Study: Edibles Potency Claims in CA, WA Often Inaccurate

Edibles products in several major cities on the West Coast often include misleading labels that overstate or understate the level of THC and CBD, according to a new study.

The report – published in the Journal of the American Medical Association – examined 75 edibles products in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

It found that only 17% of the products accurately identified the levels of THC contained therein. A whopping 60% had less THC than the labels claimed, and 23% actually had more.

Such news could easily undermine the credibility of many edibles companies, some of which have struggled with inconsistent testing results. One product in the study portended to contain 108 milligrams of THC but after testing was found to have only three milligrams, according to The New York Times.

There were also inconsistencies in cannabidiol content of the edibles in the study, the Times reported. Out of the 75 products tested, 44 had “detectable levels of CBD,” but only 13 noted that on the packaging. Of those 13, nine had less CBD than advertised, and the other four contained more.

The study looked at a variety of candies, drinks and pastries, all of which were tested by a California lab.

None of the products that were involved in the study were identified.