Cannabis Potency Testing: Challenges & Solutions

Here’s what you need to know about cannabis testing problems and fixes:

Key Issue	Current Status	Solution
Lab Accuracy	Results vary 15-30% between labs	Standardized methods + better equipment
THC Inflation	Labs inflate numbers for business	Stricter oversight + penalties
Testing Standards	Each state has different rules	Push for national standards
Equipment Quality	Basic tools miss key compounds	Switch to mass spectrometry

The big problem? Labs are getting THC numbers wrong – sometimes on purpose. One sample sent to 10 labs showed THC levels from 64% to 83%. That’s a huge difference.

Quick facts:

Cannabis testing market: $5.87B by 2031
Today’s strains: 20%+ THC (vs 4-6% in 1970s)
Failed tests: 17% in Maine, 20% for medical cannabis
Price impact: Each 1% THC boost = 1-2% price increase

What’s changing:

Mass spectrometry testing (more accurate)
Strict new rules starting 2024
Lab networks sharing data
Better quality control

Bottom line: Cannabis testing is broken, but new tech and tougher rules are fixing it. Labs must use better equipment and follow the same rules to get numbers you can trust.

"When you walk into a store and see a label that says 10% CBD, you want to know that you can trust that number." – Brent Wilson, NIST research chemist

Main Problems in Potency Testing

Equipment and Method Problems

Labs struggle with testing accuracy. Even with HPLC as the main testing tool, results bounce all over the place between different labs.

Testing Challenge	Impact on Results
Extraction Issues	Key compounds get left behind in samples
Calibration Problems	Reference samples don’t match real products
Storage Problems	Sample quality drops over time
Method Differences	No two labs follow the same steps

Sample Prep Issues

Here’s something that’ll make you think: When ONE cannabis sample went to 10 different labs, THC results came back anywhere from 64% to 83%.

Why such a mess? It comes down to basics:

Samples aren’t mixed well
Wrong storage temperatures
Different handling between labs
Zero standard methods

Rules and Laws

The numbers tell the story:

State	Testing Issues
Maine	17% of products fail pesticide tests
Oregon	Cut back on required microbial testing
New York	Caught labs faking reports
California	Had to warn labs about THC inflation

"THC inflation is pernicious, it’s easy to accomplish and there are strong financial incentives to do it." – Don Land, Professor of Chemistry and Forensics at UC Davis

Testing Quality Issues

Want to know how bad it gets? Check this out:

Issue	Impact
Lab Shopping	Brands hunt for higher THC numbers
False Results	78% miss pesticides that ARE there
CBD Mislabeling	69% show wrong amounts
Price Impact	Each 1% THC bump = 1-2% price increase

Oregon’s 2019 audit dropped this bomb: The state’s testing system "cannot ensure that test results are reliable and products are safe." Why? Not enough staff and poor processes.

"Inter-laboratory variation is a serious problem in our industry." – Brian C. Smith, PhD, Founder of Big Sur Scientific

How to Fix Testing Problems

Here’s what you need to know about improving cannabis testing accuracy:

Testing Equipment That Works

Labs need the right tools – and they need to use them correctly. Here’s what works:

Equipment Type	Purpose	Key Benefit
HPLC Systems	Cannabinoid Analysis	Gets accurate THC/CBD readings without heat damage
Near-infrared Spectroscopy	Quick Testing	Tests samples without destroying them
Moisture Analyzers	Sample Prep	Makes sure samples are ready for testing
Arium® Water Systems	Lab Operations	Provides pure water for better results

What NIST‘s Program Does

NIST created CannaQAP to help labs test better. Here’s the breakdown:

Program Element	Details
Reference Materials	Hemp oil samples with exact compound amounts
Measurement Tasks	Tests for THC, CBD + 15 other cannabinoids
Data Sharing	Labs see how they stack up against others
Future Plans	Will add terpene and contaminant testing

Making Your Lab Better

Want better results? Do these things:

Follow ISO/IEC 17025:2017 methods
Test your skills against other labs
Write down EVERYTHING you do
Make sure staff knows the right way to test
Keep good records

Better Ways to Test

What to Fix	Why It Matters
Sample Prep Steps	Gets the same results every time
Digital Records	Stops mistakes from bad handwriting
Watch the Temperature	Keeps samples fresh
Check Equipment Often	Makes sure numbers are right

"When you walk into a store or dispensary and see a label that says 10% CBD, you want to know that you can trust that number." – Brent Wilson, NIST research chemist

Here’s proof it works:

"The Sartorius moisture analyzers have been a great addition to our lab. They are simple to use, efficient, accurate and the ability to add more modules to maintain throughput was huge for us." – Conner D. Griffeth, COO of Level One Labs

Industry-Wide Fixes

The cannabis testing world is changing fast. Here’s how labs are stepping up their game:

Working Together

SCIEX and CW Analytical (CWAL) have teamed up to fix a big problem: making cannabis testing more accurate.

