Colorado Cannabis Testing Requirements
Comprehensive testing requirements and compliance guidelines for cannabis products in Colorado
Overview
Testing Categories
Potency Analysis
RequiredCannabinoid profile testing for THC, THCA, CBD, CBDA and total cannabinoids
Testing Frequency: Per harvest batch/production lot
Applies to:
Contaminant Testing
RequiredComprehensive screening for pesticides, heavy metals, and residual solvents
Testing Frequency: Per harvest batch/production lot
Applies to:
Microbial Analysis
RequiredTesting for E. coli, Salmonella, and total yeast and mold
Testing Frequency: Per harvest batch
Applies to:
Moisture Content
Water activity and moisture analysis
Testing Frequency: As needed
Applies to:
Mycotoxin Screening
RequiredTesting for aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, and ochratoxin A
Testing Frequency: Per harvest batch
Applies to:
Product-Specific Requirements
Flower / shake / trim (harvest batch)
RequiredPanel: Potency
Test Type: Cannabinoid profile
Δ8-THC, Δ9-THC, Δ10-THC, Exo-THC, THCA, CBD, CBDA, CBN
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-125 (required potency tests)
Flower / shake / trim (harvest batch)
RequiredPanel: Microbiology
Test Type: Microbial contamination test
Includes STEC, Aspergillus spp., Salmonella, total yeast & mold, total aerobic microbial count, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria, C. albicans
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Flower / shake / trim (harvest batch)
RequiredPanel: Moisture / stability
Test Type: Water activity
Water activity test required for harvest batch
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Flower / shake / trim (harvest batch)
RequiredPanel: Pesticides
Test Type: Pesticide residue analysis
State pesticide list referenced in Rule 4-115(D)(5)
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Flower / shake / trim (harvest batch)
RequiredPanel: Heavy metals
Test Type: Elemental impurities (As, Cd, Pb, Hg)
Elemental impurities test required for each harvest batch
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Concentrates (solvent-based production batch)
RequiredPanel: Potency
Test Type: Cannabinoid profile
Potency testing required for concentrates; cannabinoid profile required
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-125 (required potency tests)
Concentrates (solvent-based production batch)
RequiredPanel: Residual solvents
Test Type: Residual solvent testing
Acetone, butane, ethanol, heptanes, isopropyl alcohol, propane, benzene, toluene, pentane, hexane, methanol, ethyl acetate, total xylenes
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Concentrates (production batch)
RequiredPanel: Microbiology
Test Type: Microbial contamination test
Required for each production batch of regulated marijuana concentrate (and audited products containing it)
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Concentrates (production batch)
RequiredPanel: Pesticides
Test Type: Pesticide residue analysis
Required for each production batch of regulated marijuana concentrate
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Concentrates (production batch)
RequiredPanel: Heavy metals
Test Type: Elemental impurities (As, Cd, Pb, Hg)
Elemental impurities test required for each production batch of regulated marijuana
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Concentrates (special cases)
ConditionalPanel: Mycotoxins
Test Type: Aflatoxins + Ochratoxin A
Required for failed batches that undergo decontamination; and for certain wet-whole-plant scenarios
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Vape concentrates (vaporizer delivery device use)
ConditionalPanel: Emissions
Test Type: Carbonyl/volatile emissions
Acetaldehyde, acrolein, benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, total xylenes
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120(E)(4) (emissions for vaporizer concentrates)
Edibles / oral products (regulated marijuana product)
RequiredPanel: Potency
Test Type: Cannabinoid profile
Potency + required homogeneity testing for regulated marijuana products
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-125 (required potency tests)
Edibles / oral products (regulated marijuana product)
RequiredPanel: Homogeneity
Test Type: Content uniformity
Homogeneity testing required (product-dependent)
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-125 (required potency tests)
Edibles / oral products (regulated marijuana product)
RequiredPanel: Microbiology
Test Type: Microbial contamination test
Audited products containing regulated marijuana concentrate are subject to microbial testing; oral/skin-body products are exempt from Aspergillus testing
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Edibles / oral products (regulated marijuana product)
RequiredPanel: Heavy metals
Test Type: Elemental impurities (As, Cd, Pb, Hg)
Elemental impurities test required for each production batch of regulated marijuana
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Pre-roll (production batch)
RequiredPanel: Moisture / stability
Test Type: Water activity
Water activity required for pre-roll production batches
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Infused pre-roll (production batch)
RequiredPanel: Moisture / stability
Test Type: Water activity
Water activity required for infused pre-roll production batches
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Pre-roll / infused pre-roll
RequiredPanel: Microbiology
Test Type: Microbial contamination test
Required for pre-roll and infused pre-roll production batches
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
Pre-roll / infused pre-roll
RequiredPanel: Pesticides
Test Type: Pesticide residue analysis
Required for pre-roll and infused pre-roll production batches
Source: CO 1 CCR 212-3, Rule 4-120 (required contaminant tests)
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