Contaminants and
Foreign Materials in Cannabis
Cannabis products are inspected on the micro level for contaminants like pesticides and heavy metals, but foreign materials on the macro level must also be checked to ensure the safety of consumers. Foreign materials can pose a serious health hazard to cannabis consumers. They can be seen by the naked eye and can be found with a visual inspection with the right laboratory equipment, such as a microscope. Adult-use and medical cannabis products pass the foreign materials test if no materials of concern are found during inspection.
Types of foreign materials
Foreign materials in cannabis include any kind of matter that should not be present. Screening for foreign materials ensures that the product you’re selling is wholly clean and ready to sell to your customers. They can come from any number of sources, including cross-contamination during processing.
Common foreign materials checked for in cannabis samples include, but are not limited to:
Rodent feces or hair
Human hair
Insects,
Insect fragments or eggs
Dirt
Sand
Mold
Manufacturing waste
Parasites
The difference between foreign materials and contaminants
Foreign materials and contaminants may sometimes be mentioned in the same breath, and there is certainly some overlap. However, contaminants cover a wider range of materials and more pervasive issues than foreign materials. Common cannabis foreign materials include fungi like grey mold, bud rot, and spider mites, all issues that can ruin an entire harvest if discovered, as they cannot be removed once they settle in.
You can also think of the difference as a visual one. Foreign materials can be seen or examined under a microscope. The contaminants mentioned above are visible, but not all contaminants can be seen or detected without a more thorough analysis with specialized equipment. Contaminants like pesticide residue are a good example of this -- they cannot be seen, but they are contaminants nonetheless.
Does New Jersey require a foreign materials check for marijuana?
The state of New Jersey requires licensed marijuana cultivators and processors (which have been referred to as Alternative Treatment Centers or “ATCs” in New Jersey’s medical marijuana program) to check cannabis products for foreign materials. Licensed entities must use an independent and accredited third-party analytical laboratory like True Labs for Cannabis.
Does True Labs test industrial hemp?
Yes, True Labs for Cannabis tests industrial hemp for foreign materials, and is able to test hemp for all other contaminant and substance testing that marijuana goes through, such as pesticides and heavy metals.
New Jersey authorized its industrial hemp program with the Hemp Farming Act, passed in 2019. The New Jersey hemp program is less strict than the state’s marijuana program, but industrial hemp cultivators and hemp product manufacturers have a vested interest in ensuring the products they offer are clean and safe for their customers.
How True Labs checks for foreign materials
True Labs does a physical examination to inspect cannabis samples for these contaminants. Our inspection process includes use of UV light, a high-powered microscope, and flotation techniques. We also examine the sample's trichomes to determine if the cannabis flower was fully mature at time of harvest.
Why True Labs for Cannabis?
At True Labs for Cannabis, we built our operations from the ground-up to wholly dedicate our facilities and expertise to the cannabis industry. In fact, we are one of the only labs in New Jersey to have done so. Our north-central New Jersey analytical laboratory is also the only woman-owned cannabis testing lab in the Garden State, and one of the very few in the United States to be owned by a woman.
True Labs brings skilled science, innovation, passion, and a steadfast commitment to product quality and safety to clients from Bergen County to Cape May County. We are dedicated to going above and beyond the bare minimum requirements set out by the state of New Jersey, and thrive on continuous innovation. Our clients can expect state-of-the-art, cutting-edge techniques that prioritize consumer safety and product quality above all else.