Inflated, Inconsistent, and Ignored: The Real State of Cannabis Testing

Testing in the cannabis industry has been a mess across the country—and New Mexico is no exception. If you’ve been part of this scene since the medical-only days, like I have, you know there was no required testing at all before around 2016. Even after that, enforcement was inconsistent—especially south of Albuquerque.

Border Patrol checkpoints on I‑10 and I‑25 made transporting samples to labs a serious risk—federal seizure wasn’t unlikely. Many southern producers either skipped testing or had no practical way to comply. With most labs up north, “mandatory” testing was rarely realistic. A true statewide rollout didn’t happen until April 2022, with the adult-use market. In reality, consistent compliance has only existed for about three years—maybe less, especially in the southern regions of the state.

According to the CCD’s official list, licensed facilities in southern New Mexico now include:
- Rio Grande Analytics – with locations in Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Notably, Rio Grande operated in Las Cruces for a few years around 2018 during the medical era.
- Cristo Clear Analytics – Sunland Park
- Pree Laboratories NM LLC – Las Cruces

No licensed labs currently operate in Carlsbad or Roswell.

New Mexico testing currently includes:
- Potency: THC, CBD, CBN, and more
- Pesticides: A preset list including pyrethroids, organophosphates, and carbamates
- Microbes & molds: E. coli, Salmonella, and specific molds like Aspergillus flavus, fumigatus, niger, and terreus
- Mycotoxins: Total aflatoxins and ochratoxin under 20 µg/kg
- Heavy metals & residual solvents

However, that doesn't cover everything. Certain molds are so common in cultivation and curing that finding zero mold—measured in colony-forming units (CFUs)—is almost impossible. New Mexico, like other states, allows low levels of certain contaminants because they’re considered harmless to human health at trace amounts.

Results also fluctuate for a number of reasons:
1. We’re still studying the plant – With new cannabinoids, terpenes, and potential compounds being discovered annually, our tests may miss important elements.
2. Sampling isn’t uniform – Without strict protocols, growers can pick premium buds and skew results.
3. Labs use different methods and tech – This leads to huge variations, and creates an environment ripe for THC inflation, as labs compete by reporting higher potency.
4. Not all labs are squeaky clean – Some labs or their processes may introduce contamination, skew results, or fail to detect common issues. That lack of integrity directly affects COAs.
5. Real-world examples show the damage – Just last year, New Mexico’s own Bluebonnet Labs had its license revoked after a state investigation found they were falsifying data, shipping samples out of state, and violating lab procedures. The lab was banned from reapplying for three years. That scandal didn’t just hurt Bluebonnet—it shook confidence in the whole testing system.
6. Molds are pervasive – Molds like Aspergillus and Fusarium thrive in cannabis environments. Even when present in low, legal amounts, they can impact the sample—and sometimes pass undetected depending on the lab’s methods.

And there’s another major issue: **THC inflation.** Some labs will deliberately inflate THC percentages to help producers sell more product at higher prices. This is driven purely by profit—and it hurts labs that try to do things the right way. Honest labs are often punished, pushed out of the market, or lose clients simply because they won’t lie about test results. In some cases, labs have even been caught passing contaminated samples just to please clients and keep money flowing.

One national example came out of Oregon, where the state cracked down on inflated THC scores and inaccurate lab results in 2022. And in Colorado, a 2023 investigation found that some lab results showed cannabis flower labeled over 30% THC when re-tested samples barely reached 20%. The problem is widespread—and the incentive to cheat is massive.

We also have to face the reality that the consumer base and the industry itself are slowly waking up to the fact that THC is largely a sales gimmick. There’s much more to the plant—flavor, terpene profile, and overall experience matter more than just numbers. As that shift continues, testing will need to broaden to reflect the true complexity of the plant.

Until we:
- Invest in cannabis science to identify which compounds matter,
- Standardize sampling protocols across the board,
- Align testing methods and lab equipment,
- Hold labs accountable with transparency and oversight...

…we’ll continue to see inconsistent Certificates of Analysis. The industry will chase flashy numbers rather than focusing on genuine quality and safety.

Southern New Mexico is finally seeing labs like Rio Grande Analytics (with roots in the medical era), Cristo Clear, and Pree Labs—an important step toward equitable access. But it’s just the foundation. Real progress depends on deeper science, standardized protocols, lab transparency, and regulatory oversight. Only then can we move toward trustworthy, meaningful cannabis testing—and COAs people can truly rely on.