As Minnesota’s recreational cannabis industry grows, there’s a lot happening between cultivation and the moment a product reaches a dispensary shelf. One critical step takes place largely out of public view: laboratory testing.
At True North Analytical, founder Stephanie Fettig-Scholl and her team test cannabis products for everything from potency to pesticides, heavy metals, mold, bacteria, and other potential contaminants. Fettig-Scholl came to cannabis testing after a career in medical device testing and with a background in bioethics—experience that informs her belief that cannabis products deserve the same scientific rigor consumers expect from other products they put in or use on their bodies.
We asked Fettig-Scholl to take us inside the testing process, explain what Minnesota consumers should know about product safety, and share what she’s seeing as the state’s cannabis industry continues to develop.
Courtesy of True North Analytical
For consumers who have never thought about what happens behind the scenes, can you walk me through how a cannabis product is tested before it reaches store shelves in Minnesota?
Before a cannabis product hits a dispensary shelf, Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) requires that a sample be sent to an independent, state-licensed cannabis testing laboratory, such as ours.
True North Analytical is approved to perform all of Minnesota’s required cannabis compliance testing, including potency, microbial contaminants, mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, residual solvents, water activity and foreign material.
When a sample arrives at our laboratory, it is logged into our system and prepared for testing. From there, portions of the sample move through different areas of the laboratory depending on the test being performed. Some testing uses highly sophisticated analytical instrumentation to identify and measure compounds at extremely low concentrations. Other testing, such as microbial analysis, looks for potentially harmful microorganisms, while foreign material testing involves visually examining the product under magnification for contaminants or extraneous material.
Potency testing determines the concentrations of cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, while the remainder of the testing is largely focused on answering an equally important question: Is this product safe and compliant for consumers?
Once all required testing is complete, the results are reviewed and compiled into a Certificate of Analysis, or COA. That report documents the product’s test results and whether it meets Minnesota’s established requirements before it can ultimately reach the consumer.
What exactly are you testing for, and what are some of the biggest potential safety concerns you’re looking to identify?
We test the potency of the products, but we’re also testing for bacteria, pesticides, heavy metals and mold that may pose a risk to someone’s health when they consume cannabis products. Since it’s a plant harvested by humans, it’s exposed to the same potential risks as produce.
Just like you’d expect your food or a medical device to be thoroughly tested before putting it into your body, cannabis deserves that same level of rigorous testing. At the end of the day, this is all about making sure people are safe.
Are there differences in how flower, edibles, beverages, and other cannabis products are tested?
While there are different preparation methods depending on the form of product received, we are always following the state-required testing matrix for the type of product received, which falls into the eight certified fields of testing.
What do you wish Minnesota consumers better understood about cannabis testing and product safety?
This industry is growing in Minnesota, and with that comes growing pains that all retailers, growers and testing labs are feeling. There’s a misconception that the lack of product available and the pace at which products reach shelves for the consumer is because testing takes too long. The OCM requires a 10-day turnaround time for product testing, which True North has maintained since the day we opened our doors.
It’s challenging for dispensaries to get product; the majority of growers have only had their licenses for a short time. Growing itself is a very sophisticated and scientific business, and those businesses are being regulated in their processes as well. There are a lot of checks and balances that take time to ensure products are safe, and that can’t be compromised.
As Minnesota’s recreational cannabis market grows, what changes are you seeing in the volume or types of products coming through your lab?
People and business owners are constantly innovating new products and methods, and we’re proud to be a trusted partner in the R&D process to help them bring an idea to life.
Are there common misconceptions about cannabis testing—or product labels—that you find yourself correcting?
I don’t think people realize how scientific the testing process is. My team at True North is made up of experts who have worked in medical devices, oil refineries, academia and pharmaceuticals. From R&D evaluations to final finished product testing, we truly understand the medical and scientific requirements for this testing.
Have you encountered anything through testing that surprised you or that consumers might be surprised to learn?
Our customers are intelligent, thoughtful business owners and professionals. The cannabis industry is incredibly diverse, and the people who produce, sell and use cannabis products do not necessarily fit the stereotypes that have historically surrounded the industry. As our culture and society continue to evolve, there is a growing understanding of who participates in the cannabis industry and who uses its products. However, despite this progress, a degree of stigma still remains.
What should consumers look for on a label or ask a retailer if they want to make more informed decisions about the cannabis products they purchase?
Every product on shelves in Minnesota has to be tested by an independent lab and is required to provide access to the testing results. This is often provided in the form of a QR code on the packaging that you can access from your cell phone.
Courtesy of True North Analytical
How do you see cannabis testing evolving as Minnesota’s industry matures?
Recent estimates suggest that we are only at about 10% to 15% of what we expect this industry to become in Minnesota, and there’s still a lot to learn. At True North Analytical, we have a strong foundation on which to grow the company. We hire those with specific experience in highly regulated industries who are all uniquely suited to work in this lab. We have extensive training and high standards.
I really appreciate the high standards in Minnesota. People can trust that when they go to a dispensary, the product they’re buying has undergone thorough, scientific testing. I’m really excited about what the future of this industry looks like in Minnesota.
You came to this field from medical device testing and have a background in bioethics. How has that experience shaped the way you approach cannabis testing and consumer safety?
I believe in high-quality testing, and as a born-and-raised Minnesotan, I’m passionate about ensuring the products Minnesotans consume are safe. With my background in the safety testing industry, I saw a need and am uniquely suited to run this lab with my team. I knew we had the talent and we could do a good job. I’m proud to run the only woman-owned testing lab and bring this expertise and accuracy to such a highly regulated and growing industry.
