Nevada Cannabis Testing Overview
COA Requirement:
Required.
All cannabis and cannabis products must undergo quality assurance testing at a licensed independent testing laboratory before they can be transferred or sold. Results must be documented in a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and uploaded to the seed-to-sale tracking system (METRC).
Cannabinoid Testing Requirements
Required.
All batches must be tested for:
- Δ⁹-THC
- THCA
- CBD
- CBDA
- Total THC = (THCA × 0.877) + Δ⁹-THC
- Other cannabinoids may be tested and reported at the laboratory's discretion.
Terpene Testing Requirements:
Not required.
Nevada does not require terpene testing as part of mandatory COA panels, though labs may offer it as an additional service.
Contaminants Tested For:
a. Pesticides: Nevada requires pesticide testing for analytes such as:
- Myclobutanil
- Daminozide
- Paclobutrazol
- Bifenthrin
- Spinosad
- Piperonyl Butoxide
- Trifloxystrobin
- Imidacloprid
- Pyrethrins
b. Heavy Metals: Must test for:
- Lead
- Arsenic
- Cadmium
- Mercury
c. Microbiological Testing: Includes testing for:
- E. coli
- Salmonella spp.
- Total yeast and mold
- Total aerobic bacteria
d. Mycotoxins: Required:
- Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2)
- Ochratoxin A
e. Filth and Foreign Matter: Must not contain:
- 5% of non-marijuana plant matter ≥2 mm
- Any physical contaminant (e.g., hair, insect parts, glass).
Contaminants Not Required (But of Concern):
- No terpene testing requirement
- No requirement to test for Listeria monocytogenes or Shigella spp.
- No chromium or nickel screening included in heavy metal testing
Risk Level:
Low Concern:
Nevada maintains a rigorous and specific contaminant screening program with defined action levels for pesticides, microbes, solvents, metals, and mycotoxins.
Moisture and Water Activity:
Moisture content may be indirectly addressed under microbial risk management but specific aw thresholds (e.g., ≤0.65) are not explicitly listed.
State Cannabis Regulatory Agency:
Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB)
Website: https://ccb.nv.gov
Email: CCBCompliance@ccb.nv.gov
Phone: (775) 684-8700
Address: 1550 College Pkwy, Suite 142, Carson City, NV 89706
References
Nevada Department of Agriculture. (June 14, 2019). Cannabis Compliance Board Monitoring List for Pest Control Substances and Plant Growth Regulators.
Nevada Pesticides Act (2019) NRS 586.550 Requirements for use of certain pesticides by cannabis establishments; publication of list of approved pesticides for use on cannabis and cannabis products.
Nevada (February 27, 2018) NAC 453D.780 Required quality assurance tests; submission of wet marijuana for testing.
Nevada Committee on Judiciary (June 12, 2019) 2019 Statutes of Nevada, Page 3810 (Chapter 595, AB 533).
Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board. (2024). NAC 453D and Pesticide Monitoring List