Dozens of medical cannabis cultivators and business owners raised concerns at the State Capitol on Thursday regarding the potential negative impact of new yeast and mold testing requirements for cannabis flowers. During an advisory meeting with state health officials and legislators, small cultivators expressed that they are being burdened by both the new testing regulations and methods, leading to increased failures in sanitation tests. They highlighted a significant issue: if a batch fails, there is currently no option for retesting if the product has been “cleansed.” This predicament poses a threat to the livelihoods of many small cultivators.
According to various sources, the implementation of this new testing standard is projected to cost smaller growers thousands of dollars due to expenses related to retesting, pretests, cleansing processes, or the need to purchase new equipment. The Mississippi cannabis industry is already under strain, with 393 licensed businesses—including dispensaries, cultivators, and processors—serving 43,000 medically approved customers statewide. The ratio of businesses to customers creates great challenges for these enterprises.
Challenges of the New Testing Requirements
“Some of the farmers are living from crop to crop… I think we’re pushing this a little too fast,” remarked Phen Schlett, owner of Big River Cannabis. He emphasized the necessity of accurate testing guidelines to help cultivators effectively reduce yeast and mold cell counts in their crops. While he supports the testing standards, he criticized the lack of defined methods to achieve compliance.
The pursuit of stringent testing standards reflects a growing concern for consumer safety and product quality in Mississippi’s evolving cannabis market. However, industry stakeholders argue that without clear directives, small-scale growers might struggle to adapt, jeopardizing their operations and the overall health of the market.