Comprehensive Analysis of Legal Cannabis Market in Colorado

In a significant step towards understanding the legal cannabis market in Colorado, an extensive analysis was conducted on cannabis products purchased from licensed dispensaries in the state. Published in the journal Scientific Reports, the study is the most detailed to date regarding cannabis classification in the legal market. The research provides new insights into the potency of current cannabis, effective standards, and system shortcomings.

Research Importance and Details

Lead researcher Cinnamon Bidwell, an assistant professor in psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, emphasized the importance of providing accurate information about THC content in products, given the complex and wide-ranging effects of cannabis. Supported by the Colorado Cannabis Research Institute, the project was executed in collaboration with a licensed testing facility known as MedPharm Research, LLC.

Duncan McKee, director of pharmacology at MedPharm, noted that building trust in products requires continuous evaluation and correction of any issues that may arise.

Research Methodology

Due to federal restrictions preventing university scientists from purchasing or directly handling cannabis from the legal market, collaboration with the industry was necessary. A total of 277 products were collected from 52 dispensaries across 19 counties by a MedPharm secret shopper. The samples included 178 flower products and 99 concentrate products.

Images of each label were provided to Bidwell’s team, and tests were conducted by MedPharm chemists to ensure objectivity. The tests revealed that THC content in flower products averaged about 21%, while concentrates averaged 71%, with some products reaching up to 84%.

Findings and Challenges

The study found that about 44% of flower products did not meet the standard of having THC content within 15% of the amount stated on the label. Discrepancies were significant in some cases, with one product labeled as containing 24% THC actually containing only 16%.

Previous research has shown a tendency for some testing labs to inflate THC potency to attract marketers seeking to appeal to consumers looking for stronger products.

Beyond THC: The Importance of Other Cannabinoids

The study also included other cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). Although Colorado law mandates CBD levels to be listed on labels, only 16% of products included information about other cannabinoids.

The study confirmed that focusing solely on THC could be detrimental to consumers, as data showed the importance of reporting multiple cannabinoids on labels.

Conclusion

With continued support from the Cannabis Research Institute, Bidwell and McKee plan to expand their work to include edible products, hoping their research will help guide better regulatory standards as marijuana legalization laws expand. The shared goal is a strong and successful industry that regulators can trust, businesses can thrive in, and customers can rely on.