How To Read A Cannabinoid Profile

When purchasing a legal cannabis product, consumers are used to looking for the percentage of major phytocannabinoids like THC and CBD. However, there is a lot more to a product than these two compounds.

Cannabis contains hundreds of phytocannabinoids, including approximately a dozen which are more commonly known and tested for, which could be present in varying amounts and proportions to one another. As a result, it is important for consumers to be able to review the cannabinoid profile if they wish. 

Lab-tested cannabis products can answer the question about which cannabinoids are present and the potency of each. Even better, these results are available to discerning consumers who want to get beyond the THC percentage to understand the full spectrum of compounds in the products they buy.

In this blog, you will learn:

• What a cannabinoid profile is

• What a cannabinoid profile tells the consumer

• How to read a cannabinoid profile

What is a cannabinoid profile?

A cannabinoid profile lists a complete breakdown of the commonly known and tested phytocannabinoids present in a product, as well as the amount of each cannabinoid the product contains. This amount is generally expressed in milligrams per gram (mg/g), though it is also common to see this number converted into a percentage on product labels.

You will find household names like THC and Cannabidiol (CBD) listed on a cannabinoid profile, even if the product contains 0.0% of those phytocannabinoids. Many “minor” phytocannabinoids, like Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabichromene (CBC), Cannabinol (CBN), and Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), are often listed as well. [Learn more about the health effects of cannabinoids in this guide.]

In a cannabinoid profile, you will generally see both a percentage and a milligrams per gram figure. Still, it is helpful to understand how to calculate the percentage of mg/g for yourself. For example, if there are 250mg of THC per gram of cannabis flower, the THC potency would be 25%. This is because 250mg divided by 1000mg (the equivalent of one gram) equals 0.25.

Where to find a cannabinoid profile

Cannabinoid profiles are one section included in a certificate of analysis (COA), a document provided by an independent testing laboratory to cultivators and manufacturers to certify that their products meet regulatory requirements and are safe for consumption.

In addition to the cannabinoid profile, a COA will include information about any present contaminants (such as microbes, pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and more), as well as the terpene profile. A COA will also generally include the date testing was performed, the product batch number, and information identifying the laboratory that conducted the testing.

Why is a cannabinoid profile important?

Cannabinoid profiles are critical to helping consumers understand what to expect from a specific cannabis product. Phytocannabinoids interact with a biological system in the human body known as the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS), which can influence a wide range of bodily functions governed by the central nervous system and immune system. Knowing the complete cannabinoid profile can help consumers anticipate what effects they might realize from a particular product.

Whether purchasing a cannabis product for medical purposes or personal enjoyment, everyone has their own set of goals and preferences. The cannabinoid profile is one way to tell if a cannabis product meets your unique requirements, so it’s an incredibly important resource. This is especially true for medical patients who consume cannabis for specific therapeutic effects – knowing precisely what is in the product they are buying could be the difference between picking the right medicine or choosing the wrong product altogether.

Additionally, THC potency testing is required by law in every state with a legal cannabis program, including New Jersey. The process by which legally mandated THC potency testing is conducted – high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) – is also used to identify and quantify other cannabinoids found in a product. With HPLC, analytical chemists are able to determine the mg/g of each present cannabinoid. Those amounts are then converted into a percentage and listed alongside the mg/g amounts.

Common cannabinoids found in a cannabinoid profile

Cannabinoid profiles apply to all types of cannabis products, from flower to edibles to tinctures. Below are some of the more prevalent and well-known cannabinoids and the typical ranges in which they are found in cannabis flower. 

• THC: In the cannabis products at most dispensaries, THC is the most prominent cannabinoid. For years, cannabis has been bred for high-THC levels, and it shows in the market. Typical cannabis flower on dispensary shelves contains between 15% and 30% THC content. However, it is important to remember that hemp varieties of cannabis contain little to no THC.

• CBD: If THC is the most widely known phytocannabinoid, CBD must be the runner-up. In most strains of high-THC cannabis CBD potency appears in quantities around 1% or less overall cannabinoid content. However, in hemp plants the roles are reversed: while there is less than 0.3% THC in hemp, CBD levels may reach 12% or higher.

• CBG: CBG, sometimes referred to as the mother of all cannabinoids since it forms early in the plant, is usually detected at low levels in cannabis and hemp. This is because most CBG converts into other cannabinoids as the plant matures. However, many CBG-based cultivars with high levels of CBG have made their way into the market in recent years.

• CBC: CBC is commonly found in levels less than 1% as well, although it is possible for CBC to make up a much greater portion of the cannabinoid profile. Since much of the cannabis breeding performed in recent decades has focused on THC content, though, it remains rare to find high-CBC strains on dispensary shelves.

• CBN: CBN is a cannabinoid often associated with degrading THC. As a result, it is found in abundance in old or expired products. CBN content is generally very low in cannabis flower tested by cannabis analysis labs – usually less than 1% – but as the product ages and THC degrades, the CBN content can increase over time.

Keep in mind these amounts vary between cultivars and even between harvests of the same cultivar. 

Additionally, you may see the initials “ND” listed next to some cannabinoids. This stands for “not detectable” and suggests that the cannabinoid is either not present at all or is present only in such trace amounts it could not be identified by a lab’s analysts.

Cannabinoid profiles offer key information

The complete breakdown of cannabinoids, their amounts, and their proportions to one another offers consumers clear insight into how a particular product might affect them. That’s not to mention that cannabinoid profiles help satisfy THC potency testing requirements enforced by state regulators.

In a new market like New Jersey, cannabis consumers are looking for information that can help shape their ideal experience. Robust cannabinoid profiles go a long way to keep consumers in the loop, and they enable cannabis cultivators and manufacturers to establish trust and demonstrate product quality.

To gain a foothold in the Garden State’s emerging cannabis industry, you need the detailed insight into cannabinoid profiles and more provided by True Labs for Cannabis and our complete slate of cannabis testing services.