SAN DIEGO — Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs in San Diego tests cannabis products, whether they contain hemp, CBD or THC, to make sure they are safe before they hit store shelves.
In an industry that remains very unregulated, Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs rolls with the punches as they test the potency of new products that are produced on the daily – especially because cannabis remains federally illegal and there is no FDA to mandate testing.
“We make sure any of these products are safe to consume. At the end of the day, that is what we stand by,” said Michael Warrenburg, microbial supervisor.
The testing lab is always busy with chemists and biologists working 17 hours at a time, with the slew of products that come in every day.
Each product is broken down and tested, some for potency and others for pesticides, metals, or inaccuracies in the labeling – making sure manufactures are not cutting corners.
“Some of the brands were right on, some did not have any CBD whatsoever,” said David Marelius, co-founder of Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs.
Earlier this year, the company started testing vape products and discovered something strange later identified as vitamin E acetate – the same substance that the CDC has now determined could be the cause of the more than 2,000 cases of lung illnesses across the country.
“We did not know what that meant at the time. We did not know it was actually harmful to anybody,” said Marelius.
In the last year the lab has expanded from just five employees to 45 in an effort to keep up with the high demand.
“It is figuring out where this industry is going and leading it in the right direction,” said Warrenburg.
As the industry continues to grow, so does the business at Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs. The lab will move into a bigger space early next year.