Mississippi Cannabis Testing Overview

Required.

All medical cannabis products must undergo laboratory testing by a licensed Cannabis Testing Facility. Testing results are reported into the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system, which functions as a Certificate of Analysis (COA). COAs must verify potency and ensure compliance with Mississippi Department of Health (MDOH) contaminant standards.

Required.

 Cannabis products must be labeled with

• Total THC = (THCA × 0.877) + Δ⁹-THC + other psychoactive isomers (e.g., Δ⁸,  Δ¹⁰)

• Potency Limits:
  • Flower/trim: ≤30% total THC
• Products exceeding 30% THC must be labeled “Extremely Potent”

Not required.

Terpene testing is not mandated under current MDOH regulations. 

The following are required under finalized MDOH testing regulations:

a. Pesticides:

• Cannabis products must test negative for dangerous or prohibited pesticides.
• Specific banned compounds are not listed, but action levels are enforced through      MDOH-approved panels.

b. Microbial Contaminants:

• Required organisms include:
  • E. coli
  • Salmonella spp.
  • Total yeast and mold
  • Total aerobic bacteria
  • Aspergillus spp. (fumigatus, flavus, niger, terreus)

                  Products must pass microbiological testing before release. A grace period that 

                   temporarily paused mold enforcement expired in fall 2024.

c. Mycotoxins:

• Testing for aflatoxins and ochratoxin A is expected.
• Action limits align with national standards (≤20 ppb each), although specific limits are not listed in statute.

d. Heavy Metals:

• Testing is required but metals are not listed explicitly. Based on other state      models, expected targets include:
  • Arsenic
  • Lead
  • Cadmium
  • Mercury

f. Foreign Material / Visual Inspection:

• Labs must screen for contamination such as:
  • Hair
  • Mold
  • Insects
  • Plastic, dust, and other non-cannabis matter
• Products failing visual inspection are not approved for sale.

Mississippi’s rules are still evolving, but the following areas remain vague or not explicitly required:

• Chromium, Nickel, Selenium
• Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella spp., Clostridium botulinum
• Terpenes
• Detailed mycotoxin list (e.g., zearalenone, fumonisins)

Moderate Concern: 

Mississippi has formalized its testing panel, and enforcement is increasing. However, the state still lacks transparency regarding its full list of banned analytes, and some microbial and chemical hazards are not specifically enumerated. 

Required (Implied)

Although not explicitly referenced in the statute, moisture content and water activity are expected to be enforced through microbial compliance. Standard thresholds likely follow industry norms:

• Flower: ≤0.65 aw

Mississippi Department of Health (MDOH) – Cultivation, processing, testing, transportation, disposal, practitioner and cardholder registry

Website: https://msdh.ms.gov

Phone: (601) 576-7400  

Address: 570 East Woodrow Wilson Dr, Jackson, MS 3921

Mississippi Department of Health. (February 2, 2022) SB 2095 Mississippi 

Mississippi Department of Health. (2024). Medical cannabis microbial standards update.