Safer Cannabis for Oregonians
In October, new testing requirements went into effect through the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for laboratories testing recreational cannabis. Labs that test cannabis intended for sale to consumers now have to obtain a license meeting newly updated and stricter requirements in order to continue to operate. The new rules also apply to concentrates and edibles intended for sale in Oregon’s recreational market. In a batch of usable cannabis, labs are testing for pesticides, moisture content, contaminants and solvents. They are also required to test and report on THC and CBD concentration, not only for medical patients, but also to ensure that a new user doesn’t ingest something too powerful. Labeling, packaging and storage rules are also laid out in the new requirements for all types of cannabis products, from drinks and candy to potent oils.
“The Oregon Health Authority is being somewhat lenient during the first few months under the new requirements, as dispensaries try to sell off remaining batches of cannabis tested under old rules.”
The OHA dictates not only the types of tests labs must perform, but how to test as well. Oregon’s testing requirements have become pickier and more specific than any other state with a recreational or medical cannabis industry. The pressure is on growers to produce a usable crop, because if more than one test at the lab is failed, the whole batch has to be dumped. Pesticides are found the most often, but trace amounts are allowed. Dispensaries have already taken a hit, finding themselves stuck with leftover inventory after the passing of the new requirements. The OHA is being somewhat lenient during the first few months under the new requirements, as dispensaries try to sell off remaining batches of cannabis tested under old rules. Establishments have started selling leftover inventory marked with, “does not meet new resting requirements” stickers.
The Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, known as ORELAP, is the organization that grants licenses to test cannabis for dispensary sale. This is the same program that dictates the rules of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act, protecting Oregonians and their health. They make sure that the people doing the testing know what they are doing, and that they are also using the safest practices possible to protect consumers and the general public. With the passing of ORELAP’s new requirements, recreational and medical consumers will know the exact cleanliness and potency of the cannabis they buy, as well as knowing that what they are buying is safe to consume.
Customers using the services of these laboratories, mostly growers and dispensary owners, aren’t so pleased with the new requirements. Not only do they have to pay more to test their inventory, the tests are harder to pass, and it’s easier for their product to fail. Many Oregon growers are starting to use organic growing methods so they don’t have to worry about their cannabis being tested and coming up high in pesticides. Oregon’s cannabis market is certainly changing once again, and although those in the industry find this change only slightly annoying, Oregonians should be happy to live in a state where we can not only smoke good cannabis, but also know that it’s clean and safe.
