Connect with us

Business

Canadian cannabis industry reckons with inflated THC label claims

Published

on

Potency testing on store-bought cannabis flower by a Canadian laboratory has found THC levels significantly lower than the labeled value, sparking an industrywide conversation about how to address inaccurate THC claims.

Rob O’Brien, CEO and chief science officer of Kelowna, British Columbia-based licensed cannabis testing laboratory Supra Research and Development, shared the findings from his Canadian potency tests online.

O’Brien tested 46 different cannabis flower products, grown by 21 producers, in a variety of package sizes purchased from several different stores in B.C.

THC values for all 46 samples were lower than the labels claimed, ranging from 9% to 48% less THC than the label stated.

O’Brien’s findings come as the issue of inflated THC values has also been raised in the U.S. regulated cannabis industry, shining a spotlight on laboratories amid allegations that some labs report inaccurate levels of THC on behalf of the marijuana producers who hire them to test products.

O’Brien, for his part, has not revealed the names of the products he tested or the companies that produced them.

“I’m trying to help the industry, not to shame it,” he told MJBizDaily.

“But the problem is that the emperor has no clothes in this situation.

“And if we (aren’t) honest about that, everybody gets hurt worse in the end.”

O’Brien said he shared his results with Health Canada as well as B.C.’s provincial cannabis wholesaler.

Health Canada confirmed to MJBizDaily that it has received the report and said that “all issues and complaints brought to the department’s attention are taken seriously.”

“As Health Canada is in the process of reviewing the report, the department is not in a position to comment at this time,” a Health Canada spokesperson said in a statement.

THC inflation rumors

Labeled THC values in Canada have come under heightened scrutiny in recent years.

The metric is thought to be one of the key drivers behind purchases by cannabis consumers.

O’Brien told MJBizDaily he was motivated to buy cannabis, test the THC levels and share his results after hearing “a lot of talk that the THC values were inflated.”

“And this is damaging, not only to just consumer confidence, but (it) also undermines the quality of the Canadian cannabis industry,” he said.

Exaggerated THC values have been observed in the U.S. cannabis industry as well, with some state regulators cracking down on laboratories that inflate THC levels.

THC inflation has become an issue in ArkansasFloridaMichigan and Nevada.

The practice has sparked allegations that some cannabis companies go “lab shopping,” seeking out testing facilities with “a reputation for being easy to work with.”

In Canada, cannabis regulations specify an acceptable THC deviation limit of up to 15% from labeled THC values for marijuana extracts and topicals.

For edibles, THC values can deviate from the label by 15%-25%, depending on the potency of the edible. (Less potent edibles can have a higher level of deviation.)

For dried cannabis flower, however, the regulations “do not set out variability limits with respect to the amount of THC or CBD,” Health Canada confirmed.

“There is no variability limit for dried cannabis because, unlike cannabis extracts or edible cannabis products, dried cannabis is heterogeneous, which means that the amount of THC and CBD varies between different parts of the plant as well as between different plants within a lot or batch,” a Health Canada spokesperson told MJBizDaily.

What explains THC discrepancies?

O’Brien stressed that his testing doesn’t explain exactly why the actual THC values in the cannabis he tested were so different from the labeled values.

Still, he has a few hypotheses.

O’Brien said he has heard secondhand talk that some cannabis processors – who package marijuana products on behalf of cultivators without their own processing license – insist that those cultivators use specific labs for potency testing.

Rumor has it that those laboratories agree to issue certificates of analysis (COAs) showing guaranteed THC levels.

“And if (the laboratories are) willing to do that, they get the business,” O’Brien said.

“And if they’re not, if you’re going to do it accurately, well, that could be a problem.”

Jodi McDonald, president of licensed cannabis testing laboratory Keystone Labs in Edmonton, Alberta, said the lab has lost business as some cannabis testing clients have sought results showing certain levels of THC.

“In the early days, I would say, it didn’t really come up,” McDonald said.

“But in the last few years, it’s been more the conversation that we have with clients than usual.

“Honestly, we lost a lot of market share, because while we had a validated method that we trusted and have faith in, the clients couldn’t move product based on data that came from our lab.”

Another possibility that could explain the inaccurate THC values on labels, said Supra’s O’Brien, is that cultivators are finding “ways to game the system” by sending the most potent cannabis samples from a given batch for testing.

