Medical cannabis growers and testing labs in Mississippi now have until October 29 to prepare for new flower testing standards that were first introduced in July. The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program, under the oversight of the Mississippi State Department of Health, announced a 60-day pause on yeast and mold testing standards on August 30. This extension follows concerns from cannabis testing lab owners, growers, and dispensary operators that the regulations were financially burdensome and required more time for compliance.
Impact of New Testing Standards
Several other states with medical cannabis programs already implement yeast and mold testing requirements, aiming to limit contaminants in flower products. According to the August 30 announcement, the Mississippi State Department of Health decided to extend the compliance period to allow licensed medical cannabis establishments additional time to prepare. This includes outlining preventative measures for safe cultivation and production, as well as sterilization and remediation methods that may be employed by licensees.
The importance of these testing standards in safeguarding public health was emphasized in the release, stating, “The testing ensures that products are free from harmful levels of these contaminants, which can lead to infections and other health complications. Compliance with yeast and mold testing is essential to meet regulatory safety standards and to protect public health.”
Concerns from Growers and Testing Labs
During an August meeting at the Mississippi State Capitol, growers highlighted that a failed yeast and mold test previously left them with no option but to distill their product into oils, significantly lowering profit margins. Cannabis industry stakeholders expressed that unforeseen circumstances, such as a large volume of flower requiring retesting due to a testing failure at Rapid Analytics—a lab that has since closed—left smaller businesses unprepared for the newly imposed testing regulations.
Henry Crisler, Executive Director of the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association, noted that the additional pause would allow labs to acquire necessary state-mandated third-party testing certifications and afford time for growers to develop pre-testing cleaning methods. These measures include identifying new protocols for preventing yeast and mold contamination and mitigating costs associated with compliance.
New Guidelines and Compliance Costs
As part of the extension, new guidelines have been released for cleaning flower prior to resending it for testing, along with options for prior testing for yeast and mold. This transparency aims to support businesses in meeting regulatory expectations efficiently. However, it is expected that complying with the new yeast and mold testing requirements will impose financial strain on growers, particularly smaller operations with limited resources to invest in cleaning equipment.
Despite concerns, State Health Officer Daniel Edney, who communicated plans for the pause during the meeting, has not responded to multiple requests for comment. Crisler mentioned that the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association will host an information session at Hal and Mal’s in Jackson on September 28, aimed at assisting growers in navigating the new regulations effectively.
For more information on the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program, visit the Mississippi State Department of Health website.
