Thousands of cannabis and CBD products line dispensary and wellness boutique shelves today, and while it’s imperative that conscious and responsible brands are transparent of processing techniques and compliance, it is equally important for you as the consumer to be educated on how to verify the facts that ensure the product is right for you and safe to consume.

Unfortunately, confusion and misunderstanding are rampant in this industry that lacks stringent regulation that has your best interests and health in mind. In fact, mislabeled CBD and cannabis products are more common than you’d think. Earlier this year, the FDA reported that 30% of nearly 150 CBD products tested did not contain the amount of CBD that was indicated on the label. Additionally, there are risks that formulations contain heavy metals and synthetics that can harm your body.

So, what’s the good news? There ARE ethical, clean, and high-quality brands and products out there. And we do our best to curate the selection for you to take out the guesswork or trial and error. But, it’s also on you to be educated on what you’re purchasing and consuming. Beyond the basics of cannabinoids, here’s our primer on how to read certificates of analysis, or COA. Consider it the cannabis report card.

Step 1: If the product doesn’t come with a COA, then you don’t pay.

If you’re shopping online, a COA should clearly linked on the brand’s website, bonus points if they are on the product page. If shopping IRL, many brands now offer scannable QR codes that direct you to the product’s COA.

Step 2: Verify the COA is legitimate.

There’s no use in a COA that isn’t processed by a qualified independent lab that conducts sound and analytical science. The lab conducting the test must also be a third-party entity, so it should NOT be the company that’s selling the product as there could be bias in the report.

Step 3: Verify batch numbers

CBD products are made in batches and testing should be completed and shared for each batch. The batch number is visible on the product packaging and is listed on the COA as “batch number” or “lot number” at the top of the report.

Step 4: Does the cannabinoid potency match?

Always compare on-label cannabinoid levels, usually outlined in total mg, to those listed on the COA. On the COA, you can find the cannabinoid potency within the first panel. Make sure the measurements check out.

For CBD, you can also verify the validity of a brand’s full-spectrum or broad-spectrum claims if you see levels of other cannabinoids detected. When a product is full-spectrum or broad-spectrum, it means the brand is utilizing the entourage effect of other cannabinoids when they’re paired with CBD. Full-spectrum CBD can contain up to .3% of THC, whereas broad-spectrum contains zero THC.

Step 5: Testing for terpenes

For cannabis, full-spectrum CBD, and broad-spectrum CBD products, you can also test for terpenes, the aromatic oils that not only dictate the flavor and olfactory profile of the hemp, but also enhance the therapeutic benefits. Terpenes are listed in a separate results panel, often right after cannabinoids.

Step 6: PASS on harmful contaminants

COAs must verify that there are no harmful contaminants detected in the formulation. Heavy metals, mycotoxins, pesticides, yeast, mold, and pathogenic bacterial contaminants like E.coli or salmonella should be “Non detected” or “ND” and be set to “PASS.”

High-quality cannabis and CBD products must contain negligible or no contaminants.

While this may seem like a process that includes a learning curve, you want to be diligent about checking for quality when purchasing cannabis and CBD. Like they say, your body is a temple, treat it as such!

COA example provided by Luna Volta.