How can you tell how much CBD and THC are in your weed?

The potency of cannabis is determined by the levels of CBD and THC compounds in the plant. Therefore, it is normal to be curious about the exact amount of THC and CBD in a cannabis product before smoking.

Hundreds of new cannabis strains have been developed over the past decade, offering smokers a wide range of options. No two cannabis strains can have exactly the same properties. The taste and aftereffects of each variety are different from one another.

This has created a departure from the normal cannabis culture that was practiced in the 1970s and 1980s. Back then there were fewer cannabis strains and everyone had an idea of ​​the amount of THC and CBD they contained.

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Now the THC and CBD levels have increased and can be up to 30% in a cannabis product, with extracts having very high levels of CBD or THC compounds.

Most seasoned cannabis smokers have very little idea of ​​how much THC they are putting into their systems – especially when these products are purchased from unlicensed stores.

Licensed issuing offices have the product data. Information such as the THC and CBD content as well as the other compounds contained in the products can be provided by these dispensing points. Seed banks also offer this information to customers.

You need to understand that although these numbers are reported by these stores, these numbers are subject to change. The change may occur due to the length of time spent on the shelf or due to reactions between the compounds in the weeds, etc.

Why you should test the THC and CBD levels in your weed

Testing your weed before consuming it will help allay any fears you may have about the lack of information about a particular weed product.

Cannabis farmers tend to go for high-THC cannabis strains when creating a new strain without thinking too much about the effects of these compounds once they enter the consumer’s body.

If you test your weed before consuming it, you will know;

• what effects are to be expected.
• the right time to use it.
• the right dosage for consumption.
• whether or not you should maximize cannabinoid levels if you are a breeder.

THC and CBD tests

This can be done in three ways.

If you are purchasing a product from a licensed pharmacy, you can use the approximate numbers provided by the dealer. That way, you plug the numbers into a few equations to get the levels of THC and CBD compounds in the weed.

If you live in a state with approved cannabis laws, you have access to records of hundreds of laboratory tested cannabis samples. Almost all cannabis products are labeled with approximate percentages of each cannabinoid compound and until now they are sold by a licensed store.

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The second method is to grab a test kit and do the test in the privacy of your home.

The third is done through testing by a third party that is a licensed laboratory.

Are home tests comparable to third-party tests?

Sure, there’s nothing like third-party testing – they use expensive equipment for high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography, but home testing of your weed is also a viable option.

Home tests are DIY ways to determine the exact potency of your weed before taking a few puffs. Depending on your following of the steps to test your weed at home, you can assess the amount of THC, CBD, and even other compounds like terpenes in the weed.

Here’s how to test your weed’s THC and CBD levels at home

Cannabis users in most parts of the world do not have access to accurately labeled products, nor do they have records of measured and tested weed samples for reference. So you can’t always use the formula method to determine the level of content. You can either send samples to a laboratory or do it yourself.

There are several options to choose from when testing your flowers at home. Some options cost more than the others but will give you more detailed results. The cheaper options often produce limiting results.

Color card test kits

These kits test for both THC and CBD. They can be used to test flowers, extracts, and oils. These tests only require a tiny amount of material to determine reading of the content.

Mix a small sample of the weed with the test liquid. Mix well and if the solution changes color compare the color to the colors on the chart to determine where it falls.

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The color card test kit method is the cheapest method to use at home. They also do not provide detailed results. Most graphs only show values ​​for THC levels that do not exceed 20% and CBD levels of less than 2.5%.

Test kits for thin layer chromatography (TLC)

These kits provide more accurate readings. They can also be used to test for not only THC and CBD, but other smaller cannabinoids like CBN, CBG, and THCV as well.

Simply mix 0.1 g of the weed sample with the test liquid. Use the pipette provided to color the coated glass plate with small amounts of the mixture.

Here the various existing cannabinoid compounds are detected and separated. To find out what its contents are, use the dye on the glass. Then you can now compare it with the supplied template.

Testing gadgets

This is the most expensive option that can be used to test CBD and THC levels at home. It is used by breeders, breeders, and other cannabis smokers who care so much about knowing the cannabinoid content of their weed.

It can determine levels of THC, CBD, and CBN. It can also detect the presence of various terpenes.

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To save yourself the cost and stress of doing these tests yourself, you can rely on the dealer numbers. This will give you an idea of ​​what your weed contains.

Labs provide the most accurate and detailed information, while home test kits provide basic or detailed information about your weed, depending on the kit purchased.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and was republished with permission.