Sinsemilla Science at Lompoc’s Merso Labs

Whether you’re a weed lover or a cannabis complainer, it’s hard to argue against the rigorous testing for pesticides, molds, heavy metals, and other contaminants that are mandated for growers and producers by the California Bureau of Cannabis Control. The vetting is more extensive than what’s required for food and alcohol, aiming to ensure that consumers only get exactly what they think they’ve bought.

Like shady activity that plagues much of this nascent, once-illegal industry, there’ve been scandals in the testing sector too — one Sacramento lab, for instance, was caught falsifying pesticide results for almost 30 companies because a machine broke. But there’s a soon-to-be-licensed facility in Lompoc that’s trying to do everything both by the book and top of the line.

“All of the methods we employ have to be bulletproof,” explains Kelsey Gorter, the director of laboratory services for Merso Labs. “We have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are accurate every time.” She hopes to land their state license in April, after many months of accumulating more than $1.5 million in equipment and perfecting their methods.