How To Read Cannabis Labels: Everything You Need To Know

Do you know what you’re smoking? We get it; weed labels can be pretty confusing to read. We’ve had decades of education on how to read nutrition labels, and even now, many people still find them confusing.

When it comes to cannabis labeling, the percentages and chemicals listed may seem way too scientific for the average consumer to understand. What do all of these abbreviations mean anyway?

Here’s how to decode your cannabis labels.

There are a few simple things on labels that are mostly self-explanatory. But, for information’s sake, here’s what they are:

• Strain name
• Who grew the strain
• The Indica/Sativa class
• The date the strain was tested
• Testing lab name and information
• Information on legal compliance with state/province law
• The expiration date of the testing results (this is NOT the expiration date of the cannabis product)

It’s actually quite simple. Consumers are entitled to know what they’re smoking. It’s the same as shopping for food at the grocery store—everything will have a label of nutrition facts to help you understand what you’re eating.

Each state (USA) and province (Canada) has its own unique labeling laws. This means that there isn’t nationwide standardization for what information should be present on cannabis labels.

That said, cannabis labels give you all kinds of information. They can tell you:

• If the product has been infected with mold

• If traces of residual pesticide were found on the strain

• How much THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are present

You can make the argument that understanding these cannabis labels gives you a lot more information about the type of high the strain provides than its Indica/Sativa class alone.

For example, a strain with a mere 3% CBD content will produce different effects than one with 0%, even if the latter is thought to be the same strain.

Regardless, even with readily available testing information, labels can be a bit confusing. Here’s a handy guide to help you understand what you’re actually getting:

Total THC (or THC maximum) represents the total amount of THC that is available in the strain. This is the number most consumers care about.

The total THC content gives you a good idea about the strain’s level of psychoactivity. High THC strains typically have around 18 to 20+ percent total THC.

For edible products, this number is often represented in milligrams. The milligram measurement is a bit more difficult to judge on behalf of the consumer. Generally, a dose for an inexperienced cannabis user is thought to be about 10mg of THC, while experienced users may need 30mg+.

THCA refers to tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. Simply stated, this is the raw form of THC, and it’s non-psychoactive.

The words may sound fancy, but the process is super simple. To make THC psychoactive, you have to heat it. That’s why you smoke or bake cannabis to feel high. So, THCa converts to THC when heated (decarboxylated).

On a cannabis label, the total amount of THCA lets you know how much psychoactive THC there will be once the herb is heated. The more THCA, the more psychoactive the strain when you heat it up.

Heating cannabis activates THC. But, there’s another way the psychoactive thrives: aging. When cannabis is aged and cured, some of the THCA breaks down and turns into plain ol’ THC.

Cannabis labels often list the amount of THC acid available for use, as well as the amount of acid that has already been converted through the drying process.

The amount of activated THC on dried strains typically isn’t very high. Some of this may also burn off when you heat the cannabis with high temperatures once you get home.

Active THC percentages may also be written as THC Decarb. Together, THCA and THC percentages make up the total THC percentage.

Similar to THCA, the amount of CBDA in a strain tells you its CBD potential. CBDA stands for cannabidiol acid. This is raw CBD. When you heat CBDA, it converts into non-psychoactive CBD.

Strains high in CBD have a wealth of medicinal properties. The more CBD a strain contains, the more mellow the overall high will be. Strains with higher levels of CBD and CBDA than THC are less likely to be psychoactive.

You’ve probably guessed it…the CBD percentage or milligram amount listed on a label tells you the amount of activated CBD present in the product.

Totals of CBD and CBDA levels make up the total CBD percentage available to consumers.

Both THC and CBD are cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are the plant compounds that engage with our bodies and give cannabis its unique effects.

Levels of other cannabinoids like Δ8-THC, THCV, CBN, CBG, and CBC may also be present on a label. While these cannabinoids are less common, they have some powerful health benefits that you won’t want to miss.

“I/H” on a weed cart typically stands for “Indica/Hybrid.” This indicates that the cannabis oil in the cart is a blend that includes both Indica and Hybrid strains. Similarly, “S/H” stands for “Sativa/Hybrid.”

This one is very important. If your bud didn’t come with a label, there’s no way of knowing whether or not it has been contaminated with pesticides or insecticides.

Some labels list the amount of pesticide residue found in the bud. In order for a product to pass a pesticide test, levels must be under 0.1 parts per million.

Most labels just state whether or not a product has passed. If they have passed, they met the above criteria.

The presence of molds and mildews are another thing to be concerned about. Cannabis that has been tested and made it onto dispensary shelves will typically pass tests for microbiology.

Here’s what’s often included in microbiology screens:

• Levels of aerobic bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella, etc.)
• Yeasts and molds
• Other large bacterial colonies

Some labels will simply tell you whether or not a strain has passed with acceptable levels of microbes. Others may list an exact amount.

Restrictions on microbial levels vary from region to region. Oregon, for example, does not require tests for pathogenic bacteria.

These aspects are not often listed on dispensary labels, but they might be:

• Residual solvents (used in the making of BHO, Rick Simpson Oil, and other concentrates)

• Terpenes (flavor and aroma compounds that add depth to a high and have additional medical benefits)

• Mycotoxin (A substance produced by fungus)

As is probably obvious at this point, there’s more to your bud than you might expect. Learning to read cannabis labels is as important as understanding labels at the grocery store.

To ensure you’re getting a safe product that’ll deliver your desired effects, take a peak at the testing results before you purchase.