Medical cannabis growers and testing labs in Mississippi now have until Oct. 29 to prepare for new flower testing standards that initially went into effect in July.
The Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program, overseen by the Mississippi State Department of Health, released a new 60-day pause on yeast- and mold-testing standards on Aug. 30 after several medical cannabis testing lab owners, growers and dispensary owners said the new testing regulations were hurting growers, costing them more money and so needed more time to prepare. Several other states with medical cannabis programs already have yeast and mold testing requirements and regulations to limit the amount found in flower.
"The Mississippi State Department of Health's decision to extend the grace period for implementation of (yeast and mold) testing by 60 days (is) to allow licensed medical cannabis establishments additional time to prepare for (yeast and mold) testing, (provide) the steps that licensed medical cannabis establishments may take as preventative measures to ensure the cultivation and production of safe, compliant medical cannabis products, and the methods of sterilization/remediation that may be considered and/or undertaken by licensees," The Aug. 30 release states.
The release, which was sent to licensed cannabis businesses and provided to the Clarion Ledger, also reenforced the importance of the testing standard to keep the public safe.
Read more at clarionledger.com