ACCL Expands Membership to Include Medical Marijuana Testing Laboratories Throughout North America
Oakland, CA (PRWEB) October 09, 2013 -- The ACCL today announced that the organization has expanded its membership beyond California to include medical marijuana testing laboratories throughout North America. To reflect the wider geographical base of its membership, the organization has changed its name from the Association of California Cannabis Laboratories to the Association of Commercial Cannabis Laboratories.
Founded in 2011, the ACCL and its member organizations are dedicated to establishing medical marijuana best practices and certifications for quality standards. Since its inception, the ACCL has been at the forefront of the movement to develop mandatory testing protocols for medicinal marijuana products; and with the expansion of its membership base to include Cannabis testing laboratories throughout North American, the organization continues to serve as an example to the rest of the industry on how to work together effectively to bring greater legitimacy and credibility to the medical marijuana community.
New ACCL member organizations will be required to demonstrate similar scientific acumen and expertise as part of the mutually agreed upon membership requirements as current California members. Member organizations will engage with dispensaries, growers, patients, legislators and other medical marijuana industry stakeholders in the ongoing effort to define and create testing standards for potency as well as for microbiological contaminants such as mold, fungus, pesticides, bacteria, E. coli and other harmful elements that can comprise the health and well-being of medical marijuana patients.
“As the medical marijuana community continues to expand throughout the United States and Canada, so too has the need for quality assurance testing services increased. ACCL member organizations are committed to ensuring the quality, security, and accountability of the medical Cannabis supply chain and to protect patients, growers, dispensaries and the environment from exposure to biological and chemical agents,” said Dr. Robert Martin, Executive Director of the ACCL. “This is an exciting time for the ACCL, and we're thrilled about welcoming new Cannabis testing laboratories outside of California to help in the effort to develop industry standards for the testing of medical marijuana products."
“In addition to testing for product potency, ACCL member organizations take great pride in ensuring medical marijuana products do not contain microbiological contaminants that would compromise patient safety. ACCL member organizations have the ability and experience to analyze a wide range of medical marijuana products, along with the academic and professional expertise required to interpret and defend the results,” added Dr. Martin.
“As Canada and numerous states across the US bring about mandatory testing regulations, we felt it was a natural expansion of our efforts to include other commercial testing laboratories from across North America to our existing organization. While no samples will ever be supplied across state lines, there are multiple ways we can establish ring testing protocols with the new members to ensure we are all adhering to the same standards of operation and quality for our clients. This is a very exciting time as we’re seeing our garden expand in an organic and healthy fashion, just like you always hope to see!” said Dr. Jeffrey C. Raber, President of the ACCL and CEO of The Werc Shop.
“The ACCL has proven itself as an invaluable catalyst for Cannabis laboratory harmonization in California. By bringing the organization's expertise and experiences to the national level, the ACCL is firmly establishing itself as the de-facto round table for internal oversight of the Cannabis laboratory industry,” said David Lampach CFO of the ACCL and CEO Steep Hill Halent Inc.
“CannLabs is excited to be a part of this collaborative group. By working together, the ACCL laboratories will create more confidence in the reporting of results to our clients as well as regulatory bodies. We encourage all laboratories to join,” said Heather Despres, co-founder of Denver’ Colorado’s Cannlabs.
For more information, contact Dr. Robert Martin, ACCL Executive Director (and co-founder CW Analytical Laboratories at robert(at)cwanalytical(dot)com, or Dr. Jeffrey C. Raber, ACCL President and founder of The Werc Shop, at jeff(at)thewercshop(dot)com.
Matthew Meigs, +1 (415) 686-6178, [email protected]
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