Cannabis Analysis: Why Is It Important and How Can Benchtop NMR Help?
It's no secret the cannabis industry has taken the world by storm. In fact, by the end of 2025, the global cannabis industry is expected to reach $146.4 billion. Even during the COVID-19 crisis, the industry is still running hot. However, the cannabis industry's popularity is perhaps even more of a reason why quality control and analysis is so important.
Patients who rely on cannabis for pain and symptom relief need to know that they're getting the highest-quality products. Unfortunately, it isn't always possible to leave quality control to the cultivators. That said, as a retailer, it's important to ensure you're delivering only the best quality cannabis to your customers per state regulations and testing protocols.
What is cannabis tested for?
Cannabis needs to be tested for multiple factors including, but not limited to:
Cannabinoid content, particularly THC and CBD levels: Cannabis products are legally required to report their total cannabinoid levels. "Total THC" and "Total CBD" refer to the maximum potential of THC and CBD content in a given cannabis product. It's essential to confirm your cannabis product's THC and CBD levels to ensure they're accurately listed on the product label.
Pesticides: Pesticides are designed to kill the pests that plague hemp and/or cannabis plants in commercial greenhouses, but they can be toxic to people. This is especially true for those who have compromised immune systems. It's important to confirm that the cannabis being sold to you is free from these pesticides for the safety of your customers.
Moisture content: Moisture content is one of the key factors that can indicate whether your cannabis has or hasn't been contaminated. A plant with a moisture level at 12% or higher is at risk of developing mold and growing bacteria.
Terpene profile: Certain strains of cannabis have different terpene profiles. It's important to test cannabis after it's been harvested to ensure the cannabis being used for a product is consistent and accurate in its profile.
Benchtop NMR for cannabis analysis and CBD oil testing
Has your store ever purchased CBD oil from a distributor for a really great price? The truth is those products might be too good to be true. Just like honey, olive oil, and other food or wellness products that rely on quality ingredients, the authenticity of CBD oil is sometimes tampered with in an effort to make a bigger profit on the product.
This can be a major safety issue for customers and potentially damaging to your brand's reputation. Fortunately, you can use benchtop NMR not only to check the authenticity of your CBD oil but also to test your cannabis for its concentrates, terpene profile, and more.
Benchtop NMR spectrometers have the ability to accurately and rapidly quantify CBD content and THC content in the trim and buds of hemp and cannabis. Benchtop NMR users can take advantage of the benchtop spectrometer's 60 MHz and 100 MHz platforms, NMR interpretation software, and sampling accessories to incorporate automated NMR into their routine processes.
Ready to get started with your own benchtop NMR spectrometer? Contact Nanalysis today to learn more.