Hemp and cannabis plants need water to grow and thrive, and yet your final products must be stripped of most moisture in order to guarantee safety. Overmoisturization can occur as a result of overwatering, high humidity or an ineffective curing process. This is especially a risk for plants that grow outside, which are more susceptible to environmental conditions. You’ll need to test your post-harvest hemp for water activity and moisture content because these are key factors that can indicate risk for microbial contamination.
WHY IT MATTERS
Plants with moisture levels above 12% are at risk for fungi, mold, bacteria and insects, which can make your plants unsuitable for extraction and unsafe for ingestion. Unfortunately, mold can be difficult to spot before it spreads. That means it’s vital to monitor your plant throughout its life cycle and test it immediately after harvest.
NOTE: If you believe your product contains mold already, you may want to forgo this test and submit samples for microbiology and mold testing first. Please call us at (813) 634-4529 if you have any questions about which test to order.
COMPLIANCE
Currently, there are no federal standards related to moisture and water-activity testing for cannabis because marijuana is still federally banned.
At a state level in Florida, there are no specific limits on moisture content in hemp or cannabis. However, Florida’s hemp program does require testing extracts for pathogens like mold and mildew, which occur as a result of overmoisturization and high water activity. Thus, the only way to know your product will pass final compliance tests is to submit your samples for analysis as early as possible.
What We Test
SMOKABLE FLOWER
EXTRACTS & CONCENTRATES
EDIBLES
What We Test FOR
MOISTURE
WATER ACTIVITY
