Cannabinoid testing with ACS Laboratory accurately measures and quantifies levels of the major and minor compounds in plants, extracts, and ingestible products. This article details the need for precision potency results using ACS Laboratory’s advanced solutions for national hemp brands and Florida medical marijuana treatment centers (MMTCs).
The Need for Precise Cannabinoid Testing
Reliable cannabinoid testing is essential for various reasons, including compliance. Accurate potency results also ensures proper labeling for consumer safety, increase product quality standards, and build consumer confidence and trust in the industry.
Hemp compliance requirements
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says hemp plants and products are only federally compliant if they contain less than 0.3% Delta 9 THC by dry weight. Precise cannabinoid testing ensures the total Delta-9 THC concentration does not exceed the threshold.
Florida medical cannabis compliance
In Florida, MMMTCs must work with a Certified Marijuana Testing Laboratory (CMTL) to test cannabinoid potency before transportation to a dispensing facility.
Cannabinoid testing for consumer safety
Cannabinoid testing also provides consumers with essential information to help them understand what effects to expect and how much to take. Unfortunately, inaccurate labeling is a significant issue in the medical cannabis world that only precision testing can overcome.
- A 2023 study across ten dispensaries in Colorado found that over 70% of samples inaccurately labeled their THC content.
- A Forbes review reported that many Delta-8 product manufacturers routinely mislabel their gummies, vaporizer cartridges, and other products. Seventy-seven percent of these products contain less Delta 8 than advertised and more than 0.3% Delta 9.
Mislabeling medical cannabis and hemp products causes many problems, some with potentially dangerous results:
- Medical patients can’t reliably control dosage or achieve their desired effects.
- Under-labeling cannabinoid content can result in consumers taking more of a product than intended.
- Customers buying low-THC edibles, candies, and extracts with too much THC can experience unwanted impairment and adverse consequences like increased anxiety, paranoia, and mental and physical discomfort.
This rampant issue leaves consumers second-guessing the industry’s credibility.
How ACS Laboratory Achieves Accurate Cannabinoid Testing
Cannabinoid testing at ACS Laboratory quantifies THC, CBD, and up to 32 cannabinoids in cannabis and hemp products using highly accurate High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technology for precision. HPLC is professional testing equipment that satisfies the Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) requirements for Florida MMTCs and is the industry’s gold standard.
Potency panels
ACS Laboratory offers advanced potency panels designed to meet and exceed compliance requirements.
Award-winning results
ACS has received 82 Emerald Badges for accurate potency and purity cannabis testing–more than any facility in the USA. It validates the results in a lab report called a certificate of analysis (COA), allowing products to be sold nationwide without fear of regulatory infractions or consumer health risks. In addition, ACS testing comes with the American Cannabinoid Association-endorsed Safe Certified Safety Seal. This symbol says that products passed the strictest testing guidelines in the U.S. by an award-winning medical-grade laboratory.
Precise Cannabinoid Testing for All Product Types
ACS Laboratory understands that different products have distinct cannabinoid testing needs. This understanding allows ACS to achieve high accuracy and precision across virtually any formula.
Cannabis and hemp flower
ACS Laboratory quantifies up to 32 major and minor cannabinoids in hemp and cannabis flowers responsible for its psychoactive and therapeutic properties.
Its deep scientific team uses HPLC equipment for its precise results.
- HPLC quantifies measurements to 1/10th of 1% and 1/10th of a milligram for reporting cannabinoid content ratios accurately.
- HPLC accounts for THCA and CBDA. THC and CBD acidic forms play a significant role in the potency of flowers and other products intended for heat applications but can be tricky to quantify.
Edibles
Many labs get edibles potency wrong because the sticky, coarse ingredients in products like gummies, cookies, brownies, or cakes can interfere with liquid chromatography equipment. This makes extracting THC and other cannabinoids challenging.
- A recent study found that many cannabis edibles do not have the THC concentrations advertised, with THC and CBD under-labeled in 25% and over-labeled in 60% of products.
- Edibles are also prone to inconsistent THC levels throughout the product, which can lead to dosage issues and overconsumption.
ACS Laboratory overcomes these issues by utilizing a cryogenic grinder or freezer/mill in edibles testing to flash-freeze and pulverize the edible product to homogenize it. This method allows for the full accuracy of individually analyzing each edible’s cannabinoid profile and content.
Concentrates
Concentrates like wax, rosin, live resin, shatter, batter, and dabs react with heat to provide some of the most potent cannabinoid concentrations. Due to their volatile nature, they require sensitive handling during cannabinoid testing to preserve their cannabinoid content. ACS uses HPLC equipment with Ultraviolet Detectors to safely test concentrate samples at room temperature without heat for the most consistent and reliable results.
Beverages
ACS is one of the few laboratories in the United States to receive Emerald Test Badges for beverage potency testing, including hemp beverages and Farm Bill-compliant THC drinks. The fatty additives and emulsifiers that encapsulate cannabinoids in these products can interfere with their extraction from beverages, so ACS adjusts its methods accordingly:
- ACS quickly and selectively removes problematic emulsifiers from cannabis‑infused beverage extracts for more accurate results.
- It uses reliable LC/UV technology to precisely detect compounds like THC and CBD in standard emulsions and nanoformulations.
Topicals
Topical products like skin creams, balms, oils, and transdermal patches are popular for pain treatment and general skin care. Yet, studies show they pose risks for THC contamination and mislabeling. In a recent case series of 105 topical cannabinoid products, 18% were over-labeled, and 58% were under-labeled.
ACS avoids errors by meticulously extracting cannabinoids before performing topicals testing.
The Bottom Line
ACS Laboratory offers the most advanced and precise cannabinoid testing for brands to verify potency and communicate effects to consumers. Accurate testing ultimately boosts product quality standards and confidence in the industry as a whole.
Florida MMTCs and national hemp brands looking to ensure compliance, safety, and reliability can contact ACS today to start testing.
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