Why we think it’s important
The study discussed in this blog is important because it is the first to investigate the accuracy of cannabis product labeling in the legal Canadian market, revealing significant discrepancies in THC and CBD content. Accurate labeling is crucial for consumers, particularly for medical users who rely on precise dosing for therapeutic purposes.
Introduction
In October 2018, Canada legalized cannabis for recreational use, marking a significant shift in the regulation and control of cannabis products. A critical component of the federal system introduced was quality control, including specific labeling requirements for commercial cannabis products. These regulations stipulate that the actual amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in cannabis products must be within a 15% variance above or below the labeled amounts. However, recent research has revealed that label inaccuracies for THC and CBD are prevalent among legal cannabis products. Despite the importance of accurate labeling for both consumers and healthcare providers, the accuracy of cannabis product labels in the Canadian legal market has not been thoroughly investigated—until now.
Between November 2021 and January 2022, a case series study was conducted to examine the label accuracy of cannabis oil products available on the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) website. The study randomly selected 30 products that were available at least twice during the study period. To determine the actual amounts of CBD and THC in each product, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed at the Centre for Microbial Chemical Biology at McMaster University. According to federal cannabis regulations, the allowable variability for extracts is 15% above or below the product’s labeled amount. The study calculated the number of products that exceeded this variability limit and divided by the total number of products tested. To ensure comparability with other research, a subgroup analysis was conducted on higher-potency products (≥2.5 mg/g THC), as defined by OCS consumer guidance.
Study Findings
The study uncovered significant discrepancies between the THC and CBD amounts listed on the OCS website and the actual product labels for 10 out of 30 oil products (33.3%). Additionally, there were inconsistencies within the product labels themselves; 5 products (16.7%) had discordant information regarding active cannabinoid content versus total cannabinoid content. This discrepancy is notable because, for extract-type products, these concentrations should be identical. The most extreme discrepancy found was a product labeled with 5 mg/g CBD but actually containing 26 mg/g of total CBD.
Further analysis revealed that 12 products (40.0%) were outside the allowable variability limit for THC, while 3 products (10.0%) exceeded the limit for CBD. Most of these cases involved overlabeling, where the labeled THC or CBD content was higher than the amounts determined by laboratory testing. Among the 16 products labeled with 2.5 mg/g THC or higher, 7 products (43.8%) contained significantly lower THC amounts than indicated on the label, deviating by more than 15%.
This study is the first to examine the label accuracy of cannabis products in the legal Canadian market, revealing significant discrepancies in labeling at multiple levels. One-third of the tested products differed from their online THC and CBD descriptions, and 16.7% contained conflicting information on the physical label itself. The findings indicate that 40.0% of products were outside the variability limits for THC and 10.0% for CBD, with most discrepancies due to overlabeling.
While no products contained more THC than labeled to the extent that would cause substantially different psychoactive effects, the inaccuracies in labeling could lead to incorrect dosing, especially for medical consumers who may rely on precise dosing for therapeutic purposes. These findings highlight the need for greater quality control in the Canadian legal cannabis market and challenge the assumption that a legal market guarantees accurate labeling.
Conclusion
The study’s findings suggest that inaccurate labeling of cannabis oil products in the Canadian market is common and raises concerns about quality control practices. Given that many consumers rely on the information provided on cannabis product labels for appropriate dosing, the inaccuracies observed in this study could lead to unintended effects or therapeutic failures. These results underscore the need for stricter enforcement of labeling regulations and more robust quality control measures to ensure consumer safety and product reliability in the Canadian legal cannabis market. Future studies should explore the generalizability of these findings to other cannabis product types and include a broader range of products to better understand the extent of this issue across the market.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2819563
“Label Accuracy of Legal Oral Cannabis Oil Products in Ontario, Canada.” (A. Doggett, et al., JAMA Netw Open, 2024)
