In a guidance document (HERE), provided by Interim Director of Maine’s Office of Cannabis Policy Vernon Malloch on November 21st:
“in response to questions and concerns raised by adult use licensees in response to OCP’s Second Advance Notice of Mandatory Testing for Pesticides. In light of those questions and concerns, OCP is revising and clarifying the timeline for the implementation of mandatory testing for pesticides as outlined in this guidance.
1. Beginning December 12, 2022, cannabis testing facilities that are certified to conduct mandatory testing for pesticides may begin accepting samples of cannabis flower, trim, and concentrate for mandatory pesticides testing.
2. As of January 12, 2023, all cannabis flower, trim, and concentrate must pass mandatory testing for pesticides before it is manufactured into a cannabis product or transferred to a cannabis store for sale to consumers. All cannabis products manufactured on or after January 12, 2023 must be manufactured using cannabis flower, trim, or concentrate that has passed mandatory testing for pesticides.
3. After June 12, 2023, no cannabis flower, trim, or concentrate that passed all mandatory testing required before December 12, 2022 may be transferred to retail for sale to consumers without also passing mandatory testing for pesticides.
These updates to the pesticides testing implementation timeline mean that licensees will have one full month to submit their existing untested inventory for mandatory pesticides testing in advance of the requirement that all cannabis cultivated, manufactured, and sold to adult use consumers passes mandatory testing for pesticides. To ensure smooth implementation of this timeline, we are providing answers to the following frequently asked questions along with a table outlining the steps of the timeline on page 3.
By implementing pesticides testing in this way, OCP hopes to have alleviated industry concerns around potential supply shortages and testing expenses for already manufactured, packaged, and tested goods. OCP thanks all of you who reached out and brought these concerns to our attention. We value the partnership between industry and regulators.
To ensure smooth implementation of this timeline, we are providing answers to the following frequently asked questions along with a table outlining the steps of the timeline on page 3.”
To see the full document, including Frequently Asked Questions, review the guidance here.
This post does not establish an attorney-client relationship, and should not be considered legal advice.