Virginia Cannabis Testing Overview
COA Requirement:
Required.
All cannabis products must undergo compliance testing by a certified laboratory. A Certificate of Analysis (COA) must be issued before a product can be sold. Products must remain quarantined until the laboratory releases the batch for sale (Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, 2025). Stability testing is now waived for products with expiration dates ≤12 months.
References
Virginia Department of Health. (March 18, 2021) Title 54.1, Subtitle III, Chapter 34, Article 4.2. Permitting of Pharmaceutical Processors to Produce and Dispense Cannabis Products.
Virginia Department of Health. (2025, February 10). 3VAC10-60: Testing of Cannabis Products. Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 14
Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. (2024). Medical cannabis testing oversight transition.
Cannabinoid Testing:
Required.
Labs must analyze and report:
- Δ⁹-THC
- THCA
- CBD
- CBDA
- Total THC and Total CBD
Terpene Testing:
Required.
All cannabis flower must undergo terpene profiling. The terpene test must be performed for product registration and labeling and is part of the standard COA panel. No specific terpenes are mandated by name, but the complete profile must be disclosed.
Contaminant Testing:
Comprehensive panel required.
a. Pesticides:
- Must comply with the most stringent EPA tolerance limits under 40 CFR Part 180
- Detection above threshold = automatic failure
- Remediation of pesticide failures is not permitted
b. Heavy Metals:
- Arsenic: <10 ppm
- Cadmium: <4.1 ppm
- Lead: <10 ppm
- Mercury: <2 ppm
- Chromium and nickel are not included
c. Microbiological Contaminants:
- For botanical cannabis: must meet AHP Cannabis Inflorescence Standards
- Must test for and show absence of:
- E. coli
- Salmonella spp.
- Aspergillus fumigatus, flavus, niger, terreus
d. Mycotoxins:
- Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and Ochratoxin A: Total must be <20 pp
Contaminants Not Required (But of Concern):
The following contaminants are not currently required in Virginia’s cannabis testing program:
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Shigella spp.
- Chromium, Nickel, and other trace metals
- Filth/foreign matter screening (e.g., insects, hairs) is not defined, though labs must verify batch homogeneity
Risk Level:
Low Concern:
Virginia requires terpene testing, mandates non-remediable pesticide failures, and enforces a strong cannabinoid and microbial testing regime. Testing is aligned with USP, EPA, and AHP standards.
Moisture and Water Activity:
Required (flower only)
- Moisture content: ≤15%
- Water activity: ≤0.65 aw
- Compliance with both is required for flower release
State Cannabis Regulatory Agency:
Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA)
Website: https://www.cannabis.virginia.gov
Phone: (804) 371-0420
Address: 2901 Hermitage Road, Richmond, VA 23220
References:
Virginia Department of Health. (March 18, 2021) Title 54.1, Subtitle III, Chapter 34, Article 4.2. Permitting of Pharmaceutical Processors to Produce and Dispense Cannabis Products.
Virginia Department of Health. (2025, February 10). 3VAC10-60: Testing of Cannabis Products. Virginia Register Volume 41, Issue 14
Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. (2024). Medical cannabis testing oversight transition.