Arkansas Cannabis Testing Overview
COA Requirement:
Required.
Per Section VI and VII, all batches of usable marijuana must be tested by a licensed laboratory before they may be sold or transferred to a qualifying patient or another facility.
Cannabinoid Testing Requirements:
Required. Arkansas mandates potency testing for:
- Δ⁹-THC
- THCA
- CBD
- CBDA
Per Appendix A and Section XVI.
Terpene Testing Requirements:
Not required.
There is no mention of required terpene testing in the regulations. Laboratories are not obligated to test for or report terpene content.
Contaminants Tested For:
Pesticides – See Appendix B Table 1 (includes over 50 compounds)
Microbial contaminants – Total coliforms and E. coli (Section XII)
Solvents – For concentrates (Appendix B Table 2; includes butane, benzene, methanol, etc.)
Heavy metals – Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury (Appendix B Table 3)
Foreign Materials – Indirectly monitored. Products must be sampled under aseptic technique and pass microbiological criteria; however, there is no explicit requirement to check for foreign matter like hair, insects, or plastics.
Contaminants Not Required (But of Concern):
- Pesticides Not Required: (Arkansas tests for most high-risk pesticides, but still omits some, such as:
- Quinoxyfen
- Mevinphos
- Fosetyl-Al
- Mepiquat chloride
- Chlormequat chloride)
- Microbials Not Required:
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Shigella spp.
- Salmonella spp.
- Clostridium botulinum
- Mycotoxins:
Not required. No aflatoxins, ochratoxins, or Fusarium toxins are mentioned.
- Heavy Metals Not Required:
- Chromium
- Nickel
- Barium
- Selenium
(Only lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are mandated.)
Risk Level:
Moderate Concern – Strong contaminant screening for metals and pesticides, but no testing for mycotoxins or some pathogens. Foreign matter testing is not explicitly required.
Moisture and Water Activity:
Required.
Section XV mandates:
- Water activity must be ≤0.65
- Moisture content must be reported but is not a basis for test failure
State Cannabis Regulatory Agency:
Arkansas Department of Health – Center for Health Protection
Program: Medical Marijuana Program
Website: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov
Email: robert.brech@arkansas.gov
Phone: (501) 661-2297
Address: 4815 West Markham St., Slot 50, Little Rock, AR 72205
Reference:
Arkansas Department of Health. (2017). Medical Marijuana Rules – Laboratory Testing