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Ohio Cannabis Testing Labs

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Does Ohio License Independent Cannabis Testing Labs?

In Ohio, independent cannabis testing labs are licensed to perform sampling and analysis on marijuana and marijuana products. The Ohio Department of Commerce is responsible for licensing medical marijuana testing laboratories in the state. Approved marijuana testing facilities in Ohio include universities and private laboratories.

Requirements for Marijuana Testing Labs in Ohio

Cannabis testing laboratories in Ohio are required to obtain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation within two years of getting their provisional licenses. An ISO accreditation is a mark of quality confirming the recipient organization follows a standard procedure of operation.

Testing marijuana is required to ensure that marijuana products are safe for consumption. Licensed cannabis laboratories test these products for potency and safety before they are sold in Ohio dispensaries. A testing facility must adhere to compliance testing, build a quality management system, and make sure the tested cannabis product meets the established standards of the Department of Commerce. Apart from these requirements, Ohio requires a cannabis testing facility to:

  • Employ a scientific director with a doctorate degree with two years of experience in a relevant field or a master’s degree with four years of experience in a relevant field
  • Employ a scientific director who must supervise all laboratory staff and ensure that the laboratory achieves and maintains an excellent standard of practice

Ohio Required Tests for Cannabis Products

Every batch of marijuana sold in Ohio must be sampled and pass the tests for:

  • Microbial contaminants
  • Mycotoxins
  • Moisture contents
  • Foreign matter contamination
  • Heavy metals, including, at a minimum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury
  • Pesticide and fertilizer residue
  • Cannabinoid potency, including, at a minimum, the following:
  • Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol
  • Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid
  • Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid
  • Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
  • Cannabidiol (CBD)
  • Cannabinol (CBN)
  • Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA)
  • THC content as defined in rule 3796:1-1-01 of the Administrative Code
  • Any other cannabinoid determined by the department

How Do Ohio Marijuana Testing Labs Submit and Report Test Results?

Licensed cannabis testing facilities in Ohio must report the analyses of test results to the state’s inventory tracking system, METRC. The system tracks marijuana and marijuana products as they are manufactured, cultivated, tested, and distributed to licensed dispensaries in Ohio. Furthermore, the Department of Commerce can request electronic copies of results of test analyses to be sent by mail. A unique Certificate of Analysis (CoA) must be created for each batch of tested cannabis. The Department of Commerce may request a record of each batch that was tested recently. Therefore, a licensed laboratory is to maintain a five-year record of every batch of cannabis test in Ohio.

How Much Does It Cost to Test Cannabis in Ohio?

Cultivators, manufacturers, and other cannabis licensees must reach out to licensed cannabis testing laboratories in person to ask about their current pricing. They can also check the websites of licensed cannabis testing laboratories and contact them via email or call to find information on prices.

What Happens to Cannabis Products That Fail Lab Tests in Ohio?

In Ohio, a processor or cultivator can request the reanalysis of a batch of marijuana product that failed an initial test. This request must be made within 10 days of the first test. If the marijuana product fails the test for the second time, and the reanalysis was for pesticides, mycotoxins, or heavy metals, it must be destroyed immediately. A batch of marijuana product may be remediated to dry further, if it fails moisture content or water activity test. If the failure is for microbial contamination, the batch may go through extraction by carbon dioxide or hydrocarbon method.

A batch of marijuana that fails testing can also be recalled. To facilitate the recall of a batch by the Department of Commerce in Ohio a unique batch number must be allocated to each batch.

List of Cannabis Testing Labs in Ohio

In Ohio, there are currently eight licensed cannabis testing labs and two additional laboratories with provisional licenses. Ohio’s licensed marijuana testing laboratories are:

  • North Coast Testing Laboratories, LLC
  • ACT Laboratories, Inc.
  • One Bond Testing Laboratories
  • CP Labs
  • Priority Labs, LLC
  • Midway Labs (Smithers)
  • Pinnacle Testing and Specialty Lab
  • SV Labs

Provisional licensed cannabis testing laboratories:

  • Battelle
  • Central State University