As consumers in modern society, we have become accustomed to the purchase of foods and drugs that are safe and accurately labeled. This is a result of safeguards implemented by regulatory agencies put into place to protect consumer health. When it comes to cannabis commodities, these regulatory safeguards do not exist. Recent studies have revealed dramatic inaccuracies regarding the quality and content of several cannabinoid containing products, when compared to the label claim. Most but not all US states require analytical testing of these products before sale, leaving manufacturers to rely heavily upon results obtained by a cannabis testing laboratory. Frustration can ensue when inter-laboratory results do not agree, or when results do not meet anticipated specifications. Many are quick to blame the testing methodology, when in fact it is important to acknowledge that accuracy begins before the sample is even received by the testing laboratory. One must take into consideration the various aspects of the cannabis testing process in order to fully understand the scope of which inaccuracies can occur. This presentation will explore the many facets of analytical error as they relate to the testing of cannabis products for cannabinoid potency.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the process in which cannabis is analyzed for potency
• Identify the potential sources of error that may arise during potency testing