Boston, MA — The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) has ordered Assured Testing Laboratories to cease operations after identifying what officials called “suspicious patterns” in the lab’s yeast and mold test results, MJBizDaily reports.
According to state data, Assured Testing Laboratories reported only 10 failures out of 17,565 samples for excessive yeast and mold — a 0.05% failure rate, far below the statewide average of 4.5%. The CCC said the discrepancy triggered concerns about the lab’s compliance and testing integrity.
The suspension was initiated by a specialized task force the Commission assembled to improve product testing and uphold safety in the state’s regulated market. “This is part of the Commission’s mission to oversee a safe, equitable cannabis marketplace in Massachusetts,” a CCC spokesperson told MJBizDaily.
In response, Assured Testing Laboratories CEO Dr. Dimitrios Pelekoudas strongly defended the company’s practices. In a statement to the Boston Herald, he argued that the lab has followed every directive from regulators and posed no threat to public safety.
“Assured Testing Laboratory, a locally run business with 33 employees, did nothing wrong here, posed no threat to the public, and ensured that no contaminated products reached the market,” said Pelekoudas.
He described the conflict as a “simple disagreement about how data was being reported,” and said the company would file a lawsuit to appeal the decision, though it has stopped operations indefinitely per the CCC’s order.
Pelekoudas also pointed out that the Commission had recently reissued certain regulations due to clarity issues. “At all times, Assured Testing Laboratory complied with all active regulations and orders,” he said.
The CCC has not yet confirmed when or if Assured will be allowed to resume operations, pending legal proceedings and regulatory review.
