Colorado Hemp Testing
(Compliance, Safety & COAs)

Brief intro highlighting ACS Laboratory’s role as a leading hemptesting laboratory in Colorado.

Colorado regulates hemp cultivation under the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) and hemp products under the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE). CDA requires pre-harvest THC testing (total THC, post-decarb), while CDPHE sets product action limits and lab certification rules. ACS Laboratory provides Colorado-compliant testing for hemp cannabinoid finished products.

Colorado Hemp Plant Testing (THC)

Colorado hemp growers schedule pre-harvest sampling through CDA-approved agents. CDA-approved laboratories test the collected samples for total THC (≤0.3% post-decarb) and deliver compliant COAs recognized by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

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Final Product Testing (Full Panel)

Colorado hemp consumables must pass full-panel testing by a CDPHE-certified laboratory. ACS is a Colorado-certified laboratory that follows approved SOPS and reporting standards to verify potency, purity, and safety, so every product meets quality and compliance requirements.

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Colorado Hemp Rules & Statutes

Colorado Industrial Hemp Act

C.R.S.A. T. 35, Art. 61

Regulatory Rules (Pre-harvest testing)

8 CCR 1203-23

Hemp Product and Safe Harbor Hemp Product Regulations

Rule: 6 CCR 1010-24

Industrial Hemp Regulations

Rule: 6 CCR 1010-21

HempTesting Laboratory Certification

Rule: 5 CCR 1005-5
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Compliance Resources

Colorado Hemp Overview

Source

CDA Hemp Sampling Guidelines

Source

Online Hemp Question Form

Source

Hemp in Food

Source

Pesticides Approved by CDA for Cultivation

Source
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Colorado Compliance Testing for Hemp Extracts & Inhalables

Hemp manufacturers and retailers in Colorado must test all finished products through a CDPHE-certified laboratory to confirm potency, THC ratio, and safety from contaminants before sale. Under 6 CCR 1010-24, regulated hemp facilities must register with the state, use ingredients from approved sources, and maintain Certificates of Analysis (COAs) verifying compliance. ACS Laboratory meets these requirements, providing accurate, state-recognized COAs that keep Colorado hemp products market-ready.

01

Cannabinoid Potency

Matrix: Flower/Plants, Derivative Products & Edibles

ACS quantifies up to 50 cannabinoids (e.g., CBD, Δ9-THC, THCA) to align with Colorado’s requirements that final products must have test results for any known cannabinoid component present at more than 1.0% of the total peak area.

02

HHCP & Hydrogenated Cannabinoids

Matrix: Flower/Plants, Derivative Products, Edibles, and Beverages

ACS Laboratory measures 9 hydrogenated cannabinoids, including HHC, HHCP, and H4-CBD, and 4 others, using LC-MS to ensure accuracy and label transparency for Colorado products.

03

Residual Solvents

Matrix: Derivative Products, Edibles, and Beverages

ACS screens 29 residual solvents (e.g., ethanol, methanol, hexane, toluene, total xylenes) by headspace GC-MS to confirm compliance with CDPHE limits.

04

Pesticides

Matrix: Flower/Plants, Derivative Products, Edibles, and Beverages

ACS performs a comprehensive multi-residue screen (LC-MS/MS) against CDPHE action limits for 102 pesticides required by Colorado.

05

Heavy Metals

Matrix: Flower/Plants, Derivative Products, Edibles, and Beverages

ACS measures arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury via ICP-MS to verify compliance with Colorado limits.

06

Mycotoxins

Matrix: Flower/Plants, Derivative Products, Edibles, and BeveragesMatrix: Vape Products Only.

ACS tests Aflatoxin B1, Aflatoxin Total, and Ochratoxin A against Colorado’s lower ingestion limits.

07

Pathogenic Microbiology Microbiologyins

Matrix: Flower, Plants, Derivatives, Edibles, and Beverages

ACS screens for Salmonella and STEC with an absence required in 25 g.

08

Microbiology (qPCR)

Matrix: Flower, Plants, Derivatives, Edibles, and Beverages

ACS quantifies aerobic bacteria, total coliforms, and yeast/mold to ensure products meet CDPHE action limits.
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How Accurate Are
ACS Laboratory’s Results?

ACS Laboratory delivers certified precision backed by ISO/IEC 17025:2017 A2LA accreditation, DEA registration, and advanced analytical instrumentation.ACS Laboratory ranks among the top 5% of labs in the U.S. for hemp and cannabis testing.

Each report includes a digital Certificate of Analysis (COA) that verifies compliance with Louisiana’s THC limits and LDH safety standards—ensuring every result is defensible, transparent, and trusted statewide.
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Need to Know

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How do I start testing my CO hemp with ACS Laboratory?

Create an account with ACS Laboratory and submit your finished product samples for full-panel testing through a CDPHE-certified process. ACS provides chain-of-custody forms, shipping instructions, and rapid turnaround for potency, purity, and safety results—keeping your products compliant and ready for retail.

Contact the ACS team or call (561) 510-8396 and ask for Brian Gober (bgober@acslab.com) for a consultation.

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Which hemp products does ACS test?

ACS Laboratory tests flower, extracts, edibles, beverages, topicals, tinctures, and vape products, providing comprehensive COAs accepted by CDA and CDPHE.

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How fast does ACS Laboratory deliver test results?

ACS Laboratory delivers potency results in 1–3 business days and full-panel results in 5–7 business days after receiving samples. Expedited testing is available for retail-ready batches.

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What testing do hemp products need before sale?

Manufacturers must complete full-panel testing—including potency, THC ratio, and contaminant screenings—through a CDPHE-certified laboratory. Only products that meet state safety and labeling standards can enter retail distribution.

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When do growers need to test their hemp crops?

Colorado growers must schedule pre-harvest sampling within 30 days before harvest through a CDA-approved sampler. CDA-approved laboratories then analyze samples for total THC to confirm compliance with the 0.3% legal limit.

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Who regulates hemp in Colorado?

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) regulates hemp cultivation and pre-harvest THC testing. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) oversees hemp manufacturing, testing, and retail safety requirements for consumable and topical products.

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