A state-authorized lab began retesting medical cannabis products on Wednesday following an administrative hold placed by the Mississippi State Department of Health.
The retesting process for all products under the administrative hold is expected to take two to three weeks. Cleared batches of products will be released each Friday until all products are retested. The priority for retesting starts with flower/bud, which serves as the base for many products, followed by concentrates and then infused products.
The administrative hold was placed on a large number of products on December 21 after the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program found discrepancies during an audit of Certificates of Analysis surrounding original test results for pesticides and mycotoxins completed by Rapid Analytics.
Rapid Analytics, a Natchez-based facility, is one of just two labs approved to test cannabis products in the state. Roughly 70 percent of Mississippi’s medical cannabis products are reported to be tested at the lab.
An anonymous tip was allegedly sent to the health department regarding the use of pesticides and the presence of mycotoxins while product was being tested. State officials then sent an order for Rapid Analytics to suspend operations indefinitely.
An investigation into the discrepancies is ongoing. The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program is covering the cost for all retesting of products.
“Patient safety is our top priority,” said Laura Goodson, Director of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program. “We are tasked with making sure all test results meet the regulatory standards and that approved products are available to those in the medical cannabis program.”
Dispensaries carrying cannabis tested by the Natchez lab are not able to sell products until they meet regulatory standards.
Once products are cleared, they will be placed back on the shelves of dispensaries. Patients are encouraged to contact dispensaries to see what products are currently available.
