US cannabis testing services market poised for growth owing to increasing production of cannabis and legalization of recreational cannabis
US Cannabis Testing Services Market is estimated to be valued at USD 1.81 Bn in 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 12.5% over the forecast period (2024-2031). Furthermore, cannabis testing laboratories are increasing in the U.S. to cater the testing requirements of cultivators and manufacturers.
Market Dynamics:
US cannabis testing services market growth is driven by increasing production of cannabis and legalization of recreational cannabis in several states. As more states are passing legislation to legalize recreational and medical cannabis, there has been huge demand for testing services. According to the Brightfield Group, US legal cannabis market is expected to grow by 27% each year until 2025. Growing cannabis can lead to increasing need for testing to ensure product safety and compliance with regulations regarding THC and CBD concentration levels. Contaminated products may pose health risks to consumers, which drive cultivators and manufacturers to thoroughly test cannabis products for contaminants, pesticides, heavy metals amongst others. Stringent safety and quality control regulations imposed by states on the cannabis industry also boosts the need for cannabis testing. The legalization trend and increasing demand from cannabis industry can drive the US cannabis testing services market over the forecast period.
Legalization of recreational cannabis in several US states boosts demand for cannabis testing
The legalization of recreational cannabis in states like Colorado, California, Washington, and Oregon has led to increase in the production and sales of cannabis. With the expansion of legal cannabis market, regulatory bodies in these states have mandated strict quality control testing of cannabis and cannabis products to ensure consumer safety. Cannabis testing laboratories play a critical role in analyzing cannabis and cannabis-derived products for the content, consistency, and quality required by these regulations. The increased legal cannabis cultivation and production to meet consumer demand has directly contributed to growth of the cannabis testing services industry in the regulated states.
Growing public acceptance of medical cannabis boosts need for consistency and quality testing
In addition to states that have legalized recreational use, many other states have legalized medical cannabis programs in recent years. Medical cannabis is prescribed to treat conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy, cancer, and anxiety. As medical cannabis gains more widespread acceptance, consumers demand consistent, high-quality medicinal products. Medical cannabis must be tested to ensure accurate labeling of THC, CBD, and terpene content to allow patients to receive appropriate and reliable dosing. Testing is also required to identify potential contaminants that could negatively impact patients' health. Growing number of medical cannabis patients across the U.S. can boost demand for rigorous cannabis testing services.
Limited regulatory oversight poses challenge for standardization
While many states have implemented regulations governing the cannabis industry, the regulations differ significantly between states. There is currently no universally accepted set of quality control or testing standards for the cannabis industry nationally. The lack of consistent requirements and oversight at the federal level presents a challenge for standardization across multiple state programs. It also raises concerns regarding the accuracy and comparability of different labs' test results for cannabis and cannabis products sold in interstate commerce. Variability in regulatory standards adds complexity to the testing process and can impact public confidence in product quality.
Restrictions on interstate business activities create market fragmentation
As cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, cannabis businesses are currently restricted to operating only within the state borders where these are licensed. This prevents cannabis testing laboratories from expanding across state lines or easily transporting samples between facilities. The fragmented nature of separate state-level markets limits the potential economies of scale for multi-state operators. It also hinders collaboration and standardization efforts between testing facilities operating in different regulatory environments. Market fragmentation poses barriers to industry consolidation and increases overall costs.
Cross-state partnerships present collaboration opportunities
While current federal policy creates challenge for direct interstate partnerships in the cannabis industry, some testing labs have found innovative ways to collaborate across state lines. For example, several leading testing companies have formed strategic partnerships and share resources, best practices, training programs, and reference library samples to improve consistency. As federal policy evolves, larger testing companies may integrate partners through management agreements or minority stakes in other state programs. Increased collaboration driven by changing regulations could help streamline processes and costs on a multi-state scale.
Increasing public company investment validates industry potential
Major investment from large public multi-state operators and specialized testing companies signifies high confidence in the long-term potential of the regulated cannabis industry. With Wall Street backing, leading testing companies are expanding capacity and services to support the rapidly growing legal cannabis markets. Increased access to capital allows for continued development of advanced analytical technologies, validation and proficiency testing programs, supply chain tracking systems, and new service offerings like biological safety testing. Greater investment validates both the current and future demand opportunity for cannabis testing services across the U.S. the legalization movement and growing acceptance of medical cannabis can lead to increased need for rigorous quality control testing services. While regulatory variability and restrictions on interstate commerce currently challenge standardization and scale, collaborative opportunities and major public company investment support the long-term potential of the US cannabis testing services industry.
Link - https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/us-cannabis-testing-service-market-3155
Key Development
- In January 2024, Smithers relocated its Cannabis Testing Services division to a new, state-of-the-art lab in Darien, Illinois, U.S. This move, positioned outside of Chicago, underscores Smithers' dedication to the cannabis industry by enhancing client proximity, optimizing sampling routes, and investing in cutting-edge technology.
- In December 2022, SC Labs expanded into Southern California with a new 12,000+ square foot facility in Van Nuys, Los Angeles. The lab will offer both R&D and compliance testing for cannabis, covering potency, pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, microbials, water activity, and more, aiming to boost testing capacity and resources for clients south of Santa Barbara.
- In August 2022, ACS Laboratory, a U.S.-based cannabis testing company, introduced a national hemp compliance testing panel. This panel tests hemp samples for a broad spectrum of substances, including 18 cannabinoids, 105 pesticides, 24 heavy metals, 55 potential residual solvents, 17 microorganisms, and all required mycotoxins, with detection down to parts per billion. It also evaluates moisture content, water activity, and terpenes.
- In July 2022, Green Scientific Labs launched new technology for cannabis testing, featuring custom-designed software tailored specifically for the cannabis industry
- In March 2021, PerkinElmer launched the first industry Certified Reference Material (CRM) reagent and consumable kit, designed to simplify cannabis pesticide testing workflows and improve the efficiency of cannabis product analysis using testing instruments
Key Players: Anresco, SC Labs, Inc, CW Analytical Laboratories, Digipath, Inc, EVIO, Inc, Eurofins Scientific, Pure Analytics LLC, Green Scientific Labs, Steep Hills, Inc, PharmLabs, Agilent Technologies Inc., Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Restek Corporation, PerkinElmer Inc., Danaher Corporation, Accelerated Technology Laboratories Inc., Steep Hill Halent Laboratories Inc., Digipath Inc., and, Sartorius AG
