Virginia Is Trying New Testing Methods for Hemp and Marijuana

Virginia is another state that has a hemp and marijuana conundrum on their hands because their labs cannot differentiate hemp from marijuana, so the state is field testing new tests that can supposedly tell the two apart. The state believes that it is important to be able to test levels of THC roadside to properly handle such cases.

The Virginia Department of Forensic Science will be distributing 15,000 of these new field tests, SDPB Radio reported. The cost of these tests is $52,500 total, or roughly $3.50 each. That’s a fairly inexpensive solution to help determine whether or not to arrest someone when it comes to possession of hemp and marijuana products.

Matthew Schweich of MPP said, “We’re seeing the hemp industry and CBD industry grow fairly dramatically across the country. That means hemp is being transported across the country through states without hemp laws. I think it behooves policy makers in every state to ensure that their authorities and their labs have the ability to differentiate.”