“If you’re sending top buds, and maybe you’re de-stemming those top buds before you send it to the lab, yeah, you’re going to get a higher COA,” he said.

“And if you’re using that one COA on every one of your packaged products, the smaller (packages) don’t have the 2-gram buds that have the high THC content – they have 0.3-, 0.4-gram buds.

“Those things are not going to be at the same level as the premium buds.”

Canadian cannabis production regulations potentially allow a single sample of marijuana to represent a large batch in lab testing.

The rules require THC and CBD testing “on a representative sample of each lot or batch of cannabis,” but they don’t specify the size of a “lot or batch,” Health Canada confirmed to MJBizDaily.

“It can be a football field-sized batch,” Keystone Labs’ McDonald said.

“However, the producing company defines a ‘batch’ is up to them.”

How to rectify the issue of THC inflation

Solving Canada’s apparent THC inflation problem could require action by multiple industry players.

Clearly, cannabis growers, processors and testing laboratories play a role.

Supra’s O’Brien believes provincial cannabis wholesalers – which are government-owned, in most cases – also need to be accountable for the marijuana they distribute.

The wholesalers, he added, are “also partially responsible for why we have this problem, because they’re now not buying product unless it hits certain thresholds of THC.”

Those THC requirements could incentivize growers to present lab results showing high THC content.

O’Brien also called for “better guidance from Health Canada,” the federal agency that regulates cannabis production.

Keystone Labs’ McDonald doubts the cannabis industry will regulate itself.

“There’s too much pressure for searching for higher THC values,” she said.

“So my belief is that it needs to come from the regulatory authority.

“But that change won’t come unless there’s consumer pressure to make a change.”

Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/canadian-cannabis-industry-reckons-with-inflated-thc-label-claims/

Agriculture & Life Sciences

Canada’s Cannabis Industry Urges Government to Support Growing Export Market

Published

on

By

BuzzBuzz Cannabis Business News — 24 November 2025

Canada’s cannabis sector is calling on federal and provincial governments to recognize its fast-growing export potential and extend the same support other regulated industries receive. Industry leaders warn that Canada is losing its early global advantage due to slow regulatory processes, lack of trade promotion, and limited access to government-backed financing.

Canada’s medical-cannabis exporters now generate more than half a billion dollars annually and ship products to major markets including Germany, the UK, Australia, and Poland. Despite this, cannabis remains largely absent from Canada’s official trade and export strategies.

Industry Calls for Streamlined Export System

Paul McCarthy, President of the Cannabis Council of Canada, says the country has everything required to dominate the global medical cannabis trade—except government alignment.

“Our requests are simple,” McCarthy said. “Expedite Health Canada’s export-permit process, integrate cannabis into federal export programs like Global Affairs Canada trade missions and CanExport, and ensure provinces include cannabis in their export strategies.”

He stressed the need for mutual recognition agreements with importing countries to eliminate redundant testing and documentation. Access to Export Development Canada (EDC) and Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) services also remains off-limits to cannabis exporters, placing them at a steep disadvantage.

“This industry does not just need permission to operate,” McCarthy added. “It needs to be treated like every other legitimate contributor to Canada’s trade objectives.”

Competitors Are Moving Faster

McCarthy warns that while Canada pioneered medical cannabis standards, other countries are rapidly advancing with more flexible and export-friendly systems.

“Faster approvals, lower compliance costs, and active government-backed strategies are helping other nations catch up,” he said. “Canada’s regulatory friction is already costing us global market share.”

Export permits currently must be issued for each shipment—a process that can take weeks—and Canadian testing standards often differ from international requirements, forcing companies to repeat expensive compliance checks.

High Tide CEO: Canada Needs a National Export Strategy

Raj Grover, CEO of High Tide Inc., says Canada risks surrendering its leadership if policymakers remain inactive.

“Canada developed the world’s most advanced cannabis regulatory system and contributed $76.5 billion to GDP since legalization,” Grover said. “But without a National Cannabis Export Strategy, we will lose ground to Australia, Israel, Portugal, and other emerging competitors.”

He noted that Canada’s industry table created by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has not met in more than a year—an opportunity wasted.

Grover urged the federal government to introduce domestic GMP certification and potency standards to streamline international market access. “Canadian producers must currently get GMP approval country by country. It’s duplicative and costly. Canada should be setting global benchmarks, not chasing them.”

