Maine’s Medical Marijuana Law Does Not Require Lab Testing, Public Health Advocates Want That To Change
Medical marijuana doesn’t have to be tested and has no potency limits, under state law. The adult-use cannabis program, on the other hand, are required to test for potency and contaminants
John Hudak, director of Maine’s Office of Cannabis Policy, said that one of the first things he noticed when taking over the position in 2022, was the lack of testing requirements for medical marijuana, writes The Maine Monitor’s Rose Lundy. Hudak noted that testing is required for medical programs in the majority of other states, calling it a national standard.
Last fall, Hudak’s office tested about 120 medical marijuana products for distributors across the state and found that 42% had at least one contaminant that would remove the product from the adult-use market. Contaminates included pesticides, heavy metals, yeast and mold.
While the Office of Cannabis Policy did not undertake a similar study on potency, the agency tested some products on a case-by-case basis when consumers expressed concerns. That’s when Hudak saw examples of edibles with 120mg THC instead of 10mg.
Hudak said a “massive overhaul” is needed to change a “widely outdated” medical marijuana program, and that testing requirements would be a good start, writes the outlet.
While public health advocates and some …