How Can We Tell the Percentage of Each Cannabinoid in a Product?

High quality and diverse cannabinoids are more widely available today than ever before, and the sheer volume of the options can be overwhelming. Seems each day brings with it a new acronym, from CBD to HHC and all the cannabinoids in between. When it comes to making a decision on which product to buy, one of the things you will have to understand is the percentages of the cannabinoids and terpenes in your product. Assuming you’re buying a high-quality product from a reputable retailer, finding this information is often as simple as knowing where to look on the label. But how do the people labeling these products come up with these numbers and how accurate are they? And what does a percentage mean in terms of the experience you’re going to have when you use the product? In this article we’ll answer all these questions and more. 

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How is Potency Measured

There are a variety of ways that potency of a cannabinoid can be measured, each involving very technical and sensitive scientific equipment that are operated by highly educated and trained individuals. This is one of the reasons it is important that the product has been tested by a third party with the resources necessary to get an accurate reading. Not every flower or every drop of concentrate can be tested, so to test a cannabinoid product, a representative sample is selected and sent to the lab in the form of a batch. These batches have the levels of compounds evaluated using a measurement method and what those compounds are is determined using an identification method. 

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Measurement Methods Used

• Gas chromatography – A measurement method where an inert gas is passed through the liquid concentrate which separates the compounds by vaporizing them at a controlled temperature that prevents them from degrading, allowing them to be measured.
• High-performance liquid chromatography – Measurement by pushing a liquid solvent with the sample through a column of material that reacts to each compound differently, causing the different compounds to flow through the column at different rates, which allows them to be measured.
• Nuclear magnetic resonance – Here the various compounds are measured by placing the compounds in a magnetic field and igniting the nuclei with radio waves. Each nuclei then emits a distinct amount magnetic of resonance which allows the compounds to be measured. 

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Identification Methods Used

• Mass spectrometry – Because different compounds have different molecular weights, they can be identified by measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of the different molecules present.
• Ultraviolet spectroscopy – The different compounds present are lit with ultraviolet light, and the amount of that UV light that is either absorbed or reflected and measured with highly sensitive photo sensors. Because each compound absorbs or reflects a different amount of UV light, the various compounds can be identified. 

I understand that is a lot of dry and dense information but the point is that only through very technical processes can you get an accurate cannabinoid percentage. If you are interested in a more thorough read on exactly how these processes work, you can find a technical breakdown here. 

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THC Calculation Methods

Once the cannabinoids in a product are measured, they are expressed as a percentage of the total weight. However, when it comes to determining the percentage of THC, this final calculation can be more difficult to express. The reason is because of a precursor compound to THC known as THCa. We have an article that will tell you everything you need to know about THCa, but what you need to know is that when heat is applied to THCa, it is converted into THCa through a process called decarboxylation. Because of this, THC percentages in a product are more accurately expressed by adding the THC percentage to some ratio of the THCa percentage. There are three ways of doing this.

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The first method just adds the percentage of THCa to the percentage of THC. This method is the simplest, but it fails to account for the fact that THC is lighter than THCa. The second method factors this weight difference into the calculations, and this is the most common method used because it measures THC potential. The third method attempts to account even further for the fact that when THCa is decarboxylated, it does not convert to THC perfectly and some of it degrades. While this is arguably the most accurate measurement, it’s difficult to know exactly how much degradation will occur.

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Where Can I Find the Information?

Knowing how the percentages are measured and calculated helps, but you also need to know where to find it. While you may find this information on the label, the best place to read about the cannabinoid percentages in a product is by reading the certificate of analysis (COA). You can read all about how to read a COA here, there is a lot of valuable information to be found. Let’s run through the most important categories.

• Basic product information – At the top of the COA you should be able to easily identify the name of the product, the brand producing it, the lab that tested, and the date upon which the batch was tested.
• Toxic materials – Some of the most important information you’ll get from the COA is the testing on heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxic materials. These test results should be easy to locate and will read “ND” for not detected or simply “Passed”. 
• Cannabinoid content – This is where you’ll get the full breakdown of the cannabinoids that are present in the product. Remember, when considering the level of THC you must account for the percentage of both THC and THCa present.
• Terpene profile – Terpenes are the essential oils present in hemp and cannabis products that give them their distinct scents and flavors. They also work in concert with the cannabinoids to create some of the strain specific effects of a product. This is known as the entourage effect. Understanding terpenes can help you acquire the product that is best for you.

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It's worth noting that while the FDA does make laws about making fraudulent claims about cannabinoid products, they are not actively regulating their production and sale. This is why it’s important to confirm that any product you buy has a COA. By reading the COA you’re confirming that the product has been through third-party laboratory testing. This not only determines the weight and percentage of the cannabinoids present in the product but also ensures that it is safe to use and is in fact what the product says it is. 

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Percentages and What They Mean

Psychoactive cannabinoids like THC, delta 8, delta 10 and more are the kind that get you high, so once you know what the percentage is, you need to know how it is going to affect you. Different products can contain different ranges of percentages, so first we’ll look at a THC percentage chart of what you can expect given the type of product you are interested in.

• Flower/Pre-roll – 0% to 30% THC content
• Dabs – 60% to 80% THC content
• Live Resin – 65% to 95% THC content
• Live Rosin – 65% to 90% THC content
• Distillates – 85% to 95% THC content
• Edibles – 5 mg to 10 mg per serving

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These numbers are average estimates of what you’re likely to find in each of these products, so be sure to always check not only the cannabinoid content, but also the recommended dosage for any psychoactive product. It’s best to start at the lower end of recommended dosing, allow yourself an hour or two to see how it affects you, and adjust the dosage accordingly. This chart will give you a ballpark of what to expect given a certain percentage of THC.

• Less than 2% - Little to minimal
• 2% to 6.99% - Very mild
• 7% to 11.99% - Mild
• 12% to 16.99% - Medium
• 17% to 20% - Strong
• Greater than 20% - Very strong

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Wrapping it All Up

Knowing how much of each cannabinoid is in a potential purchase will arm you with the knowledge to have a much greater range of control over the different experiences available to you. Remember, not all cannabinoids are created equal, and different combinations of cannabinoids and terpenes can produce a wide range of effects, from firing up your creativity to helping wind down after a long day. The Green Dragon has a wealth of information on these different cannabinoids, both in our education section and in the articles on our blog. The more you learn, the more likely your next cannabinoid purchase is the perfect one for you. If you still have questions, we always love to hear from you. The comment section below this article is the perfect place to ask whatever questions you might have about cannabinoid contents and percentages. Of course, if you’d feel more comfortable having a more one-on-one conversation, we have our educated and friendly staff waiting to speak with you through our contact page. Of course, if you’re ready to just dive in feet first, head on over to our products list and start browsing!

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