It’s hard to imagine a time when cannabis testing was not a staple of the industry. But ask any botanist or chemist in the field, and they will tell you: it wasn’t always this way.
Even today, plenty of people think that testing is unnecessary or even detrimental to the industry. But when you look at the facts, the science, and the statistics, it’s clear that testing is essential for keeping consumers safe.
This blog post aims to give you an overview of why cannabis testing is so important and what different types of tests are out there today. You’ll learn how cannabinoids should be characterized so that consumers can have confidence in their purchases and how those characterization methods impact consumer safety.
The Basics of Cannabis Testing
Cannabis testing is the process by which medical cannabis products are analyzed for contaminants, potency, and other factors that affect their quality and safety.
Why is it important? Because you should know what you’re putting in your body.
How do they do it? There are three primary types of cannabis testing:
1. Microbiological testing
(AKA microbial or microbiological testing) This test checks for mold, bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms in your product. It’s important because these can make you sick or even kill you if they’re present at high concentrations—and sometimes even if they aren’t!
2. Chemical Testing
The test checks for harmful substances such as pesticides, fungicides, and solvents like butane or propane, which can cause cancer. It also looks for heavy metals such as lead or mercury, which can make you sick, and potentially harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, associated with cancer.
3. Residual Solvents
Testing Residual solvents are those left behind after an extract has been processed—they include things like chloroform from butane extraction processes and acetone from CO2 extraction processes.
These solvents can harm your health if they’re not removed, so residual solvent testing is vital for ensuring that your product is safe to consume.
You might be thinking, “Why should I care about cannabis testing? I just want to get high!”
But here’s the thing: when you consume cannabis, you’re not just getting high. You’re also putting something into your body that can have a real impact on your health. So, knowing what you’re consuming and whether it’s safe is important.
Luckily, cannabis testing is becoming increasingly common, so finding high-quality, safe products is easier than ever.
And let’s be real: when it comes to your health, you deserve the best. So, be sure to look for products that have been tested and approved, and don’t settle for anything less!
Cannabinoids: The Molecules Behind Cannabis
Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds in cannabis plants that interact with the human body. They’re responsible for creating the effects of marijuana.
What are cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are a type of chemical compound that interacts with our bodies by binding to our endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors, which regulate many physiological processes like mood, sleep, memory, and pain.
The ECS is most active during adolescence and early adulthood. As we age, our ECS changes shape and size and so do our cannabinoid receptors. This is why older people may not benefit from using cannabis as much as younger people would.
The main types of cannabinoids found in cannabis include:
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – This is the psychoactive component of cannabis that’s responsible for its euphoric effects. It also helps relieve nausea, stimulates hunger, reduces inflammation, and relieves muscle cramps/spasms!
Cannabidiol (CBD) – CBD has been shown to reduce pain and inflammation while promoting relaxation and sleepiness; it’s also often used to treat anxiety, depression, and epilepsy.
Unlike THC, CBD does not have psychoactive effects and will not make you feel “high.”
Cannabinoids have many potential medical benefits and have been used for centuries to treat various health issues.
However, more research is needed to understand their use’s effects and potential risks fully. It’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional before using cannabis or cannabis-derived products for medicinal purposes.
Analyzing THC, CBD, and Other Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are the active ingredients in cannabis that cause psychoactive effects. To know what affects your cannabis will have on you. You need to know how much THC and CBD are in it.
There are over 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. Many of them have their unique effects on the body and mind.
Some examples include CBG (cannabigerol), CBC (cannabichromene), CBN (cannabinol), and THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin). These cannabinoids can be found in different ratios within different strains of cannabis.
For example, some strains may have higher levels of CBG than others, resulting in different effects on the mind and body depending on how much you consume at once or over time.
This makes it essential to get consistent results when testing your products so that you know exactly what type of experience you will have each time before consuming it again!
There are several methods used to test the cannabinoid content of cannabis, including gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and mass spectrometry (MS).
These methods allow for accurate and precise measurements of the different cannabinoids present in cannabis.
However, it’s important to note that other methods may produce slightly different results and that a reputable laboratory should do testing.
Understanding Cannabis Terpenes
Terpenes are aromatic oils that give plants their distinctive scent and have many health benefits. They’re also found in cannabis.
Terpenes are concentrated in the trichomes of cannabis flowers and can be extracted and used in various ways.
The Role of Terpenes in Cannabis
Cannabis contains hundreds of terpenes, each with a unique smell and chemical composition.
These compounds interact with cannabinoids to produce different effects from one strain to another. Terpenes have other effects on the body. Limonene enhances mood and reduces stress, and pinene helps with focus, memory, and alertness.
Myrcene provides an uplifting sensation, linalool has soothing properties, caryophyllene has an analgesic effect, and humulene has anti-inflammatory properties. Terpenes can be tested for their effects.
Testing for Terpenes
There’s no standardized testing protocol for terpene profiling yet—so you’ll need to research which strains will work best for your needs!
However, some cannabis labs offer terpene profiling, which can provide information on the specific terpenes present in a particular strain of cannabis. This information can be helpful for both medical and recreational users looking for a specific experience or set of benefits from their cannabis use.
Challenges in Cannabis Testing
There are a few significant challenges to cannabis testing.
The first is that there’s no standard testing method for cannabis products. There’s no one way to test for THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids, and there are also many different ways to measure the potency of those cannabinoids.
This means that a product can be labeled as having 10mg of THC. But it could have anywhere from 9mg to 11mg and this is something you can’t tell until after you’ve purchased the product.
Another challenge is the need for standardized tests for pesticides and mold.
Currently, there is no standardized pesticide test for cannabis products. So your product could be contaminated with pesticides, and you wouldn’t know until after you’ve consumed it.
And while tests are available to check for mold on cannabis products, they’re unreliable. They may not indicate whether or not your product has been contaminated by molds that aren’t harmful to humans (like Penicillium).
The future of cannabis testing looks bright! As more states legalize recreational marijuana and more people start using it medicinally.
It’s becoming increasingly important that we have standardized methods of testing so we can ensure our customers’ safety when purchasing these products from reputable vendors.
The Importance of Cannabinoid Testing: Protecting Consumers and Promoting Quality
In conclusion, cannabis testing is an essential component of the cannabis industry, ensuring the safety and quality of products for consumers.
Contaminants and harmful chemicals are identified and removed through microbiological, chemical, and residual solvent testing.
Cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, are the active compounds that make cannabis effective for medicinal and recreational use. Understanding the chemical composition of cannabis through testing allows for consistent results and accurate labeling of products.
Belcosta Labs is a leader in the industry, providing reliable and efficient testing services to ensure consumers access high-quality and safe products.
By demanding and promoting testing services, we can continue to move the industry forward, promoting health and safety for all.
