After being barred from accepting any cannabis for testing other than that from the government’s licensed producers, Health Canada now lists 17 laboratories authorized to provide testing services to individuals.
With the government’s new ACMPR regime allowing for home-growing, the opening up of testing options is meant to provide some method of ensuring quality, but also allows for testing of product obtained by patients from licensed producers or from private dispensaries.
Health Canada states on its website that the labs with a current Dealers Licence under the Narcotic Control Regulations to conduct activities with cannabis are able to receive from patients.
“Be sure to contact the laboratory directly before you send your fresh or dried marijuana or cannabis oil,” Health Canada states. “You should find out what testing they offer, how much the tests will cost, and how much fresh or dried marijuana or cannabis oil is needed for an accurate result. In addition, the laboratory may have individual requirements for product submissions.”
Those interested in obtaining testing are required to send either a registration certificate issued under the ACMPR or an authorization to possess issued under the MMAR.
“If you do not include this document, the licensed dealer cannot proceed with the testing,” Health Canada warned. “They need verification that you are within the scope of this exemption in order to legally conduct activities with the fresh or dried marijuana, or cannabis oil that you send. If you do not include this, your fresh or dried marijuana or cannabis oil may be destroyed. It will not be returned to you.”
On their webpage, authorized lab series provider Supra Research and Development says it’s able to provide potency testing of major and minor cannabinoids, pesticide screening, heavy metal contamination and screening for mould.
| Licensed dealer | Province / Territory | Contact information |
|---|---|---|
| A&L Canada Laboratories Inc. | ON | 1-519-457-2575 x241 |
| Alberta Innovates Technology Futures | AB | 1-780-632-8229 |
| Anandia Laboratories Inc. | BC | 1-604-822-0253 |
| ARA Avanti Rx Analytics Inc. | ON | 1-416-548-5998 |
| AXXONLAB Inc. | QC | 1-888-675-5226 x226 |
| British Columbia Institute of Technology | BC | 1-604-412-7484 |
| Ccrest Laboratories | QC | 1-514-324-1073 x238 |
| Dr. Raimar Loebenberg Katz Group – Rexall Centre for Pharmacy & Health Research University of Alberta |
AB | 1-780-492-1255 |
| Experchem Laboratories Inc. | ON | 1-416-665-2134 or 1-866-610-5576 |
| Keystone Labs Inc. | AB | 1-587-458-8411 |
| Laboratoire PhytoChemia Inc. | QC | 1-418-321-1227 |
| Labs-Mart Inc. | AB | 1-780-469-9009 |
| M.B. Laboratories Ltd | BC | 1-250-656-1334 |
| RPC (Research and Productivity Council) | NB | 1-506-452-1270 |
| Saskatchewan Research Council Analytical Laboratory |
SK | 1-306-933-5204 |
| Supra Research and Development | BC | 1-250-878-4711 |
| University Health Network | ON | 1-416-581-7601 |
In a recent Globe & Mail article, M.B. Laboratories Ltd lab services manager Wendy Riggs said since the government opened up lab access to individuals she’s seen an increase in interest from cannabis growing groups looking to have product tested.
“I think it’s a positive thing because it brings awareness of safety to patients and the people who are dependent on this drug,” Riggs said. “They’re just trying to gain more understanding of what they’re consuming as a medicine.”
Tests can range from a few hundred dollars to $1,000 a sample for a full range of tests for contaminants like chemicals, metals and micro-organisms.