State shuts down Walled Lake marijuana testing lab for fudging test results

The number of marijuana testing facilities, already considered small to handle the growing number of pot producers in the state, shrunk from six to five Friday when the state suspended the license of a Walled Lake business on accusations of faking test results.

The state Marijuana Regulatory Agency filed a formal complaint against Iron Labs of Walled Lake for, among other things, finding marijuana that tested above the legal limit for various contaminants but not reporting those test results in the state’s tracking system. The lab allegedly also didn’t report edibles that tested above the state’s potency limit for THC, the psychoactive substance in marijuana that produces a high.

“Respondent lacks integrity, moral character and responsibility or means to operate or maintain a marijuana facility,” the state’s complaint reads.

The state, which hasn’t received any reports of adverse health reactions from people who used products tested by Iron Labs, urged medical marijuana patients to be wary of the products tested by the facility.

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"It is imperative that our licensees follow the rules and laws, especially regarding the testing of medical marijuana product,” MRA Executive Director Andrew Brisbo said in a statement Friday. “We are intensely focused on making sure that the marijuana product in the regulated industry meets established safety standards.”

The state said because the matter is still under investigation, it couldn't reveal how much of the state's marijuana supply was tested by Iron Labs.

While criminal charges have not been filed yet in the case, Attorney General Dana Nessel said her office is “committed to working closely with the Marijuana Regulatory Agency to take action against those facilities that disregard the rules to the detriment of the public and industry fairness.”

The labs’ operating license expired Aug. 9, but the owners had filed an application for renewal. They have the right to request a compliance conference to respond to the state’s complaint and try to get the suspension reversed.

Iron Labs couldn’t be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

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Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.