Cannabinoid Profile Testing

Cannabinoids are the active compounds present in cannabis. The cannabinoids give the product its psychoactive and medicinal properties and unique scent. With more and more countries legalizing medicinal cannabis each year, cannabinoid content has to be ascertained and reported on the product to ensure its safety.

Ideally, cannabinoid profiling informs users of the concentration of active cannabinoids present within a sample. This article explains how cannabinoids are measured and why it is essential to profile cannabinoids.

What Is Cannabinoid Profiling, and Why Does It Matter?

There are over 70 cannabinoid compounds with distinct medicinal benefits. Cannabinoid profiling measures the total content of cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, and others in a sample by using analytical techniques. Profiling is an effective way for processors, physicians, and consumers to assess and understand the actual potency of medical cannabis products. The following are some of the reasons to profile cannabinoids:

• To determine accurate dosage: Cannabinoid profiling allows healthcare practitioners to determine the precise dosage. Profiling also helps patients choose the proper treatment for their symptoms while assisting providers in verifying the quality of their products.
• To meet regulations: Cannabis Act requires cannabinoids to be quantitatively measured and reported on the product. In Colorado, all industrial hemp cultivators and product manufacturers must complete state-approved testing before products can be offered for sale in CO dispensaries. Some of the compounds that must be measured include Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid(THCA), Cannabidiol(CBD), Cannabinol Acid(CBDA), and Cannabinol(CBN). New additions that will be part of the panel of testing will be: Delta-10 THC, Delta-8 THC, and exo-THC.
• Helps make right decisions about treatments: Today’s medical marijuana patients are asking for a higher standard of care. Healthcare providers can meet these demands when they have precise knowledge of the contents of their cannabis products. A cannabinoid profile identifies and quantifies the authentic psychoactive compounds in marijuana products, thereby allowing consumers to make informed decisions regarding their treatments.

How Do We Measure Potency?

Nordic Analytical Laboratories leverages modern instrumentation and equipment with a highly advanced methodology to measure the potency of cannabinoids in a product. We utilize high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/DAD) to deliver complete cannabinoid profiling, and HPLC extracts a sample into a solvent to isolate the target compound. After that, it will use a UV detector to measure the concentration of compounds. Because HPLC does not heat the sample, the methodology is reliable for measuring heat-sensitive compounds such as THCA and CBDA.

Terpene Analysis

What are Terpenes?

Terpenes are the compounds responsible for how plants smell. The aromatic compounds create the unique scent of cannabis. Terpene analysis helps differentiate between different strains of cannabis to determine the medical and psychological effects.

Why Is Terpene Analysis Important?

There are several benefits that the medical and psychological effects of a plant provide for patients, providers, and breeders. These include:

• Choosing the right treatment: Understanding terpenes helps patients choose the right strain for their symptoms.
• Treatment customization: Terpene analysis helps collectives and budtenders customize treatment programs based on each client’s specific needs. It allows for the optimization of a strain’s pharmacological effects to achieve personalized treatments.
• Selection of terpene ratios: Terpene analysis enables breeders to understand terpene compounds, thereby allowing them to selectively modulate the terpene ratios of their strains to maximize desired benefits. 

Cannabis Lab Consulting in Colorado

Cannabis is now legal for medicinal and adult recreational use in most states. The legalization has led to an explosion in the legal cannabis industry, with Colorado becoming a perfect home for several legal cannabis producers, vendors, and entrepreneurs. Accurate cannabinoid testing for Medical Marijuana is crucial to ensure consumers receive an accurately labeled and safe product to consume. Nordic Analytical Laboratories is a fully certified lab for all state-mandated cannabis testing centers for both recreational and medical cannabis. Our Colorado laboratories are well-equipped with cutting-edge facilities to serve a range of clients. If you are unsure which testing services best suit your individual needs, our laboratory team can provide additional information. Contact us today to learn more.