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Cannabis Dispensaries to Set Up Their Own Testing System

Chimera

Genetic Resource Management
Veteran
This is a major game changer for the dispensary model, and its about time.

A friend once told me, 'Just do things right and don't give them a reason to say "You can't"'.

It's going to be a pleasure to watch the market change as quality clean flowers start to earn their dollar value, while the commercial pesticide/fungicide tainted weed gets denied access to dispensary shelves.

This is a welcome change to a shifty status quo.



Blocked from the federal medical marijuana testing system, dispensaries are creating their own.


WireService.ca Media Release (03/08/2017) VANCOUVER, BC - The Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries (CAMCD) is moving to set up testing standards and protocols to ensure the safety of the cannabis member dispensaries are selling.

Association President Jeremy Jacob says, "We believe consumers should be empowered to make educated choices about the cannabis products they buy, so we are moving to set up a rigorous, independent and transparent cannabis testing system."

CAMCD promotes a regulated community-based approach to cannabis access with member dispensaries across Canada serving over 150,000 consumers.

Store front cannabis dispensaries are not allowed to test their product through federally licensed laboratories. Jacob says CAMCD is setting up its own testing standards after federally licensed medical marijuana producers recalled cannabis contaminated with the chemicals bifenazate and myclobutanil in November and December 2016, and were slow to inform the public.

"Dispensary clients need to know the product is free of contaminants. Consumers should be able to see testing results," says Jacob. "Some of our member dispensaries are already testing their product privately, but we need a system where all are able to test their product, the labs are independent, and the consumer can rely on the results."

The CAMCD board has created a working group with dispensary owners, cannabis producers, processors, and lab owners, to create guidelines and structure for the testing program. The board wants the system to be in place by May 2017.

http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=20785
 

OldPhart

Member
That is a good first step toward self-regulation, but would this be able to include edibles? I love the idea of edibles, but they scare me from a safety and strength standpoint.

OP
 

Limeygreen

Well-known member
Veteran
Things are going to get interesting for sure, good on them for starting this up and so much better for consumers and patients. Good growers deserve to be rewarded for their hard work and doing things right instead of the people looking for an easy buck and willing to do shortcuts. This will start to knock the wind out of the sails of people saying Lp's are the only ones who can do it.
 

gorilla ganja

Well-known member
This is good to see. Testing,testing,testing all sold product should be tested and results made public.
Does anyone know if legal home grown can be brought in to be tested at any of these labs right now?

Peace GG
 
HC has a list of approved labs that medical growers can submit samples to for testing

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/list-licensed-dealers.html
 
It's good to see the dispensaries testing.

The more we move away from the wild west of weed the better. Legitimising it across the spectrum is still necessary.
 

Pangea

Active member
Veteran
I sure hope they are able to bring the cost of analysis down!

Heres some results Ive had done for products being sold in a few shops.

Pesticide screen and HC safety screen:
 

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HiFiGanja

Member
Why wouldn't the dispensaries just tell the sellers that they can get their own weed tested if they have a ACMP license?

Its a good step but self regulation never works when there so much money to be had. I would rather have them approach an already certified lab or two and make a deal with referring ACMR card holders to get their cannabis tested.
 

gorilla ganja

Well-known member

Pangea

Active member
Veteran
HC Screen - $85
Pesticide - $300
Basic Cannabinoid - $90 ($120 for 11 cannabs)
Terps - $120
-
$625
 
Other than potency, I'd wager personal producers should have a pretty good idea what's going into their meds.

And let's be real, couple grand to a dispensary is fack all.
 
A fantastic step in the right direction, although the cynic in me can't help but think it is no mere coincidence that this starts after the Organigram fiasco and the class action lawsuit that was recently launched. Would this move towards testing by dispensaries be happening if it weren't for the eagle swooping 20 times towards the Nova in the Maritimes? Cynicism aside this is welcome news indeed. Thanks Chimera for bringing this to our attention. I liked the mention of standards and protocols, because let's face it, not all “labs” are created equal. And as Rube Goldberg pointed out the equipment requires significant capital inputs which will be reflected in the cost of testing. There is a good chance some or all of this cost will passed onto the consumer, at least initially. So how many samples will actually be able to be tested when one compares it to how much product goes out the door everyday? I do wonder about edibles, tinctures and other processed forms of cannabis. Will the flowers and plant materials used to make those be tested before processing and documentation provided? Sorry, hard not to be a cynic, this really is fantastic news and a step towards legitimizing the medium sized sector of our little world. Of course home growers already know what's in their plants, they put it there. We are living in interesting times and it seems we are going to bear witness to a little bit of a David and Goliath match up between dispensaries and LP's in a race to legitimacy. The added benefit being much needed consumer protection for all involved. Although that May 2017 deadline seems quite ambitious...
 

Limeygreen

Well-known member
Veteran
Big growers absorb the cost of testing like it's nothing if you have 25 lbs to test say, what is 600? If you have 3 lbs and you have to pay 600 that is much more out of your pocket, when you can get a premium price for your product that is well grown and cared for it becomes a cost of doing business which will make it harder for smaller growers sure but it will become the norm and will help get most to do things right, some will always skirt things but it's good that people will have to grow up and act like responsible human beings and realize it's just a money maker, show respect for the crop and the people who consume it.
 
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