Vermont Cannabis Testing Overview
COA Requirement:
Required.
All cannabis and cannabis products must be tested by a licensed lab, and a Certificate of Analysis (COA) is required before retail sale or registration. Results must meet potency, contaminant, and water activity standards.
Cannabinoid Testing:
Required.
Potency testing is mandatory for all cannabis and cannabis products
THC limits:
- Flower: ≤30% THC
- Total THC = THC + (THCA × 0.877)
Terpene Testing:
Required for the following:
- Products with reintroduced terpenes
- Products with added terpenes
- Products that label terpene content
Terpene limit: ≤10% by weight unless a waiver is granted based on the natural profile of the source flower.
Contaminants Tested For:
Comprehensive coverage.
a. Pesticides: Required for all flower products. Notable compounds with action limits:
- Myclobutanil: ≤0.1 ppm
- Chlorpyrifos: ≤0.04 ppm
- Bifenthrin: ≤3.0 ppm
- Imidacloprid: ≤5.0 ppm
- Spinosad: ≤0.1 ppm
b. Heavy Metals: Action limits:
- Arsenic: ≤0.2 ppm (flower); ≤1.5 ppm (concentrates/products)
- Cadmium: ≤0.2 ppm (flower); ≤0.5 ppm (products)
- Lead: ≤0.5 ppm (flower); ≤1.0 ppm (products)
- Mercury: ≤0.1 ppm (flower); ≤1.5 ppm (products)
c. Microbiological Contaminants : Must test for:
- Salmonella spp., STEC (E. coli): None detected
- Aspergillus spp. (4 species): None detected
- Note: Aspergillus-positive flower can be remediated or used for edibles after additional mycotoxin testing
Contaminants Not Required (But of Concern):
- Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella spp., and Clostridium botulinum are not included
- Chromium, Nickel, and other trace metals are monitored in soil but not in product panels
- Filth/foreign matter screening is not detailed beyond microbiological hazards
Risk Level:
Low Concern:
Vermont has a thorough testing policy with required terpene disclosure, aw limits, strict pesticide thresholds, and a clear remediation pathway for microbial failures.
Moisture and Water Activity:
Required.
- Flower: aw ≤0.65
State Cannabis Regulatory Agency:
Vermont Cannabis Control Board (CCB)
Website: https://ccb.vermont.gov
Email (Lab Noncompliance): ccb.compliance@vermont.gov
Address: 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602
Reference:
The Vermont Cannabis Control Board. (2024, April). Testing laboratory action limits and parameters guidance.
https://ccb.vermont.gov/sites/ccb/files/2024-01/Action.Limits.and_.Parameters.Guidance_1-5-24.pdf