Minnesota Cannabis Testing Overview
COA Requirement:
Required.
All cannabis and cannabis products must undergo laboratory testing by a licensed, accredited facility before retail sale. Each batch must be tested for cannabinoid potency and contaminants, and a Certificate of Analysis (COA)must be issued and retained in the state’s inventory tracking system. Manufacturers must reject and destroy any batch that fails to meet required testing thresholds.
Cannabinoid Testing Requirements:
Required.
Cannabinoid testing is mandatory for all product types. Required cannabinoids include (but may vary by product type):
- Δ⁹-THC
- THCA
- Δ⁸-THC
- CBD
- CBDA
- Total THC
- Total CBD
- Additional cannabinoids (e.g., CBN, CBC, CBG, THCV) may be reported as required by packaging or labeling standards.
Terpene Testing Requirements:
Required if applicable.
- Required for any product that adds terpenes, advertises terpene content, or reintroduces terpene fractions.
- Not required for basic flower unless terpene data is used for marketing.
- Labs must quantify total terpene percentage and identify major terpenes if tested.
Contaminants Tested For:
Mandatory and defined by the Office of Cannabis Management.
All products must be tested for:
- Microbiological contaminants: including E. coli, Salmonella, Aspergillus spp., yeast, and mold
- Mycotoxins: Aflatoxins and Ochratoxin A
- Heavy metals: Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, Mercury
- Pesticides: Must not exceed state-established limits
- Vitamin E acetate & other adulterants: Prohibited in inhalable products
Testing panels vary slightly by product type (flower, concentrates, ingestible, topicals), and specific action limits are defined in rule appendices.
Contaminants Not Required (But of Concern):
Most major contaminants are now regulated. However, product-specific exemptions or flexibilities in batch sizes/testing methods may result in occasional inconsistencies in enforcement.
Foreign material (e.g., hair, insects, plastic) is not yet a distinct testing category. .
Risk Level:
Moderate Concern: Minnesota’s updated framework is robust but still implementing infrastructure for universal oversight. Lab licensing and enforcement systems are in early-stage rollout as of mid-2025.
Moisture and Water Activity:
Required
- Flower: Must be ≤ 0.65 aw
- Moisture content required for flower
State Cannabis Regulatory Agency:
Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management
Website: https://mn.gov/cannabis
Phone: (651) 201-5598
Address: P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164
Email: cannabis.info@state.mn.us
References:
Minnesota Health Department. (February 20, 2015) 4770.0500 Medical Cannabis Manufacturer; Quality Control; Assurance Program.
Minnesota Department of Health. (2020). Rule 4770.0500: Medical Cannabis Manufacturer Quality Control
Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management. (2025). Adult-Use Market Rules.