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Dozens of medical cannabis cultivators and other business owners voiced concerns Thursday at the State Capitol over the potential negative impact of new yeast and mold testing requirements for flower.
During an advisory meeting with state health officials and legislators, small-size cultivators said they are being squeezed both by new testing regulations and methods, which is causing more failed sanitation tests, and by the fact that if they fail, there is currently no way to have the product retested if the batch is “cleansed”.
They said this could threaten some small cultivators’ livelihoods. According to figures from several sources, the new testing standard alone will likely cost smaller growers thousands either through retesting and pretests, cleansing or purchasing new equipment.
It is already a distressed industry, with 393 licensed Mississippi cannabis businesses, including dispensaries, cultivators and processors, serving 43,000 medically approved customers across the state, a tough ratio for these businesses.
“Some of the farmers are living from crop to crop… I think we’re pushing this a little too fast. I don’t have an issue with (the testing standard). I’m all for it, but I have an issue with we don’t have an accurate testing guideline to reach that number,” Phen Schlett, owner of Big River Cannabis, said, referring to how cultivators haven’t been given guidelines on how to reduce the number of yeast and mold cells in crops.
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According to figures provided by the Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association, cultivators and lab owners, it costs growers $500 to test one batch of flower at a testing facility. If it fails, the flower must be turned into oils or other distillates. That process cuts the crop’s value in half, Mississippi Medical Marijuana Association Executive Director Henry Crisler said. Growers can also appeal test results to the state for a possible retest.
During the meeting, several business owners expressed concern that the new standard will cause them to fail their tests, tanking profitability. Dekalb-based Alchemy Analytics, a testing lab, has already seen several failed tests, CEO Hatem Mourad told the Clarion Ledger.
Perry Lewis, COO of Steep Hills, the only other operating lab in the state, said of the 24 batches of flower the lab has tested without any prior cleansing, seven passed and 17 failed. Five other batches were sent in pre-treated with radiation, and they all passed.
“It’s definitely a high percentage, and the other lab is quoting about the same or worse than we are,” Lewis said.
In January, the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Program implemented a new regulation requiring a limit to the amount of mold and yeast cells found within flower. To ensure businesses had enough time to adjust, there was a six-month grace period. More than 20 other states with cannabis programs already have this requirement.
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However, in December and January, nearly 75% of the industry’s product was recalled due to testing failures at Rapid Analytics. Lewis said it was difficult for Steep Hills and cultivators to catch up to the regulation as they were trying to retest products and recoup losses. Lewis said that situation continued until late June, when retesting stopped. The new regulations took effect July 29.
“It felt like a lot of people forgot where we were at the beginning of this year,” Lewis said, noting that Steep Hills took on a large portion of the industry’s testing when Rapid Analytics closed. “June was the first time we felt like we were in a position, when we were in a good turnaround point to prepare for the new regulation.”
State Health Officer Daniel Edney simply said that wasn’t an excuse, and that several mid to large-sized cultivators already cleanse their product.
“We lost six months of grace period, and I’m just challenged to know why there was no discussion about this in the last six months,” Edney said. “We could have taken care of all this over the grace period…I’m happy to extend it for a limited amount of time with a game plan. We want everybody to be able to comply in a reasonable way and not impact negatively their business.”
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Edney also said the program plans to release guidelines in a few weeks on having failed product cleaned so it can be resent for compliance testing.
“We’ve even looked at what do we need to do at the state level to provide remediation access for the smaller cultivators,” Edney said. “We want to make this work where this is not the Department of Health trying to run people out of business.”
However, Crisler said he is unaware of any remediation businesses in Mississippi, and the cost for cultivators to acquire the equipment to conduct that cleaning is expensive. Some of that equipment can costs more than $200,000, one cannabis cultivator said during the meeting.
If growers were to pay a third party to conduct the testing, it would also cost nearly $200, and they would still have to spend the about $500 to retest for compliance, Crisler said. Labs can also conduct a research and development test of a small sample before a cultivator sends in a batch. Lewis said Steep Hills currently charges $110 for just a yeast and mold research and development test.
Edney said that while he understands the new testing standard is affecting smaller growers, they are necessary to keep the public safe, and that he is willing to work with cultivators to become compliant with the tests. He did not say when a new grace period would start or how long it would be.
Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.
Starkville jumped to a huge first-half lead and held off Hoover’s late rally to hand the Bucs boys basketball team its first loss in 49 games. The Mississippi squad beat Hoover 59-49 on Saturday in the Cavaliers Classic in Caledonia, Miss.
Alabama’s three-time defending state champions had not lost since Jan. 19, 2024, when Thompson beat the Bucs 65-55.
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Missouri football has transitioned to a new, but final part of its season. With the College Football Playoff now out of their reach, the Tigers set out to what can still be another impressive season if they’re able to win out.
