– In an uncontrolled bid for market supremacy, marijuana producers are aiming to maximize potency
– This has put testing labs in a bind, especially in states like California where marijuana is legal
– Missouri cannabis regulators are trying to tackle the issue known as ‘lab shopping’
– Rules have been proposed to force cannabis labs to enter test results within 24 hours
– This move could provide a significant boost to lab accountability and transparency
The Cannabis Conundrum: Missouri’s Rules to Rein in ‘Lab Shopping’
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re knee-deep into the wild world of marijuana production where the maxim, ‘potency is king,’ runs the show. Producers across the US are in a high-stakes race to put the most potent product on the market, a scenario that has left testing labs grappling for balance, especially in states where marijuana is legal, such as sunny California.
Is Missouri Lighting the Way?
In an enterprising move, the Show-Me State is wrestling ‘lab shopping’ to the ground. Missouri cannabis regulators are drafting rules to mandate cannabis labs to enter their test results within a window of 24 hours. This proactive step could potentially throw a wrench in the works for producers who may be tempted to dabble in lab shopping and boost accountability and transparency in this budding industry.
‘This is no child’s play,’ you might say to yourself, and you’d be right. The potency arms race has seen producers bent on outdoing each other in delivering the most intoxicating product; sometimes at the expense of public health and fair competition.
The Breezy Take
The Silver Lining? When it comes to marijuana, it seems Missouri isn’t all smoke and mirrors. They’re tackling the thorny issue of lab shopping head on in a bid to balance the interest of producers, consumers, and public health. By obliging labs to promptly record their test results, call it Operation Transparency, if you will, they’re taking a significant step towards establishing accountability in this growing industry. Time will tell whether other states will follow suit, but for now, the Show-Me State shows us how to champion for transparency and hold the marijuana industry accountable.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/21/missouri-cannabis-regulators-target-lab-shopping-in-new-rules/