Medical Cannabis Testing & Certification

Helping Consumers informed decisions ACS Laboratory provides the most accurate qualitative and quantitative testing analyses for our clients in the medical cannabis industry so that they can offer consumption of the best and most reliable products possible. The United States is experiencing a growing trend of legalized and regulated cannabis, accompanied by frequent introduction of new regulations. As a result, contemporary cannabis users are striving to become more knowledgeable about the specific chemical compounds, their quantities, and the various methods of ingestion. By providing certificates of analysis for each sample that is tested, we can ensure that consumers are able to choose their cannabis products in an informed manner.

Testing Delivers Formal Certificates of Analysis

In the testing process, a variety of metrics are obtained and provided to the medical marijuana consumer. They can be used to anticipate phenotypic characteristics of individual cultivars, as well as determine the presence of any contaminants or unwanted material.

Measures of Cannabis Potency

When evaluating cannabinoid potency, the most widely focused on measure tends to be THC potency, though recently many cultivators have begun to concentrate on eliciting a wider variety of minor cannabinoids in their flower, such as CBN, CBT, CBC, and CBN.

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 contaminants tested include Hops Variant Testing, 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. We offer a full-panel cannabis and hemp test to our clients, as well. Please note that a “compliance full panel” test does not include terpenes. We recommend testing for terpenes to differentiate your products and steer away from the THC potency obsession that dominates the industry.

ACS Laboratory tests all forms of Medical Cannabis

Our scientists have the expertise to test every type of cannabis product for our clients, including cannabis flower, concentrates, extracts, nano cannabis emulsions, beverages, topicals & skin creams, edibles (including gummies and chocolate) as well as cannabis vapes, tinctures, transdermal patches and even cannabis inhalers.

Formal Certificates of Analysis with QR Codes

To validate the results of every cannabis sample report, a certificate of analysis (COA) is generated into a secure online portal with client only access. In addition, we provide QR codes linked to the COA for product packaging, and tracking via a blockchain (option), the future of tamper-proofing and security.

A scientist transferring CBD oil over to a vial for potency testing

Our Accreditations and Compliance Certifications

When selecting a laboratory to test cannabis, there are a number of different metrics, accreditations, and testing methodologies that should be taken into account, along with location. First and foremost, we are ISO/IEC 17025:2017 compliant. We are registered with the AHCA, CLIA, and the DEA (#RA0571996). ACS was awarded a total of 82 Emerald Badges, an inter-laboratory comparison and proficiency test through 2019-2021. As a result of our years of experience operating as a clinical testing laboratory aiding in the quantitative aspects of method development, ACS is able to disseminate clinical grade results.

A scientist transferring Cannabis into vials

Our Facilities and Personnel

To ensure the most professional and trustworthy results, instead of outsourcing the lead scientist role, ACS has taken an important step in providing our own lead scientist with all of the essential analytical skills to produce reliable analyses in a timely manner. Additionally, we have invested in a 20,000 square ft facility, and our site has all of the proper laboratory-grade instruments and materials to perform high quality cannabis and hemp testing. Consequently, we are able to employ the most reliable testing methods available, such as high performance liquid chromatography and clinical mass spectrometry (HPLC/LCMS), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and inductively coupled mass spectroscopy (ICP/MS) and Ultra Violet technology (LCUV). We have dedicated and knowledgeable customer support teams that are consistently available by phone and we are able to offer 3-5 day turnaround time for test results, as well as a fleet of couriers for sample pickups.

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

Cannabis remains a Schedule 1 drug, according to the Controlled Substances Act. The 2018 USDA Farm Bill applies to hemp containing less than .3% Delta-9 THC. Cannabis and Hemp are considered to be different classifications of the plant and governed differently. In Florida the governing body for Cannabis is the Florida Department of Health and for Hemp it is the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Consistent therewith, the FDA and DEA have concluded that marijuana has no federally approved medical use for treatment in the U.S. and thus it remains as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law.