Phase III cannabis testing screens for arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium content in the tested product. These heavy metals are often found in raw materials, and tend to concentrate even further with refined products. Understanding where these contaminants come from could shield you and your investments from major problems down the line.
Heavy metals are most often found in the soil that your plants are potted in. Have your soil tested, especially if you’re growing in a plot of land that was previously used to grow other crops. Beyond that you may still find residual contamination in your water. Have your wells tested and consider implementing a carbon filtration system.
If you plan to have material extracted it is your responsibility to have it thoroughly tested before purchase. We recommend to every lab that we work with that they perform a micro-extraction on a trim sample before it is tested. This way they can ensure that any hits can be found that may be easily missed.
Final COA’s still transfer from distributor to distributor without the need for re-testing. This means that if your material has been state-certified it becomes that much more valuable to perspective buyers. If your material has a category 2 test that still applies, we still recommend getting that cat-3 certification. The state will allow it but at the end of the day it will make a difference.
Feel free to reach out to our team for advice on how to proceed with material that may have failed testing. There are options for re-mediating failed materials, and opportunities to bounce back.
Tyana Daley
