $100-$150 per sample
What Happens to Cannabis Products That Fail Lab Tests in Connecticut?
In accordance with Section 21a-408-60 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, a testing laboratory must immediately return or dispose of any marijuana upon the completion of any testing. If a sample of marijuana does not pass the mycotoxin, microbiological, heavy metal, or pesticide chemical residue test, the marijuana producer must dispose of the entire batch from which the sample was taken.
List of Cannabis Testing Labs in Connecticut
As of 2024, only Northeast Laboratories, based in Rocky Hill in Hartford County, has an active license to test marijuana in the state.