RI Department of Health Seeking Medical Marijuana Testing Labs

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is accepting applications for analytical laboratories in Rhode Island for the testing of medical marijuana.

"Licensed laboratories will collect, sample, and analyze medical marijuana products cultivated and/or manufactured by registered compassion centers and licensed cultivators," RIDOH Public Information Officer Joseph Wendelken said. "They will test to verify the THC content of products and check for contaminants such as metals, pesticides, bacteria, other microbiological content, and solvents used in the preparation of medical marijuana products."

By licensing independent laboratories to do this work, Wendelken said RIDOH can make sure the analysis of medical marijuana is conducted using the proper methods and equipment.

The standards for licensing the testing laboratories were laid out in regulations established earlier this year.

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