1 Colo. Code Regs. § 212-3-4-225

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 24, December 25, 2024

Section 1 CCR 212-3-4-225 - Regulated Marijuana Testing Program: Sampling Procedures

Basis and Purpose - 4-225

The statutory authority for this rule includes but is not limited to sections 44-10-202(1)(c), 44-10-203(1)(a), 44-10-203(1)(c), 44-10-203(1)(g), 44-10-203(1)(k), 44-10-203(2)(d), 44-10-203(2)(f), 44-10-203(3)(d), 44-10-203(3)(e), 44-10-501(6), 44-10-502(3), 44-10-503(8), 44-10-504(1)(b), 44-10-504(2), 44-10-601(4), 44-10-602(4), 44-10-603(6), 44-10-604(1)(b), and 44-10-604(2), C.R.S. Authority also exists in the Colorado Constitution at Article XVIII, Subsection 16(5)(a)(VII). The purpose of this rule is to protect the public health and safety by establishing sampling procedures and rules for the Division's Regulated Marijuana sampling and testing program. This Rule 4-225 was previously Rules 4-110 and 4-125, 1 CCR 212-3, Rules M and R 1504, 1 CCR 212-1 and 1 CCR 212-2.

A.Collection of Test Batches.

1.Sample Increment Collection. All Test Batches submitted for testing pursuant to this Rule must be collected by Division representatives or in accordance with the Division's sampling policy reflected in the marijuana laboratory testing reference library available at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's website. This reference library may be continuously updated as new materials become available in accordance with section 25-1.5-106 (3.5)(d), C.R.S.

2.Sample Increment Selection. The Division may elect, at its sole direction, to assign Division representatives to collect Sample Increments, or may otherwise direct Sample Increment selection, including, but not limited to, through Division designation of a Harvest Batch or Production Batch in the Inventory Tracking System from which a Regulated Marijuana Business shall select Test Batches for testing. A Regulated Marijuana Business, its Controlling Beneficial Owners, Passive Beneficial Owners, and employees shall not attempt to influence the Sample Increments selected by Division representatives. If the Division does not select the Harvest Batch or Production Batch to be tested, a Regulated Marijuana Business must collect and submit Sample Increments that are representative of the Harvest Batch or Production Batch being tested.

3.Adulteration or Alteration Prohibited. Pursuant to section 44-10-701(3)(b) and (9), C.R.S., it is unlawful for a Licensee or its agent to knowingly adulterate or alter, or attempt to adulterate or alter, any Sample Increments or Test Batches of Regulated Marijuana. The Sample Increments collected and submitted for testing must be representative of the Harvest Batch or Production Batch being tested. A person who commits adulteration or alteration of Sample Increments or Test Batches commits a class 2 misdemeanor and may be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501, C.R.S.

B.Timing of Sample Increments for Harvest Batches and Production Batches. A Licensee shall not collect Sample Increments or submit Test Batches for testing until the Harvest or Production Batch that is represented by the Test Batch has completed all required steps and is in its final form as outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures of the Licensee submitting the Test Batch, with the exception of packaging and labeling requirements which shall comply with Rule 3-1025.

1. The following examples illustrate various methods, which are not limited to those listed herein, that a Licensee's Standard Operating Procedures may include to verify a Test Batch completed all required steps and is in its final form pursuant to this Rule:

a. The Licensee's Standard Operating Procedures may include procedures that ensure the addition of all Ingredients or Additives has occurred and that the Harvest Batch or Production Batch associated with the Test Batch is completely ready to be packaged pending results of testing required by these Rules. This also includes creating Pre-Rolled Marijuana and Infused Pre-Rolled Marijuana;

b. For a Production Batch of Concentrate, the Licensee's Standard Operating Procedure may include procedures that ensure the entire Production Batch associated with the Test Batch has completed all sifting, extracting, purging, winterizing, and steps to remove plant pigments and ensuring the addition of all Ingredients and Additives has occurred.

c. For a Production Batch of Regulated Marijuana Product, the Licensee's Standard Operating Procedure may include procedures that ensure the addition of all Ingredients and Additives has occurred and the Production Batch associated with the Test Batch is completely ready to be packaged pending results of testing required by these Rules.

