Don’t Get Scammed with Weak, Toxic Cannabis.
The cannabis industry is in the process of exploding, but are all cannabis products the same? This article reveals how you can use third-party lab reports to avoid being scammed.
According to a new report by Grand View Research, globally legal marijuana sales is expected to gain massive traction reaching $146.4 billion by end of 2025. Why? Research keeps surfacing revealing the powerful uses of both marijuana and Hemp CBD. Millions are using this plant for everything from physical to mental health.
Just like all major medical discoveries, inferior products are beginning to surface in the cannabis industry at alarming rates. According to Dr. David Dahl, a specialist in chronic pain, cannabis product ingredients should be a considered. “Cannabidiol as a compound appears to be safe to use, I say that because there’s still research going on,” Dahl said. He adds, “The biggest concern with safety, what is in that CBD oil? Is it really CBD?”
Third-party lab tests are the answer to finding a safe and effective cannabis product. But how do you read these tests? Below we give advice to determining if a brand is legit and how to read the lab reports to gain peace of mind you’re getting the most from your cannabis products.
Before You Believe the Lab Report
First, you’ll want to look into the brand you’re considering. Do not just take the brand’s own testing or word as gold. Any marijuana or CBD brand worth their salt will use outside testing. Make sure they test their products regularly at a well-known third-party lab. Check the legitimacy of the lab. Make sure it’s fully licensed and a ISO/IEC 17025 accredited analytical cannabis laboratory. One of the top labs in California is Cannalysis. This lab tests all forms of cannabis for a large variety of cannabinoids, minerals and additives.
Below we’ll be looking at a lab report from one of Cannalysis’s most popular clients, Pure Hemp CBD. Pure Hemp has over 100 varieties of CBD products including capsules, vapes, topicals and a large variety of tasty edibles. You can trust them knowing every single product comes with a full lab report from Cabbalysis.
How to Read a Cannabis Lab Report:
- Look for an image. This verifies the actual product you’re considering is what was tested. Beware of companies who use a bait and switch tactic with the lab results. They’ll just test one product and make claims for all.
- Look at the tetrahydrocannabinol or THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid) content. This will reveal how strong the high will be. If you’re considering a potent CBD make sure the THC is below .03%.
- Verify the milligrams in topicals, vapes and edibles is what the brand claims. For example, Pure Hemp’s products test much higher than the claims so you know it’s effective.
- Check that date. It should be less than a year old to ensure it’s the same batch/product as pictured. Bonus, make sure that signature is from a PhD carrying lab technician.
- Last step, look at the list of added chemicals. Some companies try to sneak in extras that could leave your health at risk. Below we’ve are some of the biggest offenders on the market today.
Added Chemicals to Avoid
- Dextromethorphan, or DMX. This purposely addictive ingredient is used in common drug store medicines like cough syrup. Dr. Ryan Vandrey from Johns Hopkins University reveals when DMX is abused in higher doses it can generate a sedation with an abnormal heartbeat, in addition to hallucinations and a general sense of euphoria. This tinkers with your brain’s pleasure center, which is the very definition of an addictive substance.
- 5F-ADB. “Street chemists” developed 5F-ADB. It mimics the psychological effects of THC. Why is this dangerous? Because to-date no known research is available for any possible side effects. In fact, the DEA classified 5F-ADB as a Schedule I drug. So not only is it illegal with potential side-effects, it also has no current accepted medical value.
- Pesticides. Cannabis is a bioaccumulator, meaning it pulls its nutrients from the sole it is grown in. Be vigilant of cannabis grown using harmful chemical pesticides and additives like formaldehyde which has been shown to cause cancers and leukemia when inhaled into the lungs.
Jeremy Klein a specialist with over 10 years of experience processing and growing cannabis adds, “It really comes down to the integrity of the brand. If a brand looks sketchy it probably is. Always look at the “other ingredients” section of the label.” He has been working with Pure Hemp CBD as they develop a new set of potent products including coffee and stronger, full-spectrum CBD oils. Klein’s final piece of advice, “If the company doesn’t have reviews on their Facebook, Weedmaps or Google pages that’s another indication to leave them alone. When people in the cannabis community finds great product they shout it from the rooftops”