What is a COA?
A certificate of analysis is a report from an accredited lab that provides crucial data on the chemical analysis of the all cannabinoids present. It is a document that manufacturers produce to verify that the product meets their customer's expectations. This type of testing is usually done by a 3rd party, to ensure an unbiased confirmation. While there may be some slight differences, most lab reports all follow a similar format. Check out below for tips on how to read a COA!
Cannabinoid Types
This is usually the first column on the report. It lists all cannabinoids found in the product. If the product you purchased states that it contains full spectrum CBD, then your report should have a variety of detectable Cannabinoids listed that are present including but not limited to CBD, CBG, CBDV, and even THC!
Weight Percentage
This column lists the percentage of weight by each cannabinoid. The reported weight should not include the packaging.
Concentration
Concentration of each cannabinoid is measured milligrams by gram making it fairly easier to double check that you are getting what you paid for!
Heavy Metal Analysis
Ingesting large unsafe amounts of metal can make you very sick. There are two important places to look on your COA that can tell you if you have a safe product. The tested concentration level of heavy metals column and the second column is the ingestion column under the Use Limits heading. This is the maximum amount the government considers safe and the tested concentration level should be far below.
Pesticide Analysis
Let's just be honest. Insects love Hemp. In order to combat their hunger during the cultivation season, some farmers may use pesticides. COAs should test for commonly used ones.
Whether you’re purchasing flower, concentrates, edibles, or topicals- don’t be afraid to ask for proof of a COA! The right business won’t mind!
-Lakes 💚
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