Irvine Cannabis Testing Labs Proposal
State law establishes several unique requirements for licensed testing laboratories which make this endeavor particularly well-suited for UCI and the Institute for Cannabis. Given the current state of the law, science, and product marketplace, there is arguably no greater opportunity for the Institute (and the University at large) to create an indelible long-term community benefit. For any required laboratory equipment and existing real property (if any) is located in the City of Irvine, the University will need to request an amendment to the Irvine Municipal Code. Currently, the city bans laboratory testing as part of a blanket ban on all forms of commercial cannabis activity and all “cannabis related activity.” While testing laboratories are not explicitly mentioned in the city code, they fall squarely within the state law definition on which the ordinance expressly relies.