2. A Test Batch from a Harvest Batch or Production Batch shall be packaged and labeled according to Series 3-1025 prior to Transfer to a Regulated Marijuana Testing Facility.

3. This Rule 4-225(B) does not apply for the submission of Test Batches submitted for R&D testing.

4.Vaporizer Delivery Device. Retail Marijuana Concentrate that has been placed into a Vaporizer Delivery Device must be sampled and tested using a methodology that allows the laboratory to analyze the emission of the contents of the Vaporizer Delivery Device.

C.Potency Testing - General.

1.Test Batches. A Test Batch submitted for potency testing may only be comprised of Sample Increments that are of the same strain of Medical Marijuana or Retail Marijuana or from the same Production Batch of Medical Marijuana Concentrate or Medical Marijuana Product, or from the same Production Batch of Retail Marijuana Concentrate or Retail Marijuana Product, or from the same Production Batch of Pre-Rolled Marijuana or Infused Pre-Rolled Marijuana.

D.Designated Test Batch Collector Training, Documentation, and Designation.

1.Required Sample Increment Collection Training. To become a Designated Test Batch Collector an Owner Licensee or Employee Licensee involved in the Sample Increment Collection of Regulated Marijuana must be designated by a manager or Owner Licensee as such and must also complete either in-house training provided by the Regulated Marijuana Business or training from a third-party vendor including all of the topics set forth in subparagraph (2) of this Rule. Nothing in this rule requires a Designated Test Batch Collector to be employed by the Regulated Marijuana Business making the designation.

2.Designated Test Batch Collection Training Required Topics. The training required to become a Designated Test Batch Collector must include at least the following topics:

a. Part 4-200 Series Rules - Regulated Marijuana Testing Program;

b. The Regulated Marijuana Business's Standard Operating Procedures on creating a Sampling Plan and Test Batches, and the CDPHE's Sampling Procedures.

c. "Guidance on Marijuana Sampling Procedures" Training Video or an equivalent training covering the following subjects:

i. Introduction to Sample Increment Collection:

A. Cross contamination as it relates to Sample Increment Collection;

B. Sample Increment Collection and how it works;

C. Sample Increment Collection documentation and record keeping requirements;

D. Penalties for Sample Increment or Test Batch adulteration or alteration;

E. Use of and disinfection of the Designated Test Batch Collection Area; and

F. Use of the Sample Plan.

3.Documentation of Designated Test Batch Collector Training. Any individual receiving the Designated Test Batch Collector training must sign and date a document which shall be maintained by the Regulated Marijuana Business as a business record pursuant to Rule 3-905. The document must acknowledge the following:

a. The identity of the Person that created the training, such as the Regulated Marijuana Business or a third-party vendor; and

b. That all required topics of the training identified in this Rule have been reviewed and understood by the Owner Licensee or Employee Licensee.

E.Test Batch Collection Requirements.

1.Required Minimum of Two Test Batch Collectors. At a minimum, two Designated Test Batch Collectors shall be involved in the collection of Sample Increments such that at least one Designated Test Batch Collector is responsible for collecting the Sample Increments and another Designated Test Batch Collector is responsible for reviewing documentation associated with the collection of Sample Increments in a timely manner and prior to any Transfer of the Production Batch or Harvest Batch from which Sample Increments were collected. This review can be completed in person or may be completed remotely by reviewing image(s) of the Test Batch and associated documentation. All Designated Test Batch Collectors must be identified as such in the Inventory Tracking System account associated with the Regulated Marijuana Business.

2.Sample Plan Required. A Designated Test Batch Collector must establish a Sample Plan consistent with the Regulated Marijuana Business's Standard Operating Procedure for Sample Increment Collection. At a minimum, a Sample Plan must include the following:

a. The date, amount or weight, and specific location for each Sample Increment collected;

b. Identification of and acknowledgements from all Designated Test Batch Collectors involved in the Sample Increment Collection; and

c. If applicable, the strain name(s) for each Harvest Batch from which Sample Increments are collected.

F.Minimum Number of Sample Increments Per Test Batch Submission. These sampling rules shall apply until such time as the State Licensing Authority revises these rules to implement a statistical sampling model. Unless a greater amount is required to comply with these rules or is required by a Regulated Marijuana Testing Facility to perform all requested testing, each Test Batch of Regulated Marijuana must contain at least the number of Sample Increments prescribed by this Section.

