Missouri to Establish Marijuana Testing Lab to Ensure Safety and Potency of Products
The Missouri government has announced plans to establish a laboratory to test the safety and potency of marijuana products sold in the state. The move is aimed at addressing concerns about the accuracy of testing conducted by private laboratories, which are currently paid for by the companies producing the products.
The new laboratory, which is expected to be fully operational by fall 2025, will be located at the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory in Jefferson City. The state has allocated $3.8 million for the lab in fiscal year 2024 and $2.4 million in fiscal 2025.
The laboratory will test marijuana products for the levels of cannabinoids, including THC, and for contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, mold, and other pathogens. The tests will be conducted to ensure that products meet safety and potency standards.
The move is seen as a major step forward in regulating the marijuana industry in Missouri, which has seen rapid growth since the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2022. The state has licensed 10 private laboratories to test marijuana products, but critics have raised concerns about the potential for bias in these tests.
“There’s a temptation on the part of the labs to give their customers the results they want,” said Dan Viets, a lawyer who chairs the national board of directors for NORML, an advocacy group that has long sought to legalize marijuana. “There’s a financial incentive to exaggerate potency and to ignore adulterants.”
The new laboratory will help to address these concerns and ensure that marijuana products sold in Missouri are safe and potent. The lab will also provide a reference point for testing and will help to ensure that products meet state and federal standards.
Missouri’s decision to establish a marijuana testing lab is part of a broader trend in the industry. A dozen other states already have quality assurance laboratories known as reference labs.
The move is also seen as a response to growing concerns about the health impacts of marijuana use. A recent study found that individuals with anxiety who use marijuana report better sleep quality than those who use alcohol or abstain from marijuana altogether.
However, health experts are also warning about the potential risks of marijuana use, including the risk of overdose and the potential for negative impacts on the brain, heart, and other bodily functions.
Despite these concerns, the marijuana industry in Missouri is booming. Sales of recreational marijuana have surpassed $1 billion annually, and the state has generated significant revenue from taxes on medical and recreational consumption.
