Committee approves oversight for medical-marijuana testing labs, adds practitioner-registry authority

The House Health Committee on Friday reported House Bill 33 affirmatively after the committee incorporated two amendments that add practitioner-registry oversight and technical testing safeguards.

Committee staff explained the bill’s main provisions: testing laboratories that analyze medical-marijuana products would have to submit standard operating procedures at initial application and renewal and within 30 days of any modification. Laboratories already approved under the program may continue testing until their next renewal date but must submit their standard operating procedures within 120 days of the act taking effect.

“House Bill 33 provides oversight of medical marijuana testing laboratories by the Department of Health,” a committee staff member summarized. The staff explanation said the department would be required to perform inspections, facilitate annual quality-assurance testing, and establish required accreditation levels for labs. The bill would allow the department to audit products at dispensaries by using a different approved lab, a lab not…