New Jersey Cannabis Commission Seeks Independent Marijuana Testing Review to Detect Lab Shopping, Verify Potency and Safety
- New Jersey's Cannabis Regulatory Commission is seeking an independent expert to conduct biannual analyses of marijuana testing data to detect "lab shopping" and identify irregularities in potency and contaminant results across state-licensed laboratories.
- The analysis will evaluate the labs’ detection methods for pesticides, heavy metals, microbial organisms, residual solvents, cannabinoids, and terpenes, ensuring test reliability and reproducibility amid market competition.
- The initiative follows a State Auditor report revealing inadequate oversight of testing labs, with concerning increases in reported marijuana potency and inconsistent testing patterns prompting investigations into three major laboratories.
- The selected contractor will deliver detailed statistical reports, provide reproducible computer code for ongoing analysis, and assist regulators, with the contract capped at $50,000 and proposals due by October 22, 2026.
New Jersey marijuana regulators are seeking an independent expert to conduct recurring analyses of the state’s testing system, including looking for evidence that businesses are “lab shopping” and identifying questionable patterns in potency and contaminant results.
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) issued a request for proposals for an independent, reproducible analysis of marijuana testing data and the integrity of products being sold in the state.
The commission says differences between laboratories can affect test outcomes and that regular statistical analysis is needed to identify patterns and ensure results from state-licensed labs are reliable and reproducible.
The analysis will examine whether laboratories are properly detecting pesticides, heavy metals, microbial organisms and residual solvents, while also assessing the accuracy of cannabinoid and terpene results.
“In a competitive and evolving testing laboratory market,” the commission says it needs to ensure that “cannabis lab shopping is not taking place.”
The contractor will establish a twice-yearly testing-analysis system and produce an executive summary highlighting significant trends and potential problems, along with a more detailed report containing statistical analyses and visualizations.
The reports must include laboratory- and market-level analyses, statistical signal detection, market-integrity indicators, regulatory recommendations and identification of gaps or quality problems in the underlying data.
The contractor will also provide annotated computer code allowing commission staff to reproduce and expand the analyses and will meet regularly with regulators to assist with emerging testing questions. The contract is capped at $50,000.
The move follows a May report from the New Jersey State Auditor that found the commission had failed to adequately oversee testing laboratories, resulting in questionable results and potential health and safety risks.
Auditors found average THCA potency reported for marijuana flower increased from 24.5% in 2023 to 27.81% in 2025 through September 30. Three laboratories responsible for nearly 95% of testing in 2025 showed particularly notable trends, including one where average reported potency increased 33.25% compared with 2023.
The commission had already opened investigations into three laboratories over potency increases that regulators said were too large to be explained simply by increasingly potent marijuana. Separate investigations examined unusual yeast and mold testing patterns and failures by laboratories to follow required procedures.
The auditor recommended that regulators regularly analyze testing results for reasonableness and establish an independent method of testing randomly selected samples to verify laboratory results.
In its response to the audit, the commission said it planned to contract with an independent laboratory scientist experienced in marijuana research to produce twice-yearly reports and help develop ongoing data-surveillance strategies. The newly issued request for proposals moves that plan toward implementation.
The commission is separately exploring an independent testing laboratory that could retest random products and further deter lab shopping.
Proposals must be submitted no later than 3:00 p.m. ET on October 22, 2026.