Cannabis Laboratories in Canada: Putting Your Buds to the Test:

Cannabis Laboratories? No, not where it’s “made”, but where weed gets tested for potency, quality and the like.

Have you ever relaxed in your favorite chair, enjoying some of your best-grown cannabis, and wondered about its potency? Many Canadians are now cultivating their own cannabis under the “4 Plant Rule” from The Cannabis Act, increasing interest in lab testing. There are 72 licensed laboratories in Canada conducting analytical tests for cannabis products, crucial for ensuring safety and quality. Health Canada mandates strict quality assurance measures for producers, including adherence to SOPs and inventory tracking. While most labs focus on commercial testing, a few offer services for personal cultivation. Testing costs can vary, but licensed testers can provide detailed profiles of cannabinoids, terpenes, and chemicals in your buds.

Cannabis Testing Over the Years

Many cannabis growers, both commercial and personal, have expressed frustration over the lack of effective “at home” testing options. Access to reliable home-testing kits is limited, and while some can measure THC/CBD concentration, consumers often seek more detailed information about their plants. For medical patients and those needing specific cannabis grades, accurate data is crucial. Additionally, genetics play a vital role in strain validity, potency, and terpenes. Questions regarding the authenticity of strains, including their genetic backgrounds, must be addressed. As cannabis marketing faces restrictions, proving the quality and lineage of cannabis strains can significantly influence their market success.

Strain Variability & Validity

How can you validate your strains when names keep changing? We understand your concerns about the ongoing “strain wars” in the cannabis market. Often, cultivators create new strains only for retailers or media to rename them before you’ve tried them. Consistency is crucial for proving bud quality; as strains produce reliable batches, they build credibility. Testing supports this consistency, leading to increased popularity. Trust in genetics is a long-term journey, and you may serve as a final check on a strain’s potency and value. Interested in cannabis genetics? Now is an exciting time for research in this field. Keeping up with strain definitions can be challenging, but Leafly offers excellent resources on cannabis genetics and terpene profiles. Check them out for insightful information on strains and genetic traits.

For this article, we’re going to forego the exciting but complex world of cannabis strains and focus on reviewing the marijuana laboratories in Canada.  If you’re interested in testing your own cannabis, or want to be sure what you’re buying is exactly as advertised, here’s an overview of the current licensed labs for cannabis in Canada.

CANNABIS LABORATORIES IN CANADA

A&L Canada Laboratories Inc. is an Ontario-based analytical lab that has been an established and relied-on supporter of the agriculture and high-value crop industries for many years.  A&L provides testing and analytical services to livestock, feed, crops, soil and horticulture clients across Canada.  For the past few years, A&L has also extended its expertise into the realm of cannabis testing. Since before legalization officially kicked off in October 17, 2018, A&L provided legal cannabis cultivators (ACMPR) with cannabinoid and heavy metals and plant diagnostics data for a number of Canadians.

A&L Labs

Agri & Land Labs has expanded their analytical offering in the wake of cannabis legalization, and their cannabis testing services now includes packages like:

• Regulated Heavy Metals: incl. Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, N-P-K, Cannabinoid Profiling (THC, CBD, THCA, CBDA, CBG, CBGA, CBN), Microbiological Scanning (yeasts, molds, harmful bacteria), Pesticides residues and Uniformity & Visual Appearance (inspection of the flowers)
• Water Analysis: Nitrogen analysis (ammonia, nitrate), Minerals analysis (Boron, Copper, Magnesium, etc), and Chemical analysis (Alkalinity, Hardness, Saturation index, etc)
• Plant Tissue Analysis: Total-N, P, Mg, K, Ca, S, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, etc.
• Soil / Greenhouse Media: Total-N, pH, Available organic matter, Lime index, Soil extractable minerals (P, K, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, etc.)
• Soil / Organic Amendment: Total Nitrogen (N), Organic Matter, pH, Total Phosphorus (P), Total Potassium (K), Available N-P-K, Minerals composition, Bulk density and more
• Finished Product Miscellaneous: Moisture, Ash, Quality, Regulated Heavy Metals, Extraneous Foreign Matter
• Plant / Soil Disease: Disease diagnostic scan, pathogen consultation, Disease confirmation per organism

Canadian-owned A&L Laboratories provides prices based on customer quotes. Their typical turnaround time is 3-5 business days after receiving samples. Licensed producers and personal medical license holders must provide license information and identity confirmation. A&L has been a leading lab in Canada for years. As cannabis popularity rises, A&L Labs’ analytical services will expand with the industry.

Anandia Labs

Anandia Laboratories Inc., a leading BC analytics and research firm, focuses exclusively on cannabis testing, offering superior analysis compared to agricultural labs. With over 70 staff, including 50 scientists and 6 PhDs, they serve clients across Canada. Their extensive testing packages include:

• Metal Analysis:** Essential metals like Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, plus others.
• Pesticide Screening:** Covers Health Canada-required pesticide residues.
• Potency & Cannabinoids:** Tests for major cannabinoids and profiles 14 overall.
• Microbial Contaminants:** Reports on yeast, mold, E-coli, and Salmonella.
• Terpenes:** Profiles include 28 monoterpenes and 10 sesquiterpenes.
• Moisture and Residual Solvents:** Analyzes drying loss and solvent residues.
• Aflatoxin & Ochratoxin Analysis:** Scans for aflatoxins and optional ochratoxin A.