What They’re Doing	How They’re Doing It
Building Standard Tests	Providing LC-MS/MS equipment + MultiQuant™ Software
Making Testing Cheaper	Setting up day-to-day testing steps
Helping All Labs	Sharing their methods with everyone

"This team-up with SCIEX is huge. It shows that big players in the testing world want to help cannabis labs succeed." – Robert Martin, Ph.D, Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer at CW Analytical

Better Rules

The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) isn’t messing around. They’re rolling out strict new testing rules:

When	What’s New
Oct 1, 2023	New ways to test potency start
Jan 1, 2024	Everyone must follow new rules
Jan 1, 2024	$50 extra fee for R&D and compliance tests

What’s changing? Labs will:

Test for 9 cannabinoids (soon to be 15)
Stop labs from competing on potency results
See fewer inflated THC numbers
Help DCC spot weird test results

Quality Checks

NIST’s CannaQAP program is stepping in with some serious tools:

What They Offer	Why It Matters
Lab Comparison Studies	Shows how labs stack up
Open Results	Everyone can see NIST’s findings
Testing Checkups	Helps labs spot problems
Testing Standards	Sets clear benchmarks

The Cannabis Science Task Force (CSTF) is also pitching in by:

Getting science teams to work together
Setting potency testing standards
Running state-level testing programs
Using science to get solid data

Every lab needs to follow ISO/IEC 17025 rules and think hard about risks. There’s even a guide that helps labs across different states test the same way, using methods backed by science.

Making Changes Work

Labs need both quick wins and long-term solutions. Here’s what’s working now and what needs to happen next.

Today’s Solutions That Work

The fastest way to boost accuracy? Start with these proven fixes:

Fix	What It Does	Results
Double-Check System	Two people verify each result	Catches mistakes fast
Digital Sample Tags	Scans track every sample	Stops mix-ups
Hands-On Training	Shows exact testing steps	Builds confidence
Daily Equipment Tests	Spots problems early	Keeps tests accurate

LabWare GROW users cut their work time by 15-20%. The system helps catch issues before they become problems.

Building Better Labs

Want lasting improvements? Focus on these three areas:

1. Smart Software

LIMS software changes everything. It:

Shows who touched each sample
Records every prep step
Saves all validation data
Connects samples to results

2. Strong Teams

Learn from CCTL’s mistakes – they lost their license because of staff issues. Here’s what works:

Hire chemistry experts
Build test-specific teams
Document all training
Define each role clearly

3. Tighter Rules

State	Rule Change	Status
New York	Test every batch	In effect
California	Penalties for bad results	In effect
Maine	Must check pesticides	In effect

"The DCC is doing something. They’re not going to allow this s**t to go on anymore." – Josh Swider, CEO of Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs

The numbers tell the story. In New York, one product showed 28.5% THC but actually had 17.7%. Five out of eight top strains had 25% less THC than claimed.

Speed isn’t everything – Maine’s data proves it. When they tested medical samples, 20% failed pesticide checks. Getting accurate results beats getting fast ones.

What’s Next

Testing is changing fast. Here’s what you need to know:

New Testing Tools

Labs are getting better tools that work faster and smarter:

Tool	What It Does	Key Benefit
BSS 3000 Portable Analyzer	Tests 7 cannabinoids in 5 minutes	Works in fields and labs
Axcend Focus LC	Portable HPLC system	Uses less solvent, more sensitive
E-Nose Devices	Detects compound profiles	Checks product quality fast
Mass Spectrometry Systems	Advanced cannabinoid analysis	50-500x more sample dilution

The BSS 3000 runs for 8 hours on batteries. Teams can test anywhere with ±2% accuracy by weight.

"The Focus LC delivers greater sensitivity than traditional UV-absorption-based HPLC systems." – Damon Anderson, PhD

Where Testing is Going

The market’s growing FAST – from $13.2B in 2022 to $40B by 2030. Here are the big changes:

1. Laws Are Changing Everything

California’s A.B. 2188 kicks in January 1, 2024. It blocks employers from using old THC tests. This affects 4.2 million workers.

"Instead of responding to changing laws by discontinuing THC testing, a better option is likely to re-evaluate the available tools that support workplace safety goals while enabling compliance with the recent use obligations of the new laws." – Aaron Atkinson, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Hound Labs

2. Labs Are Getting Smarter

Update	Impact
RFID Tags	Track samples instantly
Robot Handlers	Mix samples perfectly
AI Analysis	Spots trends in test data
Blockchain	Shows every test step

3. Testing Goes Deeper

Labs now look beyond basic THC and CBD. They test:

Full cannabinoid profiles
Terpene levels
Product safety
Growing conditions

"Introducing mass spectrometry-based potency analysis will increase the rigor of the data provided by the laboratory and position the laboratory to be method-compliant as additional regulatory standards are established." – Ben Southwell, Assistant Professor of Bio-Analytical Chemistry, Lake Superior State University

Wrap-Up

Here’s what’s wrong with cannabis testing – and how to fix it:

Problem	Why It Matters
Lab Shopping	Companies pick labs that show higher THC numbers
Basic Testing Tools	Old methods miss important details
Product Types	Each product needs different testing
No Set Rules	States do their own thing

Better tech is changing the game:

New Method	What It Does
Mass Spec Testing	Gets better results with less sample
All-in-One Testing	Checks all pesticides in one go
Better HPLC	Handles tricky products better
QSight™	Tests faster than before

What needs to happen next?

1. Switch to Better Tech

Labs need to use mass spectrometry. It’s more accurate and helps meet stricter rules.

2. Stop the Games

"When a producer knowingly chooses to test with a high-biased laboratory or collaborates with that laboratory to achieve high-biased results, they are defrauding the consumer." – Douglas Duncan, Laboratory Director of Kairos Labs

3. Get Everyone on the Same Page

Need	Action
Same Methods	Make one set of rules
Better Labs	Start lab certification
Work Together	Connect lab networks
Keep People Safe	Test everything required

"Regardless of whether addressing medical cannabis patients or recreational adult use, an accurate understanding of the dosing of primary ingredients is critical in support of the cannabis community and research of the associated clinical science, just as with all other foods and drugs in the US community." – Reverend Dr. Kymron De Cesare, Chief Research Officer at Steep Hill Inc.