Changes in MA Cannabis Testing – Number Hunters Heads Up!

When it comes to shopping for cannabis flower, one of the first things everyone looks at is the numbers on the package. After all, to understand the effects you will experience with any particular strain, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (cannabinol), and even TAC (Total Active Cannabinoids) percentages are the primary way to do just that.

While the numbers you find on cannabis packages remain as important as ever, a few changes to cannabis testing laws in Massachusetts are worth noting as a consumer. Take a look at a few of the most recent changes to cannabis tests in the Bay State and what you should know as a customer who pays careful attention to numbers.

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The Latest Changes Regarding testing Cannabis in Massachusetts

The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) made two pertinent changes to the rules for testing cannabis in March. These two changes will affect the end THC levels of cannabis flower.

Mandatory Cannabis Testing Requirements

The CCC now mandates that testing labs calculate Total THC using delta-9 THC + (THCA x 0.877) and Total CBD using CBD + (CBDA x 0.877). This can cause a flower’s THC and CBD percentages to decrease by 3 to 5 points. Therefore, your favorite flower that was once 30 percent THC or higher may show up with a slightly lower number when you see it at the dispensary. Previously, all labs didn’t adjust for THCA and CBDA decarboxylation. This could inflate cannabinoid percentages, but this new approach ensures more accurate potency readings.

Banned Moisture Correction in MA

The CCC has also stopped allowing labs to adjust cannabinoid percentages based on moisture content in finished flower. If a lab used a method that involved drying buds at high heat to measure moisture, the THC percentages could now drop by 4 to 5 points. Previously, this method could unintentionally increase THC levels by removing more than just water. It’s important to note that this change only affects how labs calculate percentages based on the weight of the sample, not the actual chemical profile of the cannabis itself or the cannabinoids it has.

Why Did These Changes in Cannabis Tests Occur?

The overarching goal of the latest changes in regulations for cannabis tests is to create a more standardized approach to product testing. In the end, the CCC hopes to create a system that makes cannabis numbers more reliable for customers. Therefore, while these changes can be a little confusing, they are happening for a good cause. Once all the backstock of pre-tested flower is off the market, the accuracy of all cannabinoid numbers on the flower in MA will be far more consistent and reliable.

What Does All This Mean for Massachusetts Cannabis Customers?

What you can expect to see going forward is a slight dip in potency numbers with certain strains from certain brands. There are two key things to remember during this transitional phase as a cannabis customer:

• There Are Grandfathered Products: Companies with pre-rule-change stock can sell products with higher THC until that stock is depleted. Therefore, some of the largest producers may still have some stock in dispensaries with the high THC numbers. Number hunters who are in the market for higher THC flower may still find some of these products at the dispensary.
• Ask for Insight About THC Levels: Recalculating potency expectations can be a little confusing. Now, a product labeled lower THC may still offer the same effects and quality. If you are ever unsure about the potency of your favorite products or see that the THC percentages have dropped, check with a budtender if you have questions about the overall effects.

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