Massachusetts Cannabis Labs Given Thumbs Up to Commence Operations

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]wo testing laboratories were given permission to begin operations for testing recreational cannabis in Massachusetts.

The laboratory facilities, MCR Labs in Framingham and CDX Analytics in Salem, were given final authorization to begin testing cannabis, which must be independently tested for potency and safety before being sold at dispensaries. The labs already test medical cannabis for patient use in Massachusetts.

“I’m very excited about this—it’s definitely a milestone,” said Michael Kahn, president of MCR Labs to The Boston Globe. “It’s not unexpected, because we’ve been working closely with the commission to make sure we’re ready to start smoothly, but it’s a really nice affirmation of that work to have a document with an official seal saying, ‘you can start work.’ We’re ready to go.”

The state is slowly approving recreational cannabis businesses since the law was approved by voters two years ago. Commission members have maintained that their careful steps were necessary to make regulation work for the state and its residents.

“When Massachusetts voters legalized adult-use cannabis, they communicated a desire to purchase products that are safely regulated and properly tested,” Shawn Collins, the executive director of the state’s Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) said in a statement Wednesday. “The Commission has done scrupulous due diligence to make that vision a reality and ensure licensed independent testing labs maximize public health and public safety.”

The labs now had a minimum of three days to “coordinate opening day logistics with their host community, local law enforcement, marijuana establishment colleagues and other essential stakeholders before adult-use operations begin,” according to the CCC news release.

According to the commission, 64 provisional licenses have been approved and 12 final licenses have been granted in the state. Three retail dispensaries have received final licensing, but none of them have received approval to commence operations.

Cultivator Sira Naturals, cultivator and manufacturer New England Treatment Access and the Pharmacannis Massachusetts dispensary have received final licensing documents as of Nov. 1.