The Ins and Outs of CBD Potency Testing
Cannabidiol (CBD) is seemingly everywhere: in morning coffee, in luxurious skin creams, and even infused in kinesiology tape. After the 2018 Farm Bill descheduled industrial hemp and made it clear once and for all that hemp extracts are not the same as marijuana extracts, CBD quickly became a household name, with products available in health food stores, convenience stores, standalone retail shops, and any number of retail establishments in between.
But what is really in the CBD products that businesses and consumers are buying? CBD potency testing is key to answering that question, revealing not just how much CBD is present in a product, but in what proportions it coexists with other phytocannabinoids. Alongside other tests for consumer safety and product quality, CBD potency testing verifies for consumers that the CBD products they’re buying actually contain the amount of CBD they claim, as well as gives them the information they need to meet their therapeutic goals.
In this blog, you will learn:
Why potency testing is key for building consumer trust in the CBD industry
How analytical laboratories assess cannabis samples for potency
The four factors that affect CBD product potency -- and how to combat them
What is CBD potency testing?
CBD potency testing uses precise methodologies to confirm the amount of CBD present in cannabis flower, extracts, and other products infused with this phytocannabinoid.
The CBD potency is usually expressed as a percentage on the packaging of a cannabis product, and sometimes it will also appear alongside the milligrams of CBD in the product. Edibles in particular generally feature the milligram amount of CBD, while flower's CBD potency is generally expressed as a percentage.
Why is CBD potency testing important?
CBD potency testing (and broader phytocannabinoid profiling) is important for brands to develop consumer trust. Consumers are increasingly educated and expect transparency and quality from cannabis brands. Third-party lab test results are a major part of establishing that trust by pulling the curtain back to reveal what's really inside the product on the shelves. This is especially important for CBD sourced from industrial hemp, a sector that’s still in flux and awaiting formal regulatory guidelines.
In the dispensary, highlighting CBD potency is an opportunity for brands to set themselves apart from the competition. High-CBD products and balanced THC to CBD ratios are not as commonplace as high-THC products, and consumers may seek out those products to balance the intoxicating effect THC may have on their experience.
When state-regulated cannabis cultivators or product manufacturers conduct cannabinoid profiling on their cannabis products, CBD will automatically be included as part of that analysis. Cannabinoid profiling is required of cannabis producers in most states, including New Jersey.
After testing, brands receive a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from the third-party laboratory. This COA breaks down the composition of the product in terms of phytocannabinoids and terpenes – aromatic compounds found in cannabis – as well as any contaminants, including pesticides, microbes, and heavy metals. These COAs can be used for regulatory compliance, as well as marketing efforts.
How is CBD testing conducted?
High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC): This method of testing relies on a UV light detector called a Diode Array Detector (DAD), or Photodiode Array Detector (PAD). This equipment analyzes the phytocannabinoid profile of a cannabis product. This method is generally more suitable for testing extracts and edible products. It can also be used to identify various forms of CBD, such as CBDA or CBDV.
Gas chromatography (GC) is also an option, but this type of test is considered outdated. HPLC is the preferred testing method for CBD potency (as well as for THC potency).
Is CBD potency testing required in New Jersey?
Yes. New Jersey requires CBD potency testing for cannabis products. In New Jersey, the state’s interim testing rules require a third-party lab test of cannabis products to include a profile of major phytocannabinoids, including CBD potency. It also requires testing for pesticides, microbes, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and residual solvents. The State of New Jersey currently adheres to testing standards set by the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission as it devises its own adult-use cannabis regulatory framework.
Four factors that affect CBD potency
CBD potency declines over time as phytocannabinoids break down. This process can be accelerated by these environmental conditions:
Time
CBD and the other phytocannabinoids start to break down and change as soon as the plant is harvested because nutrients stop flowing through the plant. This is a natural and expected process.
Light
CBD and other phytocannabinoids begin to break down when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. Proper transportation and storage protocols are vital for all plant-touching entities, including cultivators, dispensaries, and the labs like True Labs for Cannabis that test these products.
Moisture
The presence of moisture or high humidity not only encourages mold and mildew development, but it also can restart fluid transfer in the harvested cannabis flower after curing and drying. This accelerates the breakdown of organic compounds in the flower, which leads to CBD potency decay.
Oxygen
Oxygenated cannabis is well known for its high levels of CBN, a byproduct of THC degradation, but it can cause CBD to degrade as well.
The best way to combat these environmental factors is to properly store cannabis in cool, dark, dry, airtight contains. But time will always cause a loss of potency. That's why it is important to partner with a New Jersey cannabis testing lab to get products batch tested in a timely manner, so products can reach dispensary shelves in their optimal condition.
Testing offers a window into product quality
The most important way to get off on the right foot in New Jersey's cannabis industry is to establish a strong brand reputation based on consumer trust. There is no better way to achieve that goal than by demonstrating your product's quality with rigorous cannabis testing performed by True Labs for Cannabis. The cannabis brands that succeed in the Garden State's rapidly growing cannabis marketplace are the ones that prove their products with hard data that goes well beyond baseline regulatory compliance, prioritizing consumer safety above all else.