Harvard will not participate in the City of Cambridge's efforts to gain an official license to test for Paraquat poisoning in marijuana, Daniel Steiner '54, general counsel to the University, said yesterday.

The University will consider the legality of this sort of testing, before it officially cooperates, Steiner said.

The city has tentative plans to begin testing some time this week at a special laboratory at the Cambridge City Hospital.

"The testing can be done easily. It is a well-known test, which we have all the equipment for," Dr. George Hori, who will direct the testing, said yesterday.

The Paraquat testing has been challenged by the Public Health Department, which claims that the plan is illegal, The Boston Globe reported yesterday.

The city is appealing to Gov. Michael S. Dukakis's office to settle the legality of the matter.

Michael F. Brewer, director of government relations, said yesterday, "I think city officials are all acting with extraordinary responsibility and appreciate the steps they are taking to solve this problem."