What does lab-tested cannabis cost?
Lab testing a cannabis sample costs $200 to $1,500. A potency-only test costs $50 to $150. A full compliance panel costs $400 to $1,000. These are lab fees. They do not include the cannabis itself.
cannabis lab tested contaminants list
At a dispensary, lab-tested cannabis costs the same as other legal cannabis. Testing is a required production cost. The fee is built into wholesale price. Retail price includes testing, packaging, taxes, and store margin.
cannabis lab tested vs untested flower
Lab testing fees by panel
- Potency (THC and CBD): $50 to $150
- Terpenes: $50 to $150
- Pesticides: $100 to $250
- Heavy metals: $100 to $200
- Microbials: $100 to $200
- Residual solvents: $100 to $200
- Full compliance panel: $400 to $1,000
Rush turnaround adds 20% to 50%. Some labs charge per batch, not per sample. Some labs charge per gram or per unit.
Lab-Tested vs Untested Cannabis Flower: What to Buy First
State rules change the price
California requires a full panel for all cannabis products. Colorado requires potency, pesticides, microbials, heavy metals, and residual solvents. Washington requires potency, pesticides, heavy metals, and microbials. Oregon requires potency, pesticides, microbials, and heavy metals. More required tests means a higher fee.
Cost per pound and per eighth
A $500 test on a 10-pound batch adds $50 per pound. A $1,000 test on a 5-pound batch adds $200 per pound. A pound yields about 128 eighths (3.5 grams). So $50 per pound adds $0.39 per eighth. $200 per pound adds $1.56 per eighth. A $50 eighth includes $0.39 to $1.56 in testing cost.
What a consumer pays
In adult-use states, an eighth of lab-tested flower costs $25 to $60. The testing fee is a small part of that price. Pre-rolls, concentrates, and edibles have different batch sizes. A 100-unit edible batch spreads a $500 test over 100 packages. That adds $5 per package. A 10-unit concentrate batch adds $50 per unit.
Variables that change the fee
- State regulations
- Number of analytes
- Sample size
- Turnaround time
- Lab accreditation
- Volume discounts
Unknowns
Exact prices are not public in every state. Labs quote custom rates. The ranges above come from state rules and industry reports. Check a specific lab for a quote.