Rightsmile, Inc. (RIGH)

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In an effort to standardize quality and safety standards for medical cannabis, the California House passed a bill on Friday, September 11, to mandate that all medical cannabis be laboratory tested.

California bill (AB 266) requires medical cannabis to be lab tested for regulatory purposes on or before July 1, 2017. Specifically, the bill mandates the following:

• The issuance, renewal, suspension, denial, and revocation of conditional licenses;

• Procedures for appealing fines and the appeal of denial, suspension, or revocation of conditional licenses;

• The application, licensing, and renewal forms and fees;

• A time period in which the bureau shall approve or deny applications for a conditional license;

• Qualifications for licensees;

• Set standards for certification of testing laboratories to perform random sample testing of all medical marijuana.

To establish and maintain state standards, the bill would make all companies connected with the sale and production of medical cannabis subject to the International Organization for Standardization, ISO/IEC 17025. These requirements would apply to all entities, including third-party laboratories, engaged in the testing of medical marijuana. Meeting these ISO requirements would mean that all affected parties meet standards similar to state statutory environmental, agricultural, consumer protection, and food and product safety requirements, including sanitation standards, according to language in the bill.

California’s regulations require all medical marijuana testing labs hold an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation as a prerequisite to state licensure.