CannaAid & Peak; something new for everyone.

1 out of 4 CBD Products is NOT Tested

for Microbial Content, Pesticides, or Heavy Metals 

The CBD industry’s peer-reviewed watchdog Leafreport.com recently undertook an comprehensive review of 2946 products from 136 brands to verify how many were being tested by third-party facilities for purity or potency. The report also released a list of the top ten most transparent brands.

“The CBD industry is still very unregulated,” said Shafir, the head of product at Leafreport. “There have been many cases of companies selling products that contain little to no CBD–that’s why third-party testing is so critical for brands in this industry.”

Pure, Clean CBD? It’s Unlikely: Only 13% of Brands Tested Almost All of Their Products for Purity

‘Clean’, ‘safe’, ‘natural’, or ‘pure’ CBD are pivotal selling points for many CBD brands. However, these buzz words are meaningless without the evidence to support such claims.

One of the key findings of the report was that only 13% of CBD companies tested almost all of their products for detectable levels of contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, or microbial content. But 25% didn’t test any of their products for purity at all.

“We were stunned to find that of the big-name brands we reviewed, one in four didn’t test any of their products for the presence of contaminants,” said Shafir. “It’s particularly concerning given that hemp, from which CBD is extracted, is a phyto-remedial plant that absorbs toxins and heavy metals from the soil”.

Do Most CBD Products Deliver the Promised Potency? Don’t Bet on It–84% Don’t Measure within the Acceptable Variance

Among other key findings exposed by the report were significant discrepancies between the product’s labelled potency compared with the contents of the bottle.

The concentration of CBD stated on a product label must match the concentration measured by the testing laboratory within a 10% variance, which means that a high-quality CBD product is expected to have CBD levels that are within 90–110% of what is advertised.

84% of the 2946 products tested were found to be outside the limits of acceptable variance. Leafreport also uncovered that only 42% of brands tested all their products for potency.

“The number of brands sidestepping third-party potency testing, or testing outside the allowable variance, is a genuine source of concern,” commented Shafir.

“Testing to ensure the potency of your product is accurate is a fundamental aspect of brand integrity–especially in the case of CBD products that are frequently used as medicine. Children diagnosed with rare forms of pediatric epilepsy use CBD to help control seizures, so it’s absolutely essential that their caregivers know what’s in the bottle to get dosage right.”

Less is More: Brands with Fewer than 8 Products are More Likely to Test for Both Purity and Potency

Another telling finding revealed by the report was that brands offering 7 products or less were more likely to test most of their products for both potency and purity, as opposed to brands with over 40 products. These results suggest that third-party testing may be more manageable, and financially practicable, for brands with fewer products.

It’s Time for CBD Brands to Level Up and Become More Accountable

Overall, the findings of the report indicate that vast discrepancies and unknowns characterize what consumers believe they are purchasing–and the actual contents of the CBD product.

“The excitement generated by CBD has led to the explosion of largely unregulated industry that must become more accountable to consumers,” reflected Shafir.

Transparency report summary

 

http://d1h.7b5.myftpupload.com/industry-insights/1-out-of-4-cbd-products-is-not-tested/?fbclid=IwAR0ih9_—UVMaK3xssQ6gXX17GwuP4fDbbXSRKDVZMz0krJ7UKUkkIpUf4

 

 

Recent Articles

This article is the second in a two-part series examining the impact of international policy on domestic cannabis legalization. This installment shifts focus to recent global milestones, such as Canada’s federal legalization and Mexico’s ongoing reforms, and considers how these changes could shape America’s fragmented cannabis policies.
We all deal with Uncle Sam, but smoke shop owners face unique challenges compared to everyone else. Here at HeadQuest, we’ve compiled our favorite tips and tricks to get you through your least favorite time of year.
For nearly two decades, Aficionados owner Tony Williamson has offered Augusta, Georgia, more than a retail experience. His smoke shop, located in the heart of downtown, has evolved into a hub for those who don’t fit in elsewhere.
Fred Scorsch, a seasoned glassblower in Tempe, Arizona, and a 36-year veteran of the head shop industry now finds himself navigating the unpredictable world of American glass artistry, facing challenges that are upending the lives of homegrown artisans in a globalized economy.
Joey DeStefano’s journey from a young entrepreneur & musician to Chief Commercial Officer at Puff Brands is an inspiring tale of innovation, passion, and perseverance.
While Trump carried all seven swing states and the popular vote, the red wave that swept him into office also delivered a stinging rebuke to drug reform advocates. Legalization efforts in both Dakotas as well as Florida failed, and Massachusetts rejected a measure to make psychedelics great again.
As an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe of the Columbia River Plateau and a descendant of Chief Looking Glass, Mary Jane Oatman is on a mission to bring Indigenous communities back into the conversation around cannabis, hemp, and plant-based healing.
The federal government and e-cigarettes can’t seem to get along. Like two cats fighting, it’s mostly terrible noises and ridiculous posturing with extended pauses between any actual bouts of scratches and bites. Yet something about a recent dustup seems to signal the feud has reached a new intensity.