1. A Test Batch of Regulated Marijuana must be packaged and labeled according to Rule 3-1025.

2. The minimum number of Sample Increments required to be collected for each Test Batch from a Harvest Batch of Retail Marijuana or Medical Marijuana shall be determined as directed in subparagraphs (F)(4)(c)(i) - (iv) of this Rule.

3. The minimum number of Sample Increments required to be collected for each Test Batch from a Production Batch of Regulated Marijuana Product, Pre-Rolled Marijuana, Infused Pre-Rolled Marijuana, Audited Product and Alternative Use Product shall be determined as directed in subparagraphs (F)(4)(c)(i) - (iv) of this Rule.

a. The Retail Marijuana Products Manufacturer or Medical Marijuana Products Manufacturer shall determine what constitutes a "Serving" and thus how many Servings are contained in a Production Batch of Regulated Marijuana Product, except that no serving of Edible Retail Marijuana Product can contain more than 10mg of active THC

b. Because all Test Batches of Regulated Marijuana Product, Pre-Rolled Marijuana and Infused Pre-Rolled Marijuana are required to be submitted for testing in their final form, in the event the required number of Sample Increments does not match up within a finished package, the manufacturer must increase the number of Sample Increments collected for the Test Batch such that only finished packages of Regulated Marijuana Products, Pre-Rolled Marijuana and Infused Pre-Rolled Marijuana are submitted for testing. For example, if a Production Batch of 4000 chocolate bars is manufactured, with each bar containing 100 mg THC and 10 servings per bar, the Production Batch would contain 40,000 Sample Increments which would require collection of at least 33 Sample Increments per Test Batch. But in this case, the manufacturer would have to collect 40 Sample Increments for testing (4 complete chocolate bars in final form).

c. No matter how small the Production Batch of Regulated Marijuana Product, Pre-Rolled Marijuana, and Infused Pre-Rolled Marijuana a minimum of two finished packages in final form must be submitted for a Test Batch.

4. The minimum number of Sample Increments required to be collected for each Test Batch from a Production Batch of Retail Marijuana Concentrate or Medical Marijuana Concentrate shall be determined as directed in subparagraphs (F)(4) (c)(i) - (iv) of this Rule.

a. Because all Test Batches of Retail Marijuana Concentrate and Medical Marijuana Concentrate are required to be submitted for testing in their final form, in the event the required number of Sample Increments does not match up with the number of Sample Increments in a finished package, the manufacturer must increase the number of Sample Increments collected for the Test Batch such that only finished packages of Marijuana Concentrate are submitted for testing. For example, if a Production Batch of 4,000 Vaporizer Delivery Devices is manufactured, with each Vaporizer Delivery Device containing 500 milligrams of Marijuana Concentrate, the Production Batch would contain 2,000 grams of Marijuana Concentrate, which would require collection of at least 15 Sample Increments per Test Batch. But in this case, the manufacturer would have to collect 16 Sample Increments for testing (8 vaporizer Delivery Devices in final form).

b. No matter how small the Production Batch of Retail Marijuana Concentrate or Medical Marijuana Concentrate, a minimum of two finished packages must be submitted for a Test Batch.

c.Determining minimum number of Sample Increments.

i. The following table represents Regulated Marijuana Sample Increments of 0.5 grams:

4-225(F)(4)(c)(i) 1

Minimum Number of Sample Increments Required to be Collected per Test Batch	Total Weight of Harvest Batch (lbs)	Total Weight of Harvest Batch (grams)	Minimum Weight of Test Batch (grams)
5	0.000 - 0.999	0.0 - 453.5	2.50
8	1.00 - 9.999	453.6 - 4535.9	4.00
15	10.000 - 19.999	4536.0 - 9071.8	7.50
22	20.000 - 39.999	9071.9 - 18143.6	11.00
33	40.000 - 99.999	18143.7 - 45359.2	16.50
43	100.000 - 199.999	45359.3 - 90718.4	21.50
53	200.000 - 499.999	90718.5 - 226796.1	26.50
80	500 or more	226796.2 or more	40.00

ii. The following table represents Regulated Marijuana Concentrate Sample Increments of 0.25 grams:

