Connecticut cannabis testing requirements

Required tests

• Potency
• Terpenes
• Pesticides
• Residual solvents
• Heavy metals
• Microbials
• Mycotoxins
• Water activity
• Vitamin E acetate
• Other (see notes)

ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation

Required. All certificate-of-analysis testing must comply with ISO/IEC 17025 (Policies and Procedures §21a-421j-29(c)). DCP says licensed labs must obtain and maintain ISO accreditation. Labs must be in Connecticut and licensed by DCP (CGS §21a-408r).

Notes

• The testing rules are DCP's Policies and Procedures, §21a-421j-29 (edition effective Nov 12, 2024), which have the force of law. DCP submitted them as formal regulations (PR2024-053) in 2025. Public Act 26-100 keeps the Policies and Procedures in force until final adoption or July 1, 2028.
• Statute CGS §21a-408w (Public Act 24-76) requires testing for microbial contaminants (including Aspergillus), mycotoxins, heavy metals and pesticide residues.
• Microbials (qPCR method): E. coli, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, L. monocytogenes and Salmonella not detected; total aerobic count and total yeast and mold each at most 10^5 CFU/g; Aspergillus fumigatus, flavus, niger and terreus not detected in inhaled products.
• Mycotoxins: aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and ochratoxin A, each under 20 µg/kg.
• Heavy metals: cadmium, arsenic, lead, mercury and chromium, with separate limits for inhaled and non-inhaled products.
• Pesticides: 21 Category I pesticides must be non-detect (LOQ 0.10 µg/g); Category II pesticides have action levels.
• Potency: cannabinoid and terpene profiles are required for all cannabis. Adult-use total THC is capped at 30% for flower and 60% for most other products (not medical products).
• Residual solvents apply only to products made with solvents. Water activity: at most 0.65 Aw for dried flower and 0.85 Aw for non-liquid edibles.
• Inhaled products must have no detectable polyethylene glycol, vitamin E acetate, MCT oil, squalene or squalane.
• Other: stability testing in final packaging at 30 and 60 days for the first batch in each product category (§21a-421j-30).
• Since Jan 1, 2025, labs sample batches in final packaging. Batch caps are 40 lb for raw cannabis and 40,000 units for products. The establishment visually inspects for foreign matter before sampling; there is no separate lab test for it.