Cannabinoid Profiling and Potency

Cannabinoids are the most important component in cannabis because it is a type of chemical in cannabis that causes drug-like effects throughout the body. The most prominent cannabinoids are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). However, after years of research, it is proven that there are over 113 active cannabinoids that are produced by the cannabis plant. The legalization of recreational and medicinal cannabis in different states of America and other countries has heightened the need for further improved purification and identification of cannabinoids. The emerging interest in the therapeutic benefits of minor cannabinoids has increased the demand for analytical methods capable of separating cannabinoids.

Potency testing has many advantages for the legal cannabis industry. The data that is collected and analyzed are especially significant for customers who might be searching for a particular effect. Potency testing can let us know and understand which cannabinoids are available in a given strain and at what level (%). For instance, a strain with elevated percentages of THC will give different effects than a strain with low percentages of CBD. No matter what form the cannabis comes in, whether it is an edible, a joint, or an extract, consumers are able to identify what they are looking for and expect when consuming the cannabis.

These benefits are not only advantages for consumers in the cannabis industry. Both cannabis producers and processors also acquire the data to help refine their strain breeding, growing, curing and harvesting strategies. Choosing when the harvest becomes critical when trying to achieve optimum effect and expected potency with consistent results. Once the cannabinoids and terpenes are harvested, it will continue to change. To ensure the highest quality of product, testing to understand how the strain behaves will provide the necessary data to effectively manage the curing, packaging and distribution process to ensure the highest quality of product.