Mandatory Testing Before Sale

Nevada law requires that every cannabis product be tested by a licensed independent laboratory before it can be sold at a dispensary. No product may reach the retail shelf without passing a battery of safety and potency tests. Testing results are uploaded directly into the METRC seed-to-sale tracking system and linked to the product's batch number, creating a verifiable chain of accountability from lab to label.

8 Licensed Independent Testing Laboratories

Nevada currently has 8 licensed independent testing laboratories, as reported in the CCB's January 2025 Biennial Report. These labs are licensed and overseen by the Cannabis Compliance Board and must operate independently from cultivation, production, and retail establishments. This independence is critical — it ensures that testing results are objective and free from conflicts of interest.

The CCB maintains a complete list of all licensed cannabis establishments, including testing laboratories, at ccb.nv.gov/list-of-licensees.

What Labs Test For

Nevada's testing requirements cover six primary categories:

1. Potency (Cannabinoid Profile)

Labs measure the concentrations of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids in each product. For flower and concentrates, potency is reported as a percentage of total weight. For edibles, tinctures, and other manufactured products, potency is reported in milligrams per serving and per package. Potency testing ensures that the numbers on the label accurately reflect what is in the product — so a package labeled "10 mg THC per serving" actually contains that amount.

2. Pesticides

Labs screen for a panel of pesticide residues to verify that no harmful chemicals were used during cultivation or remain on the final product. Products that exceed allowable pesticide thresholds fail testing and cannot be sold.

3. Heavy Metals

Cannabis plants can absorb heavy metals from soil, water, and fertilizers. Labs test for metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Products exceeding safe limits are rejected.

4. Residual Solvents

Concentrates and other extracted products are tested for residual solvents — chemicals such as butane, propane, ethanol, and CO2 that may be used during the extraction process. Trace amounts above allowable limits indicate that the extraction or purging process was not completed safely.

5. Microbial Contaminants

Labs test for harmful microorganisms including mold, yeast, bacteria (such as E. coli and Salmonella), and fungal pathogens like Aspergillus. Microbial contamination can pose serious health risks, particularly for immunocompromised medical patients.

6. Moisture and Water Activity

Moisture content and water activity levels are measured to assess the product's stability and shelf life. Excessive moisture promotes mold and bacterial growth during storage. Testing ensures that flower and other products have been properly dried and cured before reaching consumers.

How to Read a Certificate of Analysis (COA)

A Certificate of Analysis is the lab report generated for each tested batch. While COAs are primarily used by regulators and licensees, some dispensaries make them available to consumers upon request. Understanding the key sections of a COA helps you verify what you are purchasing:

• Sample information: The product name, batch or lot number, producer name and license number, date sampled, and date tested.
• Cannabinoid profile: A table listing the concentrations of individual cannabinoids — typically including delta-9-THC, THCA, CBD, CBDA, CBN, CBG, and others. Total THC is calculated from THCA and delta-9-THC. Look for the "Total THC" and "Total CBD" rows for the most relevant consumer numbers.
• Terpene profile: When included, this section lists the terpenes detected and their concentrations. Terpenes contribute to the aroma, flavor, and potential effects of the product.
• Contaminant results: Separate tables for pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbials. Each tested substance is listed alongside the result and the allowable limit. A "Pass" or "Fail" determination is typically included.
• Moisture and water activity: Listed as percentages, with pass/fail determinations based on regulatory limits.
• Overall status: A summary "Pass" or "Fail" for the entire batch. Only batches with an overall "Pass" may be released for sale.

What Happens When a Product Fails

If a batch fails any portion of testing, it cannot be sold to consumers. Depending on the nature of the failure, the product may be destroyed, remediated (reprocessed to address the issue and retested), or held pending further investigation by the CCB. The METRC tracking system prevents failed batches from being transferred to dispensaries.

Learn More About Reading Lab Results

Our educational partner, TryCannabis.org, provides a detailed, research-backed guide to reading cannabis lab results — including how to interpret cannabinoid ratios, what individual terpenes may contribute to the experience, and how to compare products using COA data. Every claim is cited from peer-reviewed sources.

Nevada has 8 licensed independent testing laboratories. All products must be tested before retail sale.

CCB Biennial Report 2025

The CCB operates the METRC seed-to-sale tracking system and conducts approximately 700 compliance audits annually. Testing results are linked to each batch in METRC before products may be released for sale.

CCB Biennial Report 2025