LAS VEGAS — With limited oversight from state and federal agencies, many consumers have expressed concerns that higher-cost cannabidiol (CBD) products may not actually contain the amount of CBD advertised. However, a recent independent study found a majority of products tested contained CBD levels within 10% of what was on the label, and in fact most products contained more CBD than advertised, not less.
The study, published by the peer-reviewed CBD educational site LeafReport.com, was conducted by an independent lab (Las Vegas-based Canalysis Laboratories) and tested 37 different CBD products. Testing showed:
- 73% of the products tested contained CBD levels within 10% of the labeled amount.
- 11% of products contained CBD levels within 20% of the labeled amount.
- 3% of products contained CBD levels within 30% the labeled amount.
- 13% of products contained CBD levels that differed from the label by more than 30%.
- Additionally, 33% of the products contained significant levels of other cannabinoids besides CBD, which LeafReport described as “a sign of a high-quality hemp extract.”
Being within 10% of the label is considered an “allowable amount of variance” by cannabis industry experts and consistent with the standards suggested for medical cannabis products, meaning the majority of products tested achieved this goal.
“These findings suggest that the CBD industry is becoming more mature and transparent, resulting in accurate, higher-quality products,” Noa Gans, LeafReport.com’s head of product, said in a press release.
Of the five products where CBD levels that were vastly different than the label claimed, just one contained only 6% of the CBD advertised. In fact, of the 37 products tested, 84% contained more CBD than the label. LeafReport surmised that most CBD companies are working to make sure customers are getting the amount of CBD advertised.
This testing is important to consumers for a number of reasons outlined by Israel-based LeafReport: products with less CBD than claimed will be less effective and could lead people to think that CBD doesn’t work, whereas a product with more CBD than claimed will affect dosage and increase the risk of potential side effects. Both are critically important given the high price of CBD, the company said.
The study also noted that products from more well-known, popular brands had more accurate CBD levels than those from lesser-known companies.
“Our findings confirm that it’s a smart choice to buy from reputable, leading CBD brands rather than cheaper, unverified companies,” Gans said.
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