WAC 173-55: Accreditation of Cannabis Laboratories

Ecology withdrew the CR-101 for this rulemaking on April 4, 2024, filed as WSR# 24-09-005.

Starting July 1, 2024, the Washington Department of Agriculture has the regulatory authority to accredit cannabis laboratories. 

The statutory authority for managing the accreditation of private cannabis laboratories was originally transferred to Ecology in 2019 under RCW 43.21A.736 and RCW 69.50.348. 

Ecology led the Cannabis Science Task Force from 2019-2022 with representation from Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board, and the Washington Department of Health. The Task Force also included representatives from cannabis laboratories. This group investigated quality standards for cannabis testing and submitted two Cannabis Science Task Force Recommendation reports to the Legislature:

• Laboratory Quality Standards for Pesticides in Cannabis Plants and Products (June 2020)
• Cannabis Laboratory Quality Standards and Proficiency Testing (December 2021)

These reports recommended laboratory quality standard and proficiency testing improvements and encouraged the creation of an interagency cooperative team to guide the creation of a new accreditation program.

In 2024, House Bill 2151 reassigned accreditation authority from Ecology to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, resulting in the withdrawal of our initial rulemaking announcement.