By Harrison Bard Co-Founder and CEO of Custom Cones USA
Understanding California’s Regulatory Landscape & Comprehensive Testing Requirements
Although every state has their own testing requirements, Few markets require more than Californiaspan size=”font weight: 400 ;”>, since the voters approved California’s recreational cannabis market.
Golden State requires that all cannabis products, including the flower, be tested in their final state, or the form they will be sold at retail. This means that your flower must be clean but also all other components or ingredients, as anything could trigger a failure.
Test Parameters for Safety
For example, both flower and pre-rolls must be tested:
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Moisture content and water activity
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Residual Solvents and Processing Chemicals;
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Residual pesticides;
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Microbiological impurities
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Mycotoxins;
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Foreign materials;
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The four “big” heavy metals: arsenic (cadmium), lead (lead) and mercury.
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Cannabinoids and
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Terpenes (if requested).
These tests are almost all safety-related.
Mold growth is influenced by moisture content and water activity. Water activity measures the amount of water present in your cannabis products. Water activity is a measure of the percentage of water in your cannabis product. In California, it cannot be higher than 0.65 Aw or 0.85 Aw if you are using solid edibles. It is because anything over 0.70 Aw can cause mold growth, which could be harmful if consumed.
Safety Concerns: Mycotoxins & Pesticides
Mycotoxins can also be a problem for safety. Mycotoxins, a toxic substance produced by molds such as Aspergillus can damage the liver or even suppress the immune systems. California tests for two types of mycotoxins: Aflatoxins (which can damage DNA) and Ochratoxins (which can cause cancerous cells to form). Mycotoxin tests ensure that products are safe to consume and inhale. Samples in California cannot exceed 20 micrograms per sample of either ochratoxins or aflatoxins.
California, like many other states, requires the testing of residual pesticides. This includes 21 chemicals classified as “Category 1” which are prohibited in any quantity and 45 chemicals classified as “Category 2” with “action levels” that a sample cannot exceed. These chemicals are harmful to the human body, damaging organs and causing other long-term issues.
The Department of Pesticide Regulation provides a list of pesticides that are acceptable on its website.
Mercury, cadmium lead, and arsenic are also heavy metals that the state requires to be tested. Even in small doses, all four metals can be toxic for humans and damage vital organs such as the lungs, reproductive system, and central nervous systems. The state has set the actionable levels for inhalable products at 0.1 micrograms of mercury, 0.2 for arsenic, cadmium, and 0.5 for lead.
The tests for heavy-metals are important, because cannabis is a bio-accumulator known to absorb and collect heavy-metals from the soil where it grows.
Standardization and Regulatory Updates
California will also create standardized operating procedures (SOPs) and test methods to be used for the testing of cannabis flower and prerolls in 2024. All licensed laboratories must use these SOPs so that testing is uniform across the entire state.
Paper Suppliers: Key considerations for manufacturers
Californian regulations require that all products be tested in their final form. This means not only the flower, but also the cones and rolling papers. This includes cones and rolling papers for pre-rolls. There have also been cases where the papers caused batches of products not to pass testing.
Rolling papers can also be tested and found to contain heavy metals, pesticides or other chemicals that are harmful.
Pre-Roll manufacturers beware: Ensuring compliance
SC Labs is one of California’s licensed testing laboratories. They found that During a recent study, 11% of the rolling papers tested failed testingspan size=”font weight: 400 ;”>. The lab bought 118 products on Amazon and from several smoke shops around Santa Cruz. The lab’s scientists tested for heavy metals in 101 samples and pesticides in 112 others. In 90% of the products, at least one metal was detected. 8% contained at least one metal in concentrations that exceeded the allowed limits. In 16% of samples, pesticides were found. 5% exceeded the action limit.
Pre-roll manufacturers must be very careful when choosing their paper supplier. They need to make sure that the cones they use to pack pre-rolls do not cause a whole batch to be destroyed or worse.
Expert Advice and Recommendations
Take the time to ensure that your product will be viable. Andre Bayard is the Compliance Manager for Custom Cones USA.
Bayard advises that it is important to choose a supplier who focuses on compliance and testing, and can offer a Certificate of Analysis as proof of its products. This will ensure your pre-rolls come out as clean as the flowers you use.
Bayard advises: spanstyle=”font weight: 400 ;”>”In markets with high regulations, work with companies that focus on these requirements and try to set industry standards with their products.
Conclusion: Upholding standards
Testing failures can be costly and cumbersome, especially for small businesses. They can also follow the company and its products, even after they have been corrected. Pre-roll suppliers should also take the same care as you do when growing cannabis.
Join us for more exclusive insights on California Marketplace
Are you interested in California’s dynamic cannabis market? We are delighted to invite you to attend two NCIA events that have been tailored to California’s vibrant marijuana industry. Please mark your calendars to attend our California Stakeholder Summit in Sacramento, CA, on Thursday February 22nd, and our California-focused Policy Matters webinar on Thursday February 8th.
California Stakeholder Summit 2020: Explore the latest trends, laws, and opportunities shaping California’s cannabis landscape. Join speakers United States Representative Congresswoman Barbara Lee(D-Oakland), Director of California Department of Cannabis Control Nicole Elliot and California Assembly Majority leader Cecilia Aguiar Curry. NCIA members are entitled to free admission and exclusive access to the Q&A. Register by clicking here in order to reserve your place.
* Golden State Green: Regulating California’s Cannabis Industry Join us for a discussion about the changing policies and regulations that impact California’s cannabis industry. Experts and thought leaders who are driving change in California will share their valuable insights. Register Now and reserve your virtual seat.
Do not miss these opportunities to learn, network and help shape the future cannabis industry in California. Register now to be a part of the discussion!
The post Members Blog: California Gold Standard – Navigating Cannabis Testing Regulations first appeared on National Cannabis Industry Association.
