Cannabis brands working with several tolling partners face a difficult challenge: maintaining the same quality, potency, and safety profile across every batch and every facility. Tolling supports growth, wider product lines, and stronger supply resilience, yet it also increases the risk of variability between partners.
A federally fragmented marketplace adds another layer of difficulty. Every state sets its own rules for testing protocols, contaminant limits, and lab licensing. A 2025 Reuters review reported wide swings in potency and contamination results for identical samples across different states due to inconsistent rules and lab practices. Regulators also continue to escalate enforcement. California logged dozens of recall events through 2024–2025, often tied to inaccurate potency labels or contamination. Other adult-use states issued similar recall notices, usually linked to weak quality control at processing facilities.
To safeguard brand reputation, companies must hold tollers to a unified quality standard that sits above state-level requirements.
Create One Quality Framework for the Entire Network
A single quality system gives every toller a shared blueprint. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) offer structure for repeatable production steps, reliable documentation, controlled environments, and safe handling methods. New York’s cannabis rules strongly encourage GMP alignment, and many industry consultants view GMP as a baseline for multistate brands.
A brand-level Quality Management System (QMS) strengthens this structure. Key components include:
- Standardized master formulas
- Batch records that mirror one another across all tollers
- Approved raw material specifications
- Required sampling checkpoints during production
- Clear release parameters for every SKU
- Change-control requirements whenever equipment, ingredients, or workflows shift
Quality specialists often stress the importance of multiple checkpoints from raw material intake through final testing. This structure reduces the risk of potency drift or hidden contamination.
Own the Specifications and Testing Methods
Every product should follow a single specification sheet created by the brand. Critical elements include:
- Potency targets with narrow variance ranges
- Terpene profiles that match the brand’s sensory expectations
- Ingredient and excipient rules
- Limits for pesticides, heavy metals, microbial threats, and residual solvents
- Shelf-life targets supported by stability checks
Even though state testing rules differ, brands can harmonize analytical methods by requiring validated SOPs, unified sample prep procedures, and consistent reporting formats. Contracts should require COAs for both raw inputs and finished goods, along with retention samples and direct access to all testing data from every toller.
Use Digital Tools for Full Traceability
Modern traceability systems help brands compare performance across multiple partners. LIMS platforms, seed-to-sale tracking, and ERP software support:
- Detailed batch genealogy across all facilities
- Deviation reports, complaint records, and CAPA logs
- Potency variance trends
- Yield performance data
- Early detection of failure patterns
Centralized data gives brands a clear view of which toller demonstrates strong discipline and which partner needs support or corrective action.
Strengthen Oversight Through Audits and Training
Documented procedures only work when partners follow them correctly. Routine GMP-focused audits, equipment calibration reviews, sanitation checks, and operator training keep every toller aligned with brand expectations. Joint problem-solving sessions and shared training materials also create a cohesive network.
Final Takeaway
Rising recall activity and inconsistent state rules demand tighter quality systems for brands that work with several tolling partners. A unified framework, strong specifications, harmonized testing, digital traceability, and frequent audits help brands deliver dependable, trustworthy products across every state and every facility.