Chapter 16-310 WAC

On June 18, 2024, the Department  adopted chapter 16-310 of the Washington Administrative Code for the accreditation of cannabis laboratories in accordance with the standards set forth in chapter 16-309 WAC. The purpose of this rule is to ensure that laboratory standards described in chapter 16-309 WAC are followed when testing cannabis and cannabis products in Washington State.

Under the 2019 House Bill 2052, the Department of Ecology was to take over the accreditation of cannabis laboratories, and began creating a fee-based program to audit and accredit the laboratories. In the process of writing the cannabis laboratory standards in chapter 16-309 WAC, the Department identified an opportunity to save costs to laboratories and streamline the hiring and work process related to laboratory standards and accreditation by taking on the task of laboratory audits and accreditation. The Department wrote an agency request bill replacing the Department of Ecology with the Department of Agriculture as the accrediting agency and requesting continuous funding and expedited rulemaking authority to do this work. The bill, Second Substitute House Bill (SSHB) 2151, passed in 2024 and was signed by the governor. The bill authorized the creation of a new rule chapter to implement auditing and accrediting laboratories by the Department’s Cannabis Lab Accreditation Standards Program. The bill also changes some components of the audit program, as audit fees will remain at a similar level to their current state. Laboratories will no longer be accredited by a third-party consultant and will instead be audited and accredited by a team at WSDA.

The Department has a statutory obligation to write rules that establish a cannabis laboratory accreditation program by July 1, 2024, and an obligation to audit and accredit the labs under the authority of RCW 69.50.348.

Adoption Date: June 18, 2024
Effective Date: July 1, 2024

This rule was proposed under an expedited rule making process that eliminates the need for the department to hold public hearings, prepare a Small Business Economic Impact Statement, or provide responses to the criteria for a significant legislative rule. If you object to this use of the expedited rule making process, you must express your objections in writing.

Written objections were to be submitted to one of the following:

By mail:
Gloriann Robinson, Agency Rules Coordinator
Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
PO Box 42560
Olympia, WA 98504-2560

By fax: (360) 902-2092
By email: wsdarulescomments@agr.wa.gov

Written objections were due no later than 5:00 PM June 17, 2024.​

Written submissions about the proposed rule may be inspected at:

Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington Street SE
Olympia, WA 98504-2560

Please contact Trecia Ehrlich to discuss implementation and enforcement of the adopted rule.

By mail:
Trecia Ehrlich, Cannabis Program Manager
Agricultural & Environmental Services Division
Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
PO Box 42560
Olympia, WA 98504-2560

By phone: (360) 584-3711
By email:  Trecia.Ehrlich@agr.wa.gov