Louisiana Cannabis Testing Overview
COA Requirement:
Required.
Each batch of medical marijuana must undergo testing and receive a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from an LDH-approved lab before sale. COAs must be submitted to LDH and retained for regulatory review.
Cannabinoid Testing Requirements:
Required.
Samples must be tested for total THC and additional cannabinoids, including:
- Δ⁹-THC
- THCA
- CBD
- CBDA
- Total Cannabinoids
Results must be reported in mg/g or ppm depending on form.
Terpene Testing Requirements:
Not required.
There is no requirement to test or label terpene content under current Louisiana law.
Contaminants Tested For:
Required categories include:
- Microbial Contaminants:
- Mold/yeast: <100,000 CFU/g
- E. coli and Salmonella spp. must be absent
- Pesticides: Mandatory testing against a detailed panel (see Tables on pp.12–14) with Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for over 40 pesticides, including:
- Daminozide
- Myclobutanil
- Paclobutrazol
- Chlormequat chloride
- Permethrins
- DDVP (Dichlorvos)
Action limits vary by ingestion vs. inhalation routes (generally 0.2–1.0 ppm).
- Heavy Metals: Limits for arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury are implied but not explicitly listed in the provided pages. Expected to align with national standards.
- Foreign Materials: Not explicitly tested. Visual contamination (e.g., hair, insects, fibers) is not listed as a separate test.
Contaminants Not Required (But of Concern):
- Listeria monocytogenes and Shigella spp. are not mentioned.
- Foreign matter (insect fragments, plastic, etc.) is not a mandated test category.
- Terpenes are not required, even if labeled.
Risk Level:
Medium Concern: Strong contaminant and pesticide panel, but no terpene testing, limited pathogen specificity, and lack of visual contaminant screening.
Moisture and Water Activity:
Implied.
Testing for yeast and mold and microbial growth implies a need for moisture control, but no explicit water activity limit (like aw ≤ 0.65) is found in the rules.
State Cannabis Regulatory Agency:
Louisiana Department of Health – Office of Public Health
Website: https://ldh.la.gov
Phone: (225) 342-9500
Address: 628 N. 4th Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Contact Email: cannabis@la.gov (used for lab submissions)
References:
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Office of the Commissioner. Louisiana Register Vol. 45, No. 08 pg. 1137, August 20, 2019. Potpourri.
Louisiana Department of Health. (2025). Emergency Testing Rules for Medical Cannabis