Germany: A Key Market for Canadian Firms

High Tide recently expanded into Europe with its majority acquisition of Germany’s Remexian Pharma GmbH, giving the company a direct import and distribution channel in Europe’s largest medical-cannabis market.

“Our German strategy is already structured for success,” Grover said. “Through Remexian, we can supply premium medical cannabis at the lowest possible price, helping meet Germany’s quality and cost demands.”

Grover also warned that U.S. companies are already purchasing Canadian firms to stage their own international expansion—another sign that Canada’s leadership position is slipping.

Government Response Remains Limited

In response to industry concerns, a Global Affairs Canada spokesperson said the Trade Commissioner Service “continues to support exporters of cannabis for medical and scientific purposes that have obtained Health Canada permits.”

However, industry leaders argue that this support is minimal and does not include key tools such as trade missions, export credits, or bilateral agreements that other sectors routinely receive.

A Closing Window of Opportunity

With medical-cannabis exports already exceeding $500 million annually, industry executives say Canada must act quickly to preserve its competitive edge.

As McCarthy warns, without coordinated government support, Canada risks losing high-value pharmaceutical manufacturing, research investments, and thousands of skilled jobs.

And as Grover’s expansion into Germany demonstrates, the industry is moving forward—but whether Canada moves with it may determine if the country remains a global leader or becomes a pioneer that let others capitalize on its breakthroughs.

Continue Reading

Business

A Tipping Point for Cannabis: President Trump Champions CBD & Cannabis Science on Truth Social

Published

on

By

When the President of the United States shares a video about the life changing potential of hemp derived CBD on his personal social media platform, it is more than news, it is a cultural shift.

For decades our government lied to us about cannabis. It demonized the plant, waged war on its users, and filled prisons while allowing pharmaceutical companies to flood the nation with addictive and deadly drugs. For over a century we have been fighting uphill, not just for legalization, but for truth, for science, and for the right to heal ourselves naturally.

Now in 2025, the most powerful political figure on Earth is using his own voice and platform to talk about the endocannabinoid system and the science backed benefits of CBD. That is monumental. It is validation for everyone who has fought, been arrested, been silenced, and been dismissed for telling this truth. The President’s video post is already being described as a pivotal moment in cannabis history, and President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social is trending across platforms as advocates celebrate the breakthrough.


The Science Behind the Endocannabinoid System

The video begins by introducing something most people, including many doctors, still know little about, the endocannabinoid system. Discovered in the 1990s, the ECS is a network of receptors and signaling molecules that works as the body’s master regulator, coordinating communication between major systems like the nervous, immune, cardiovascular, and digestive systems.

The roots of this discovery go back much further. CBD was first isolated in 1940 by American chemist Roger Adams, but it was Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, an Israeli organic chemist, who fully elucidated the chemical structure of CBD and identified its stereochemistry in the 1960s. His pioneering work not only opened the door to modern cannabinoid science but also earned him the title “Godfather of Cannabis Research.” It was this foundation that led to the identification of the endocannabinoid system itself decades later, revealing how cannabinoids interact with our physiology on a fundamental level.

The ECS is now widely recognized as a vital part of human biology, with extensive research supported by the National Institutes of Health. When functioning properly, the ECS acts like the conductor of an orchestra, ensuring every section plays in harmony. As we age, the system weakens. That imbalance is linked to inflammation, chronic pain, cognitive decline, sleep problems, and many other conditions associated with aging.

Mainstream medicine often addresses these issues with pharmaceutical band aids, dangerous and addictive drugs that treat symptoms rather than root causes. Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise help, but they only partially support the ECS and do so slowly over time.


Hemp Derived CBD: A Game Changer for Aging

Here is where the science gets exciting. As the video explains, the ECS can be restored much more quickly with hemp derived CBD. Strengthening this system naturally helps the body regain balance, reducing pain, improving sleep, lowering stress, slowing disease progression, and even extending healthy lifespan.

It is not theoretical. One in five seniors is already using CBD to manage pain, arthritis, cancer symptoms, sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s, and more. Despite decades of research and acknowledgment from institutions like the National Institutes of Health, most physicians receive no training on the ECS. There are still no FDA standards for CBD products on the market. If that were the case for any other class of medicine, it would be considered malpractice.