That starts this weekend with Missouri’s final home game of the season, hosting Mississippi State. Missouri hasn’t hosted Mississippi State since 2015.
In the latest episode of the “All Things Mizzou” podcast, Missouri football reporters Joey Van Zummeren and Michael Stamps gave their thoughts on what a 10-win season could still mean for Missouri, the looming coaching carousel, how the Tigers match up with the Bulldogs and more.
You can watch the episode via YouTube with the link below, or through Spotify, Apple Podcasts or onAmazon.
The “All Things Mizzou” podcast is presented by MissouriOnSI. Tune in every week as reporters of various sports provide news, analysis and opinions on everything going on in the world of Mizzou athletics.
Though Beau Pribula was surprisingly listed as doubtful on Missouri’s availability report, this is expected to be the second game where the Tigers have true freshman Matt Zollers as the starting quarterback.
Zollers’ first career start in Week 11 was tough sledding for the former four-star prospect. He completed just 7 of his 22 passes for 77 yards. Missouri’s first three drives averaged four plays and 23 yards.
“It’s about getting comfortable earlier in the game and creating some easier opportunities for him to get into a rhythm,” head coach Eli Drinkwitz said in a press conference Tuesday. “We never really got him into the rhythm offensively, and so we’ve got to do a better job of creating some offensive rhythm and not putting him in situations where he feels the entire pressure.”
The game will also include Missouri’s Senior Day celebrations for 20 players — Vince Brown, Kevin Coleman, Daylen Carnell, Jalen Catalon, Stephen Hall, Bralen Henderson, Khalil Jacobs, Tommy Lock, Xavier Loyd, Chris McClellan, Henry McDermott, Logan Muckey, Triston Newson, Drey Norwood, Toriano Pride, Connor Tollison, Keagen Trost, Sterling Webb, Connor Weselman and Zion Young.
“This group of men have worked extremely hard,” Drinkwitz said of the seniors. “Some have been here for a long time, some have been here for a short time, but all have contributed to the success of Mizzou football.”
Missouri takes on Mississippi State at 6:45 p.m. Saturday night. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Take some time to unwind with friends, family or yourself this weekend. Below you’ll find a list of some fun events going on this weekend (November 14-16) around Mississippi.
Concrete Studio – Jackson – Friday
Amy Allen 70s Show – Natchez – Friday
First Presbyterian Church Culinary Event – Natchez – Friday
Movies on the Bluff – Natchez – Friday
Murals in Action – Vicksburg – Friday
The Great Hangout – Clinton – Friday and Saturday
2025 Chimneyville Arts Festival – Ridgeland – Friday and Saturday
Backyard Adventures Exhibit – Jackson – Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Ridgeland Scarecrow Trail – Ridgeland – Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Hamlet – Vicksburg – Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Jackson State vs. Bethune-Cookman – Jackson – Saturday
Belhaven vs. Huntingdon College – Jackson – Saturday
Millsaps vs. Sewanee – Jackson – Saturday
Late Night with Rita Brent – Jackson – Saturday
Metro Jackson Heart Walk – Jackson – Saturday
GIS Day 2025 – Jackson – Saturday
Mississippi Farmers Market – Jackson – Saturday
Here to Pee Comedy Tour – Jackson – Saturday
Art on the Bluff – Natchez – Saturday
Natchez Farmer’s Market – Natchez – Saturday
Thanksgiving Centerpiece Workshop – Ridgeland – Saturday
Flow – Vicksburg – Saturday
McRaven Ghost Hunt Investigation – Vicksburg – Saturday and Sunday
Desi Banks – Hattiesburg – Friday
Signature Scene Candle Making Party – Hattiesburg – Friday
A Southern Soiree with Landon Talks – Hattiesburg – Friday
Karaoke in the Lounge – Hattiesburg – Friday
FRIYAY Karaoke Night – Laurel – Friday
New Exhibit at Hattiesburg Pocket Museum – Hattiesburg – Friday, Saturday & Sunday
48th Annual Oyster Luv Tennis Tournament – Hattiesburg – Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Southern Miss Football vs. Texas State – Hattiesburg – Saturday
Ballet Magnificat “The Light Has Come” – Hattiesburg – Saturday
Art Market and Book Swap – Hattiesburg – Saturday
Emerging Artists Reception – Hattiesburg – Saturday
Stories with Ms. Amy – Hattiesburg – Saturday
Thomley’s Holiday Market – Hattiesburg – Saturday
Sugar Cane Syrup Making at Landrum’s Homestead and Village – Laurel – Saturday
Wine Down Downtown Laurel – Laurel – Saturday
Chamber Music for Winds – Hattiesburg – Sunday
Fall Choral Concert – Hattiesburg – Sunday
Suzuki Strings Concert – Hattiesburg – Sunday
Viola Studio Recital – Hattiesburg – Sunday
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