NEW JERSEY – The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) voted to approve new cannabis testing guidelines during the Commission’s February 18 public meeting. Since June 2021, the Commission has been following Maryland’s testing standards.
The NJ-CRC has now developed its own testing guidelines, which will mean, among other things, smaller batch or lot sizes, additional specificity for various cannabis product categories and expanded cannabinoid testing.
Under the new guidelines, the test maximum batch size for usable cannabis has decreased from 100 pounds to 33.07 pounds. The Guidance now specifies maximum lot size for testing cannabis concentrates, vaporized formulations, ingestible, transmucosal, and dermal cannabis-infused products, which matches sample sizes more precisely to product type. In addition, the Guidance adopts basic safety testing protocols for unusable cannabis meant for manufacturing – this includes tests for foreign matter, pesticides, microbes, mycotoxins, and heavy metals. The NJ-CRC has included a chart to help testing lab operators and other cannabis businesses determine which test is to be performed on each product type. It also provides new limits for contaminants based on product type to improve testing accuracy.
Cannabis business must use the same testing lab and methodology for both initial and retention sample testing unless there is a contract breach. Any requests for changes in laboratory, technology, or protocols must be submitted to the Commission for approval.
In addition to THC and CBD, the new labeling guidelines now mandate the inclusion of THCA, CBDA, CBG, CBGA, and CBN, providing a more comprehensive cannabinoid profile for consumers
Testing laboratories have until Wednesday, March 19, 2025, to implement sampling changes and until midnight on Friday, May 23, 2025, for initial and stability testing changes according to the Commission’s testing guidance requirements.
“The new guidelines are the result of rigorous research and collaboration with industry experts and regulatory bodies,” said NJ-CRC Acting Executive Director Christopher Riggs. “By enhancing our testing protocols, we’re prioritizing consumer and patient safety, product consistency, and industry transparency.”
Complete testing guidelines can be viewed here.
