While cannabis is medicinally and recreationally legal in more places in the US than ever, it still presents some dangers, which is why lab testing is essential. Below, we give the primary reasons why cannabis must be lab tested, from consumer safety to terpene analysis.
Consumer Safety
The priority in all cannabis testing is the safety of the product. We can’t forget that although most cannabis may not be for consumption (although there are, of course, edible cannabis products), cannabis is still a plant that’s grown, and like every commercially grown plant, there are some risks involved.
As commercial growers use chemicals and add nutrients to grow massive, healthy harvests of fruits and vegetables, cannabis growers also use additives to protect their harvests and help them grow. The first reason why cannabis must be lab tested is to ensure the plant is free of toxic chemicals and contaminants like:
- Residual solvents
- Pesticides
- Fungicides
- Heavy metals
- Microbes
- Mycotoxins
And especially since cannabis is also a medicinal product, any residual hint of these toxins could harm users.
Cannabis Potency
Another reason that cannabis cultivators must test their crops is to confirm the potency of the plant and the product. While some may still believe that cannabis is a harmless drug, it can still produce extreme psychoactive effects and issues in individuals if they consume too much.
There are many reasons that high-potency cannabis can be dangerous, especially for a newer user whose body isn’t used to the drug or has any tolerance to its psychoactive effects. This danger is why cannabis sellers must accurately label their product’s potency—if not, the seller could face legal penalties from regulatory agencies if the labels are inaccurate.
Terpene Analysis & Cannabinoid Profile
Cannabis cultivators must also use lab testing to analyze the terpenes of their cannabis and construct a cannabinoid profile. Terpenes are the unsaturated hydrocarbons that give cannabis its aromatic diversity—they’re why certain strains of cannabis have different tastes, smells, and psychoactive effects.
Cannabinoids are the actives in cannabis that give it its medicinal and psychoactive properties. The most common cannabinoids many users know are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary source of cannabis’ psychoactive effects, and cannabidiol (CBD), which doesn’t affect us as much but still affects our cannabinoid receptors and offers healing properties. There are many laws regarding how much THC can be in a CBD or cannabis product, so cannabis sellers must test it to ensure it meets regulations.
We hope our explainer has been enlightening. If you’re buying cannabis products, make sure you only purchase from sellers regulated by agencies that guarantee certified lab testing for product safety.