“We need transparency and accountability so test results actually mean something.”
We are processing this week’s hearing held by the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy on Beacon Hill, where stakeholders testified on bills related to a range of issues, including potency limits, hemp-derived products, and lab testing standards. In addition to our coverage, we are also publishing some testimonies. Below you can find that of Megan Dobro, the founder and CEO of SafeTiva Labs in Westfield. As she noted, before founding the lab, she was a professor of biology at Hampshire College, and holds a PhD in molecular biology from Caltech. –TJM Editors
In 2019, I set out to build a shiny new testing lab that would be high-tech and transparent, but most importantly, that would always do the right thing and provide accurate, reliable data to our clients and protect public health. Over the past 6 years, I have grown deeply discouraged. Fourteen times, cultivators or manufacturers have left us and explicitly stated that they loved our team, our pricing, and our turnaround time, but they could get higher THC numbers or pass contaminated batches at other labs.
I know we’re not alone. Many honest labs are facing this same pressure, and as a result, the market is consolidating around labs whose results are wildly inconsistent with scientific reality. Five of the 15 labs have already gone out of business. We’re failing consumers and making it harder for ethical businesses to survive.
The Cannabis Control Commission is making commendable strides, but legislative support is also essential. Bill H.146 will require opening the data—including industry averages and lab-specific results—which will help identify outliers. Some discrepancies may be valid, like small sample sizes, but we need investigations. We need transparency and accountability so test results actually mean something.
I also support the bill’s call for annual reviews of testing requirements—what we’re testing for and what the limits are. The original regulations were a starting point, but we know more now about what’s harmful and what’s benign, and the regulations haven’t changed. We need a nimble, evidence-based process to ensure our regulations reflect the latest research.
I agree with the bill’s elimination of mandatory soil and water testing. Since the final product is already tested, soil and water monitoring should be a business decision, not a regulatory burden. Any measure that reduces unnecessary costs without compromising public health is worth supporting.
One area that deserves careful attention is how sampling is conducted across the Commonwealth. If we want lab results to reflect the true quality and safety of cannabis products, we have to improve the way samples are collected, ensuring they are representative, randomized, and free from bias. Any regulatory change that impacts batch size should be paired with stronger sampling protocols to uphold scientific integrity and consumer trust.
Cannabis testing programs across the country are faltering. Massachusetts has a rare opportunity to lead by prioritizing public health, data transparency, and scientific integrity. Let’s restore trust in this system and help the industry thrive. We can do both, they aren’t mutually exclusive.
Thank you.
