State cannabis reference lab bill aims to stop 'lab shopping' and speed investigations, CRA officials say

Representative Mueller introduced House Bill 4,501 and deferred to Cannabis Regulatory Agency staff to explain the operational need. Derek Silva of the Cannabis Regulatory Agency said the state built a reference lab in Lansing (funded in the FY24 budget) but must have explicit authority to possess marijuana to operate it. Silva warned the committee that "lab shopping" — sending the same sample to different private labs and getting inconsistent results — undermines consumer safety and the integrity of testing.

Silva said the reference lab would not replace private testing facilities but would serve two functions: audit private lab results to identify inconsistencies and conduct in‑house testing needed for investigations of licensees, avoiding delays and conflicts that arise when regulators must rely on private labs. "The reference lab will both restore integrity to the testing environment, protecting consumer safety, and it will greatly improve our investigative capabilities," he said.

Silva noted funding was appropriated in the FY24 budget and that construction of the lab is complete; staff and some members had toured the facility. Committee staff recorded written support from Paige Fultz and Kevin McKinney (the record lists the latter with the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association). No vote on HB 4,501 was taken in this session.