How many of you take time to read the labels before buying your groceries? I’m sure the number of people with an affirmative answer is not that high.
Reading labels is a necessary step that most of us often find irrelevant. But while ignoring labels on groceries may still give you some slack, the same cannot be said for medical cannabis products.
Medical cannabis is basically an unconventional medicine for a lot of people suffering from debilitating conditions. Ensuring that they have access to the best medication is very important. This is why even your medical marijuana doctor might advise you to not ignore reading labels on cannabis products.
Now, why is it important to read labels on your cannabis products? Let’s take a look.
Guarantee of Safety and Quality
One thing that every cannabis, as well as CBD consumer, must remember is that neither of the two is FDA approved. What does this mean? It means that the FDA has not given a green light to any cannabis product that claims to have medicinal properties.
This non-approval status allows many companies to not skip the consequences of producing and marketing potentially harmful products.
But, if you are buying cannabis products from a state-licensed dispensary, you can rest assured that the products will be safe. To be extra cautious, the labels can give you an idea of whether or not a product promises quality and safety or not.
Better Decisions
As the cannabis market is growing, the competition to deliver the best product is on with full glory too. If you are someone who’s very picky and wishes to have the best for yourself, reading labels can help you.
The best brands in the market will put every information about their product on the labels or online. From the cannabinoid analysis to growing conditions, you can find every detail on the label. Use this information to compare different products. This way, you will be able to find the right product that not only meets your requirements but also delivers them at the best price.
Points to Look For on the Label
Now comes the most important part- what do you need to look for in a label. Like any other product, you will find the necessary details like the weight, quantity, lot or batch number, company details, etc. on the cannabis products. You’ll have an easier time going through these details as an average consumer is already aware of such information.
However, if you are a beginner or buying your cannabis products for the first time, there are other details that are more worth noticing.
Test Report
Every company that produces cannabis products is required to partner with a third-party testing lab that is responsible to check every batch of the products and run different tests on them. Each of these tests is created to ensure that the final product is safe, of high quality and matches the claims on the label. Here are a few of these test:
Strain Details (if applicable)
Cannabis comes in hundreds of different strains. Each has a different composition and can deliver different effects too. You might want to learn about the type of strain you are investing in before choosing a product.
The most general classification of strains is Sativa, Indica and Hybrids. But, if you are looking at the labels, you will most probably find the name of the strain in the product. It gives you some idea about the effects that you can expect from the product.
Residual Solvents
Every cannabis product involves some sort of extraction process that may use one or the other solvent. However, if high amounts of these solvents remain in the final product, it may be harmful to your health.
For this reason, companies get each batch tested for residual solvents and even pesticides that may be left behind in the product.
Cannabinoids and Terpene Analysis
A test report gives a detailed analysis of the cannabinoid and terpene analysis in the product. This is important because people can have a better idea about the concentration of major cannabinoids like THC and CBD as well as the minor ones like CBN and CBC.
Additionally, the terpenes analysis can further indicate the effects, flavor and aroma you can expect from a product. While there may not be a detailed analysis on the label, you can always visit the website or scan the batch number or QR code to have a detailed COA online.
Microbial Growth
You would not want to consume a load of E Coli or other microbes with your medical marijuana. This is why every single batch of cannabis products is tested for microbes. Additionally, they also test the moisture content of the cannabis or hemp flowers to make sure that the risk of fungus or any microbial growth is minimum. The moisture content for quality products should be between 5% to 15%.9
Date of Manufacture and Expiry
This goes without saying that you need to always check the date of manufacture and expiration of every product you buy. In the case of medical cannabis, the importance level increases because, with time, the potency and quality of the cannabis product may also degrade. As a result, the effectiveness can also reduce. It can be a problem for people suffering from severe medical conditions.
Instructions for Use
Cannabis products have different concentrations which may affect people differently. This is why you can find detailed instructions for proper use or serving sizes on the labels. You can also find warnings or special instructions on the label to ensure that every consumer has a safe experience.
Additionally, you can find instructions for proper storage too to keep the product fresh for longer.
So, will you read the labels this time?
I’m sure you will take the time to read the labels on your cannabis products before paying your hard-earned money for them. After all, it’s a matter of your health.
So, spread the word and allow every medical cannabis patient to become a more aware consumer.
