Medical Cannabis

 

Product Compliance
Frequently Asked Questions

What are compliant products?
Where can I find compliant products?
Does compliant products testing require testing for all unapproved pesticides?
Why not test for all unapproved pesticides?
Why not test for levels of approved pesticides?
Why test both plant matter at harvest and concentrates for pesticides? Isn't that an unnecessary cost?
Won't growers see the list and know what pesticides will be tested?
What happens to a batch or harvest that doesn't pass pesticide testing?
Why don't you require testing for terpenes (compounds in cannabis that affect smell and taste)?
Why can't edible products have 50 mg of THC?
Why can't labels have words and symbols traditionally associated with medicine and pharmacy?
May any cannabis from an I-502 producer or processor be sold as a compliant product as long as it meets the DOH testing standards, or does it have to come from specifically designated “medical” canopy?

What are compliant products?

The medical cannabis law allows for products that may be beneficial for medical use. These products must pass stringent testing set by the Washington State Department of Health and are called “compliant” products because they comply with chapter 246-70 WAC.

Our goal in developing the product compliance rules was to:

  • Create voluntary standards for higher quality products, including mandatory testing for prohibited pesticides, heavy metals and mycotoxins.
  • Allow consumers the choice of compliant or regular products.
  • Create ratios for high CBD/low THC products that are sales tax-free for any adult.

Where can I find compliant products?

General use and high-CBD compliant products may be sold at any licensed cannabis store. High-THC complaint products may be sold only at licensed and medically endorsed cannabis stores. Stores choose the inventory they want to sell. If your favorite cannabis store does not carry the compliant products you want to purchase, let the store manager know what products you would like to have available.

Does compliant product testing require testing for all unapproved pesticides?

There are thousands of unapproved pesticides. Many of those are unlikely to be used on cannabis. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) helped us determine which unapproved pesticides are most likely to be used. We require testing for those.

Why not test for all unapproved pesticides?

Testing for that many pesticides would be very costly and most of the pesticides are unlikely to be used on cannabis. We don't want to make these tested products so expensive that people can't afford them.

Why not test for levels of approved pesticides?

Experts at the WSDA chose the approved pesticides because they have no established tolerance or limit. We chose to test finished concentrates for limits of two allowed pesticides because these two pesticides can reach unacceptable levels when concentrated.

Why test both plant matter at harvest and concentrates for pesticides? Isn't that an unnecessary cost?

Testing is required at harvest for products sold without extraction, such as dry flower. We require testing of concentrates because experts have told us that pesticide levels rise dramatically in concentrates. That means a pesticide may be undetectable in dry flower but detectable in finished concentrates. We want to make sure concentrates with unacceptable levels aren't being sold as compliant products.

Won't growers see the list and know what pesticides will be tested?

Yes, but we will consult with WSDA and the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) to periodically update and change the list.

What happens to a batch or harvest that doesn't pass pesticide testing?

It must be destroyed. This is also true of recreational products that fail the WSLCB's random tests.

Why don't you require testing for terpenes (compounds in cannabis that affect smell and taste)?

Our testing is focused on safety. The levels or types of terpenes don't change a product's safety. We believe terpene testing should be done if the market drives it, and patients should be provided that information, if available, in order to make good choices.

Why can't edible products have 50 mg of THC?

We're concerned about children accidentally eating a high-THC product. We limited those products to the types of things that resemble traditional medical products and are less likely to be taken by a child.

Why can't labels have words and symbols traditionally associated with medicine and pharmacy?

We don't want to give consumers false impressions that science hasn't yet proved. Besides, general use and high-CBD compliant products are available for patients and non-patients. Different people use the same product for different reasons. We don't want people to think their choices are limited based on labels.

May any cannabis from an I-502 producer or processor be sold as a compliant product as long as it meets the DOH testing standards, or does it have to come from specifically designated “medical” canopy?

We don't regulate how products are grown or entered into the traceability system. Nor do we inspect packaging or require any type of registration with DOH to be a compliant product. Please contact the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis board (WSLCB) online or by phone 360-664-1600. To learn more about the traceability system, visit the WSLCB's Traceability FAQs webpage.

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