Scientists Reveal Inaccurate Weed THC Labels

Colorado researchers tested hundreds of cannabis products and found that almost half of flower labels overstated their THC potency.

The findings reveal how inconsistent testing and labeling practices can mislead consumers about strength and safety. Scientists say future labels should also include other cannabinoids like CBG and CBGA, which may have beneficial effects.

Nearly half of the cannabis flower products sold in Colorado carry potency labels that do not match what is actually in the package, with many suggesting higher THC levels than testing later confirmed. By comparison, cannabis concentrates such as oils and waxes generally reflected their true contents, with 96% found to be labeled correctly.

These results come from a detailed statewide review of cannabis items purchased at licensed dispensaries in Colorado, the first state to approve recreational marijuana. The research, published recently in Scientific Reports, represents the first full-scale examination of labeling accuracy in the legal cannabis market. The findings highlight how potent today's products have become, areas where testing and labeling practices are performing well, and places where improvements are still needed.

"Cannabis use has complex and wide-ranging effects, and we are working hard to better understand them," said senior author Cinnamon Bidwell, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at CU Boulder and co-director of the Center for Health and Neuroscience, Genes and Environment (CU Change). "While that research plays out, we should, at the very least, be providing accurate information about the amount of THC in these products."

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