Medical Cannabis Testing & Certification
ACS Laboratory provides the most accurate qualitative and quantitative testing analysis for our licensed
Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC) clients in the state of Florida. .
Testing Delivers Formal Certificates of Analysis
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Measures of Cannabis Potency
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Identifying and Measuring Terpenes
Many in the cannabis industry have heard about terpenes and the importance of them, but not everyone fully comprehends their relevancy and mechanism of action. Terpenes modulate the cannabinoid experience and account for a majority of the nuances that are felt between different cultivars and samples, as well as provide a majority of the taste and aroma of cannabis. Essentially, they are supplemental to THC breaking through the blood brain barrier by providing variation and subtlety to the cannabis experience. In addition to terpenes, flavonoids also account for a large portion of the flavor profile. Similarly to terpenes, flavonoids exist in a wide variety of plants other than cannabis, and also account for a portion of the flavor and scent that a sample has. In addition, it is thought that they provide modulation to the cannabis experience in a similar manner to terpenes. For more in depth information on terpenes, as well as flavonoids, and what their individual functions are, you can find links to our terpene blogs and flavonoid blogs here.
Additional Medical Cannabis Testing for Safety and Purity
To ensure the safety and purity of Medical Cannabis products, ACS Laboratory offers testing for pesticides (Florida requirement is 68 pesticides), heavy metals required for state compliance, as well as 21 Residual Solvents in extracts. Additional tests include moisture content & water activity (an early indicator of mold, it’s important to test for this early), microbiology, micronutrients, mycotoxins, as well as shelf life and stability. Please note that a “compliance full panel” test does not include terpenes.
We recommend testing for terpenes to differentiate your products
ACS Laboratory tests all forms of Medical Cannabis
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Formal Certificates of Analysis with QR Codes
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Our Accreditations and Compliance Certifications
Our Facilities and Personnel
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Florida Pesticide Testing
According to Florida's DOH governing board in statute 381.986, any pesticide used in the production of cannabis flower (medical marijuana) or low-THC cannabis (hemp) must be registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These pesticides must be classified as minimum risk, and the ingredients in the pesticide must be exempt from tolerance requirements. Florida law requires that medical marijuana be tested for pesticides. In addition to pesticides, the DOH’s proposed lab certification and testing standards rules state that medical cannabis cannot contain any level of microbes, mycotoxins, agricultural agents, residual solvents, heavy metals, or filth and foreign materials found in an amount that exceeds any of the department’s accepted limitations. At ACS, we analyze medical cannabis in accordance with these rules.
Florida's Cannabis Classification
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FAQ's About Testing Cannabis
Yes. In order to meet state requirements for sale, licensees must remain in regulatory compliance with that state’s department of health or governing body. In Florida, that regulatory body is the Office of Medical Marijuana Use, and it operates under the Florida Department of Health. Along with comprehensive and compliant analytical test panels, ACS also offers a la cart R&D testing services. Select from our wide range of tests to help develop your premium-quality medical cannabis products.
Cannabis products are tested through a number of quantitative testing measures and analytical instruments, including HPLC/UV, GC/MS, and ICP/MS.
Potency testing, for cannabinoids, and quantification for terpenes and flavonoids, is extremely accurate, as the measurements can be quantified to 1/10th of 1% and 1/10th of a milligram and measured in parts per billion.
For compliance: Cannabis is tested for 11 cannabinoid profiles and potency, pesticides, heavy metals, moisture content & water activity, microbiology, mycotoxins, residual solvents (for extracts), filth and foreing materials. For R+D and plant health: Plant Viroids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), plant growth regulators (PGRs), and glyphosate, as well as shelf life and stability. For product differentiation, patient/customer education and marketing: terpene profiles and flavonoids.
Our pricing is customized based on your objectives and volume. Please contact us directly for pricing. Info@acslab.com.
Yes, in order to grow, process, distribute, and retail cannabis goods in the state of Florida, you must be licensed by the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) as a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MMTC). There are similar regulatory agencies in other states throughout the U.S. that cultivators must be registered with in order to grow cannabis.
No, the use of cannabis is federally prohibited and therefore there are currently no federal rules related to medical cannabis testing.
If you’d like to obtain cannabis analysis testing before the state performs compliance tests, we encourage clients to use our a la cart R&D testing services.