The World Health Organization has confirmed CBD’s excellent safety profile and non addictive nature in its critical review report. The result is that millions of older Americans are suffering unnecessarily when a safe and natural solution exists.

Hemp derived CBD is a powerful first step in restoring balance to the endocannabinoid system, but it is only part of the picture. Research shows that full spectrum cannabis extracts, which include a broader range of cannabinoids and terpenes, can work even more effectively. Complete concentrated cannabis oil, containing the full spectrum of natural endocannabinoids, may deliver the most profound results for certain patients. Expanding access to these therapies will be essential if we want to unlock the full healing potential of this plant.


The Economic and Social Impact

The video cites a powerful figure. A PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis estimates that fully integrating cannabis into the healthcare system could save the United States nearly 64 billion dollars annually. These savings reflect reduced pharmaceutical dependency, fewer hospitalizations, improved chronic disease outcomes, and enhanced quality of life for aging Americans. You can read more about PwC’s research on healthcare innovation here.

It is a financial argument, but it is also a moral one. Why should our elders endure pain, anxiety, and cognitive decline when nature has given us tools to help them live longer, happier, and healthier lives?


A Call to Action: Finish What the Farm Bill Started

The message concludes by crediting the 2018 Farm Bill, championed by President Trump, for legalizing hemp and laying the groundwork for today’s CBD market. The Farm Bill was just the first step.

Now the call is for bold next moves.

  • Educate doctors about the endocannabinoid system
  • Include CBD under Medicare coverage
  • Provide clear federal standards for CBD quality and dosing

These steps would constitute the most significant senior health reform in modern history, one that would transform aging and cement a powerful legacy for any administration that makes it happen.


What This Means for Future Cannabis Medicine

For those of us who have been in the cannabis community for decades, this is not just another news story. It is a signal that our movement is winning. A conversation that was once criminalized and censored is now being amplified by the President of the United States on his own platform.

It means the science is undeniable. It means the truth can no longer be buried. It means the wall of prohibition is cracking, not just legally, but culturally, scientifically, and politically.

It also means that everything we have been fighting for at 420 Magazine since 1993, education, access, healing, and justice, is finally moving full steam ahead. The President Trump CBD Cannabis Science Truth Social moment is proof that science and policy are finally converging.

Continue Reading

Business

New Mexico cannabis operator fined, loses license for alleged BioTrack fraud

Published

on

New Mexico regulators fined a cannabis operator nearly $300,000 and revoked its license after the company allegedly created fake reports in the state’s traceability software.

The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) accused marijuana manufacturer and retailer Golden Roots of 11 violations, according to Albuquerque Business First.

Golden Roots operates the The Cannabis Revolution Dispensary.

The majority of the violations are related to the Albuquerque company’s improper use of BioTrack, which has been New Mexico’s track-and-trace vendor since 2015.

The CCD alleges Golden Roots reported marijuana production only two months after it had received its vertically integrated license, according to Albuquerque Business First.

Because cannabis takes longer than two months to be cultivated, the CCD was suspicious of the report.

After inspecting the company’s premises, the CCD alleged Golden Roots reported cultivation, transportation and sales in BioTrack but wasn’t able to provide officers who inspected the site evidence that the operator was cultivating cannabis.

In April, the CCD revoked Golden Roots’ license and issued a $10,000 fine, according to the news outlet.

The company requested a hearing, which the regulator scheduled for Sept. 1.

At the hearing, the CCD testified that the company’s dried-cannabis weights in BioTrack were suspicious because they didn’t seem to accurately reflect how much weight marijuana loses as it dries.

Company employees also poorly accounted for why they were making adjustments in the system of up to 24 pounds of cannabis, making comments such as “bad” or “mistake” in the software, Albuquerque Business First reported.

Golden Roots was fined $298,972.05 – the amount regulators allege the company made selling products that weren’t properly accounted for in BioTrack.

The CCD has been cracking down on cannabis operators accused of selling products procured from out-of-state or not grown legally:

Golden Roots was the first alleged rulebreaker in New Mexico to be asked to pay a large fine.

Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/new-mexico-cannabis-operator-fined-loses-license-for-alleged-biotrack-fraud/

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2022 420 Reports Marijuana News & Information Website | Reefer News | Cannabis News