Ohio Division of Cannabis Control Suspends Testing Lab Certification for Using Unapproved Analytical Methods (August 2025)

Ohio Testing Laboratory Certification Requirements

Under Ohio Revised Code § 3796.04 and OAC 3796:4-3-01, cannabis testing laboratories operating in Ohio must use only analytical methods approved by the Division of Cannabis Control. Method changes require prior written approval. Unapproved method substitution is a Tier 1 violation subject to immediate suspension.

Findings

The Division's laboratory oversight unit conducted a records review and on-site audit on July 21–22, 2025 after receiving a discrepancy report from a licensed cultivator whose in-house QC results diverged from the lab's COA results by more than 20% on CBD content.

Key findings:

1. Method substitution: The lab replaced the DCC-approved HPLC-UV method (Method OH-T-004) with a modified HPLC-DAD method beginning January 15, 2025, without DCC approval or notification.
2. Scale of impact: An estimated 1,400 samples were tested using the unapproved method between January 15 and July 21, 2025.
3. Systematic overstatement: The unapproved method consistently returned CBD values 10–14% above the approved method on identical samples, based on a parallel testing comparison conducted by the DCC.
4. No disclosure: The lab did not disclose the method change to clients, regulators, or on COAs.

Enforcement Action

The DCC issued a 60-day suspension of the lab's testing certification effective August 6, 2025. During the suspension:

• No new samples may be accepted
• All 1,400 affected COAs are quarantined and may not be relied upon for product sales
• Affected licensees have been notified and must retest affected lots at a certified lab before sale

Reinstatement Conditions

The lab must:

1. Submit a corrected Standard Operating Procedure using only DCC-approved methods
2. Pass a DCC proficiency testing panel with ≥95% accuracy
3. Pay a civil penalty of $25,000

Industry Alert

Licensees should verify that their testing labs hold current DCC certification for each analytical method listed on COAs. The DCC maintains a public registry of approved methods at cannabis.ohio.gov/testing.