Anandia has earned Emerald Badges annually since 2016 and has a standard turnaround of 7 business days, with expedited options available. Check their submission guide for proper testing protocols. For top-tier cannabis analytics in Canada, choose Anandia Laboratories Inc.

Keystone Labs

Keystone Labs Inc. in Alberta is a licensed lab trusted by ACMPR cultivators. The Keystone team aims to be a top cannabis analytics lab in Alberta, serving some of the largest cultivators in Canada. While expanding services to full terpene profiling, clients can rely on various tests, including visual examinations and cannabinoid potency assessments. Their testing packages cover:

• Visual Examination:** Documenting physical characteristics
• Moisture Content:** Measuring moisture levels and weight loss
• Cannabinoid Profile & Potency:** Testing for 10 major cannabinoids, with 5 more soon
• Microbial Analysis:** Reporting on yeast, molds, and bacteria
• Aflatoxins & Pesticides:** Mycotoxin detection and testing for Health Canada regulated pesticides

Keystone Labs is nearing full operational capacity for cannabis analytics. In the interim, cultivators and consumers can access compliance reports required by Health Canada, including heavy metals and pesticide analyses. For a list of cannabis labs across Canada, visit Health Canada’s directory for labs near you.

WHO CAN TEST CANNABIS IN CANADA, AND HOW?

In Canada, if you want to test cannabis, you must meet specific conditions. You need to be a registered ACMPR license holder, authorized to produce cannabis. You can only submit cannabis that complies with ACMPR guidelines or has a court order permitting analysis. Designate growers cannot submit cannabis for testing; only the licensed medical user can request this. Though they may prepare the sample, the license holder must inspect, approve, and sign it.

Sampling

When it comes to sending the actual samples, you may be wondering: what can be sent?  Health Canada has provided guidelines for the submission of cannabis samples for analytical testing:

• Dried or fresh cannabis, cannabis oil can be submitted for testing; however, no other cannabis products or derivatives are currently approved for testing (cannabis edibles, cannabis concentrates, topicals, etc)
  • These non-approved forms of marijuana products are being reviewed and testing methods developed, but for now Health Canada will not recognize these kinds of cannabis products
• Any cannabis samples submitted for testing cannot exceed your possession limits for cannabis, as defined under The Cannabis Act & Regulations
  • Possession limits are defined as:
    • 30 grams of dried cannabis flowers, or equivalent (non-licensed)
    • 30 times your daily quantity of dried marijuana, or up to a maximum of 150 grams of dried marijuana (the lesser of the two is always pertinent – licensed, ACMPR)
  • For “equivalent cannabis values”: 5 grams of fresh cannabis is considered to be the equivalent to 1 gram of dried cannabis; and in the case of cannabis oil, the weight of the dried cannabis that was used to produce said cannabis oil (i.e. not the non-solids base, but the weight of the cannabis flowers themselves)]

Testing Parameters

In terms of what kinds of tests an individual can request, Health Canada has provided some clarification in recent months.  Cannabis samples must follow the laboratory’s requirements for volume, packaging and shipment instructions.  Pricing for marijuana analytical tests are up to the laboratory, and should be quoted per client/sample and are not under the jurisdiction of Health Canada.  Before submitting samples for testing, be sure to communicate with multiple laboratories to ascertain the ideal price for you.  Health Canada has also suggested some typical testing methods that individuals may want to request.  Standard cannabis testing packages for individuals should include: Cannabinoid content (THC, CBD), potency, microbial reports, heavy metals or other contaminants, and chemical analyses.

Testing Requirements

There are further regulations requiring you, the licensed sender, to provide additional information and security measures for any cannabis that is to be tested.  Some of these requirements:

• A copy of your cannabis license – i.e. ACMPR, micro-cultivation license, cannabis retail license, etc.
  • If you do not provide sufficient license information, your samples will not be tested and will be destroyed as no samples sent to testing facilities are allowed, by law, to be returned
• Packaging must be conducive to general safety, security to both shippers and laboratory staff – i.e. use a sealed, smell-free, damage-resistant bag or container
• Packaging for samples must be labelled correctly and sent via authorized cannabis shippers only – Canada Post, Purolator, NOT through personal delivery means
• Any descriptions for how the cannabis was cultivated, processed and harvested can be very helpful for testers, including:
  • additives or ingredients used to cultivation the cannabis (flowers) or process it (cannabis oil)
  • the net weights of the cannabis, before, during and after cultivation/harvesting/processing
  • the packaging date, signature of the sender/license holder

Testing Your Dabs? Contact These Labs

Laboratories may require further information and these guidelines should be observed. If you suspect your cannabis samples are missing or stolen, report this to the police immediately. You must inform the police within 24 hours after notification and notify Health Canada in writing within 72 hours about the loss. In Canada, there are many excellent cannabis testing options available due to its status as the first G7 nation to federally legalize marijuana. If you need insights on a new strain or questions about potency levels, Canadian labs can provide the necessary assurance for your cannabis.