Varying State Marijuana Rules Cause Confusion Amid Ongoing Federal Prohibition – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

“We don’t really know what’s going on behind the doors of each and every lab in each and every state.”

By Amanda Hernández, Stateline

Amid the growing acceptance and legalization of cannabis use across the country, a concerning reality has emerged: The state-by-state patchwork of safety regulations can leave marijuana consumers wandering through a haze of uncertainty, exposing them to potential risks.

Under federal law, marijuana is illegal—period. So, it’s up to individual states to determine their own regulations and safety standards.

Those inconsistent regulations are part of a broad debate about the U.S. cannabis industry. The 47 states that allow at least some cannabis use (cannabis is still illegal in Idaho, Kansas and Nebraska) have taken various approaches to issues such as the allowable amount of euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, in a product.

“We don’t really know what’s going on behind the doors of each and every lab in each and every state,” said Anna Schwabe, a cannabis geneticist and the director of cannabis education, research and development for 420 Organics, in an interview with Stateline. “I don’t really have any sense of or any level of comfort for the numbers that they’re putting out.”

Most states require legal cannabis products to be tested by licensed laboratories for potency and for contaminants such as pesticides and heavy metals.

Still, the lack of uniform testing standards has led to inconsistent lab…