Recreational use of marijuana may be a hot political issue but the fact is it’s legal to obtain and use medicinal marijuana as a form of medical treatment in certain states. Given that, marijuana testing laboratories are entering the medical field to professionally monitor and assess the different forms of cannabis. Some states have implemented specific mandates for testing protocols and procedures that testing laboratories must follow.
As legislation continues to shape the way for medicinal marijuana use, more testing laboratories will take advantage of this economically booming industry and competition for business will increase. Dispensaries and doctors will be on the lookout for competent facilities to effectively examine cannabis. This is where ISO 17025 lab accreditation differentiates the medical marijuana testing labs currently in the market.
Essentially, an ISO 17025-accredited medical marijuana testing laboratory carries more authority and precision in determining the potency of certain strains of cannabis that can ultimately be used to accurately treat patients. Receiving accreditation involves an inspection from an outside party to evaluate the laboratory. First and foremost, accreditation to ISO standards is one of the most recognized voluntary achievements around the globe in many industries. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a non-governmental entity with 163 member countries that develop world-class requirements for services, systems, and products to ensure safety, efficiency, and quality.
Understanding the background of accreditation to ISO standards is the beginning of the ISO 17025 accreditation process. Gaining accreditation gives medical marijuana testing laboratories global recognition that their practices meet the highest standards when it comes to consistent testing that produces accurate work. Continued research on the medical benefits of marijuana and evolving legislation will provide good reasons for medical marijuana testing labs to get a head start with accreditation.
This blog was originally posted on 04/14/15 by one of our customers, ANAB, who accredit testing and calibration labs, inspection and certification bodies, reference material producers, and proficiency test providers.