4-225(F)(4)(c)(ii) 1

Minimum Number of Sample Increments Required to be Collected per Test Batch	Total Weight of Production Batch (lbs)	Total Weight of Production Batch (grams)	Minimum Weight of Test Batch (grams)
5	0.000 - 0.999	0.0-453.5	1.25
8	1.00 - 1.999	453.6-907.1	2.00
15	2.00 - 4.999	907.2-2267.9	3.75
22	5.000 - 14.999	2268.0-6803.8	5.50
33	15.000 - 49.999	6803.9-22679.6	8.25
43	50.000 - 99.999	22679.7-45359.2	10.75
53	100.000 - 249.999	45359.3-113398.0	13.25
80	250 or more	113398.1 or more	20.00

iii. The following table represents Regulated Marijuana Products Sample Increments of 1 Serving:

4-225(F)(4)(c)(iii) 1

Minimum Number of Sample Increments Required to be Collected per Test Batch	Number of Servings within Production Batch	Minimum Number of Units for a Test Batch for a 5-Serving Unit*	Minimum Number of Units for a Test Batch for a 10-Serving Unit*	Minimum Number of Units for a Test Batch for a 20-Serving Unit*	Minimum Number of Units for a Test Batch for a 100-Serving Unit*
5	0 - 99	2	2	2	2
8	100 - 999	2	2	2	2
15	1000 - 4999	3	2	2	2
22	5000 - 9999	5	3	2	2
33	10000 - 49999	7	4	2	2
43	50000 - 99999	9	5	3	3
53	100000 - 249999	11	6	3	3
80	250000 or more	16	8	4	4

*Other serving amounts per unit are acceptable. These are provided as examples.

iv.Pre-Rolled Marijuana and Infused Pre-Rolled Marijuana. The following table represents the minimum number of Pre-Rolls for a Test Batch based on the minimum number of Sample Increments required to be collected per Test Batch, the number of Pre-Rolls within the Production Batch, and the weight of each Pre-Roll.

4-225(F)(4)(c)(iv) 1

		Pre-Roll Weight < or = 0.39 g	Pre-Roll Weight 0.40g to 0.50g	Pre-Roll Weight 0.51g to 0.75g	Pre-Roll Weight 0.76g to 1.00g	Pre-Roll Weight 1.01g to 2.00g	Pre-Roll Weight 2.01g to 3.00g	Pre-Roll Weight 3.01g +
Minimum Number of Sample Increments Required to be Collected per Test Batch	Number of Pre-Rolls within the Production Batch	Minimum Number of Pre-Rolls for a Test Batch	Minimum Number of Pre-Rolls for a Test Batch	Minimum Number of Pre-Rolls for a Test Batch	Minimum Number of Pre-Rolls for a Test Batch	Minimum Number of Pre-Rolls for a Test Batch	Minimum Number of Pre-Rolls for a Test Batch	Minimum Number of Pre-Rolls for a Test Batch
5	0 - 99	5	4	3	2	2	2	2
8	100 - 999	8	5	4	3	2	2	2
15	1000 - 4999	15	10	8	5	4	2	2
22	5000 - 9999	22	14	11	8	6	3	2
33	10000 - 49999	33	21	17	11	9	5	3
43	50000 - 99999	43	27	22	15	11	6	4
53	100000 - 249999	53	34	26	18	14	7	5
80	250000 or more	80	50	40	27	20	10	7

G.Regulated Marijuana Testing Facility Selection. Unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by these Rules or ordered by the State Licensing Authority, a Regulated Marijuana Business may select which Medical Marijuana Testing Facility or Retail Marijuana Testing Facility will test a Test Batch made up of Sample Increments collected pursuant to this Rule. However, the Division may elect, at its sole discretion, to assign a Regulated Marijuana Testing Facility to which a Regulated Marijuana Business must submit for testing any Test Batch made up of Sample Increments collected pursuant to this Rule.

H.Hemp Product Sampling Procedures. Absent sampling and testing standards established by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for the sampling and testing of Hemp Product, a Person Transferring a Hemp Product to a Licensee pursuant to the Marijuana Code and these Rules shall comply with the sampling and testing standards set forth in these 4-200 Series Rules - Regulated Marijuana Testing Program and as required by these Rules.

1 CCR 212-3-4-225

47 CR 21, November 10, 2024, effective 12/4/2024