If you buy or sell legal cannabis, you see the phrase “full panel tested” everywhere. It sounds reassuring, but what does it actually cover?
Here is the key point: “full panel” is a marketing phrase, not a legal one. The real cannabis lab testing requirements are written into each state’s rules, and they do not all match.
This guide breaks down what a “full panel” usually means, how states differ, what has changed by 2025, and how to confirm your lab is using the right panel for your market.
Important disclaimer about regulations
Cannabis rules shift often and sometimes with little notice. Emergency rules, guidance memos, and new contaminants show up every year.
This article is for information only and is not legal or regulatory advice. Always confirm current rules with your state cannabis authority or other official sources before making decisions.
For a high‑level overview of where cannabis is legal, you can start with this map of marijuana legality by state in 2025, then drill into testing rules for your specific market.
What “full panel” usually means on a cannabis COA
Detailed view of cannabis being prepared in a lab for analysis. Photo by Jess Loiterton
When a lab or brand says “full panel,” they usually mean a package of safety and potency tests sold together. The catch is that two labs can use that phrase and run different analytes.
A typical “full panel” bundle for inhalable flower or vapes often includes:
- Potency (THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids)
- Terpenes (optional in many states, but common in the panel)
- Residual solvents (for concentrates and vapes)
- Pesticides
- Heavy metals
- Microbial contaminants (bacteria, yeast, mold, often Aspergillus species)
- Mycotoxins (toxins from mold, like aflatoxins)
- Moisture content and water activity
- Sometimes foreign material or filth
State rules may only require some of these for a given product type. A lab can still market the bundle as “full panel” as long as it also covers the state’s minimum.
So the important question is not “Is it full panel,” but “Does this panel match my state’s current regulatory requirements for this product type?”
Core cannabis lab testing requirements most states share
Infographic-style illustration of a cannabis “full panel” lab report, including potency and safety sections. Image created with AI.
By 2025, most legal markets include the same basic safety pillars, even if the exact limits differ.
Potency:
States require accurate THC and CBD results, usually within 10 to 15 percent of the labeled value. Some also require totals for minor cannabinoids or “total THC” for hemp.
Pesticides:
Labs screen for dozens of agricultural chemicals at very low levels. Some states use long, strict lists, while others use shorter target lists. Limits and target compounds vary widely.
Heavy metals:
Most programs require testing for at least lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Limits are usually based on daily exposure from the product type, for example inhaled vs edible.
Microbes and pathogens:
Typical targets include total yeast and mold, bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, and, in many states now, pathogenic Aspergillus species. For a deeper look at how states differ, see this overview of cannabis microbial testing regulations by state.
Mycotoxins:
Tests commonly include aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. These have low action limits because they can be dangerous even at small doses.
Water activity and moisture:
Water activity (aw) predicts how easily mold will grow. Many states cap aw for flower and require either water activity or a combination of aw and moisture content.
These are the testing “bones.” States then add their own twists on top.
How states differ: California, Colorado, New York, Michigan, Florida
Infographic-style U.S. map highlighting key cannabis states and core lab test categories. Image created with AI.
To see how “full panel” can shift, compare a few major markets as of late 2025. This table is simplified, but it shows the flavor of the differences.
| State | Pesticide approach | Microbial focus (incl. Aspergillus) | Heavy metals | Mycotoxins & water activity | Extra notes for operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Long, strict list, low action limits | Targets six pathogens, including four Aspergillus spp | Required | Both required for many products | Often seen as one of the strictest safety programs |
| Colorado | Broad panel, evolving with guidance | Includes Aspergillus and general microbial counts | Required | Commonly required | Early adopter state, rules still refine over time |
| New York | Detailed pesticide rules by product category | Pathogens plus total counts for various product types | Required | Required, tied to product type | Strong focus on sampling procedures and ISO accreditation |
| Michigan | Pesticides panel similar to other mature states | Includes Aspergillus species testing | Required | Required | Active auditing of labs and ongoing rule updates |
| Florida | Pesticides with medical patient focus | Molds and broader microbiological screening | Required | Water activity plus moisture in many cases | Medical-only market shapes strict patient safety focus |
On top of that, some states issue detailed testing manuals or memos that add color to the rules. New Jersey, for example, publishes updated guidance like the NJ-CRC testing guidance, which lays out sampling rules and the current panel.
Trends by 2025 include:
- More states requiring Aspergillus-specific testing, especially for inhalable products
- Wider use of mandatory mycotoxin testing, not just for high-risk forms
- Regular tightening of detection limits for pesticides and residual solvents
- Clearer water activity thresholds for flower and some edibles
Two neighboring states might both say “full panel,” yet require different analyte lists, limits, and product categories. That is why local knowledge matters.
Where to find your state’s official cannabis lab testing requirements
The safest path is to work from primary or trusted secondary sources, then map that to your lab’s panel.
Helpful resources include:
- Your state’s cannabis or health agency rule pages and guidance memos
- AFDO’s index of laboratory guidance for cannabis, which links to many state programs and reference standards
- Vendor summaries like CEM’s overview of cannabis testing regulations by state, which can be a quick starting point
- For hemp operators, USDA’s list of DEA-registered hemp analytical testing laboratories
Use these as a map, then always click through to the current state rules or official FAQs before you change a SOP or label.
Best practices to confirm your lab is on the right panel
Even in a single state, labs may design different “full panel” bundles. Here are practical steps to stay aligned.
Ask for the regulatory panel in writing.
Request a document or link that shows exactly which state rules or guidance your lab’s panel is built to satisfy, broken out by product type.
Compare the CoA to the rule text.
Pull a recent Certificate of Analysis and line it up with your state’s contaminant list. Check that required analytes like Aspergillus or mycotoxins actually appear on the report.
Verify accreditation and licensing.
Make sure the lab is licensed in your state and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited where required. Regulators often expect this as a baseline.
Schedule regular rule checks.
Assign someone in compliance to review cannabis lab testing requirements at least quarterly, or whenever the state issues emergency rules. Keep a change log and update SOPs.
Train buyers and sales staff.
Dispensary buyers and sales teams should understand, in plain terms, what a compliant “full panel” looks like for your market so they can spot red flags on incoming COAs.
Closing thoughts on “full panel” cannabis testing
“Full panel” sounds simple, but under the hood it is a moving target shaped by each state’s rules. As mycotoxins, Aspergillus testing, and water activity limits spread across the map, that target keeps shifting.
If you treat the phrase as a starting point and always trace it back to your own state’s written rules, you turn a vague label into a clear standard. In a fast-changing market, that clarity around cannabis lab testing requirements is one of the most valuable forms of risk control you can build into your operation.