Note: COA's will vary, as state testing requirements will differ depending on where you live. For more information, refer to the state testing requirements below.
- Includes: THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, THCA, CBDA, etc.
- We will discuss cannabinoids further in Lesson 3.
- Not required in all states but increasingly included on COAs.
- We will discuss terpenes further in Lesson 3.
- Cannabis pesticides are not regulated by the U.S. EPA, like other crops.
- Lack of uniform testing and financial incentives drive contamination into the legal market.
- We will discuss pesticides further in Lesson 2.
- Aspergillus and Fusarium spores can cause severe lung infections; aflatoxins and fumonisins are carcinogenic.
- At-Risk Populations: Immunocompromised individuals
- We will discuss microbials and mycotoxins further in Lesson 2.
- Cannabis absorbs heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury) from soil and water.
- Inhalation introduces metals directly to the bloodstream.
- We will discuss terpenes further in Lesson 3.
- Examples: Hair, plastics, insects
- Source: Contamination during harvesting, trimming, packaging
- We will discuss foreign materials further below.
- Percentage of water weight in cannabis.
- Significance: low moisture can artificially inflate the THC potency.
- We will discuss water weight further below.
- Measures the free water available for microbial growth
- Safe Water Activity Range: 0.55–0.65 Aw
- Significance: Higher Aw increases mold risk
- We will discuss water activity further below.
- Name of Laboratory
- Laboratory License Number
- Date of Test
- Batch ID (must match product packaging)
- Pay attention to who's testing your cannabis. Laboratory fraud will be discussed in lesson 4.
Terms to Know: Cannabis COA Glossary
Total THC/ Total CBD
Limit of Quantitation (LOQ)
Limit of Detection (LOD)
Calculated totals after decarboxylation using:
(THCA × 0.877) + THC
and (CBDA × 0.877) + CBD.
Reflects the psychoactive or therapeutic potential available after heating
Limit of Detection (LOD)
Limit of Quantitation (LOQ)
Limit of Detection (LOD)
The lowest concentration of a substance that can be reliably distinguished from absence, but not precisely quantified.
Often expressed in ppm.
Limit of Quantitation (LOQ)
Limit of Quantitation (LOQ)
CFU/g (Colony-Forming Units per Gram)
The smallest concentration that can be accurately and precisely measured.
Expressed in ppm
CFU/g (Colony-Forming Units per Gram)
CFU/g (Colony-Forming Units per Gram)
CFU/g (Colony-Forming Units per Gram)
A measure of viable bacterial or fungal cells per gram of material. Used in microbial safety testing.
ND (None Detected)
CFU/g (Colony-Forming Units per Gram)
ND (None Detected)
Indicates that the compound was not detected above the LOD during lab testing.
Action Limit
CFU/g (Colony-Forming Units per Gram)
ND (None Detected)
The maximum permitted concentration of a contaminant in cannabis for it to be considered safe for sale
Fail/ Pass
Lab Accreditation
Fail/ Pass
Indicates whether the sample exceeded (Fail) or stayed below (Pass) the action limit for a given contaminant.
Batch ID
Lab Accreditation
Fail/ Pass
A unique identifier assigned to a cannabis batch to ensure sample traceability through production and sale.
Lab Accreditation
Lab Accreditation
Lab Accreditation
Certification that a laboratory meets ISO/IEC 17025 or equivalent analytical standards, ensuring consistent reliability in cannabis testing.
Medical Only
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical Only
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical Only
Medical Only
Medical Only
Medical and Adult Use
Medical Only
Medical Only
Medical Only
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical Only
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical Only
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical Only
Medical and Adult Use
Medical Only
Medical and Adult Use
Medical Only
Medical and Adult Use
Medical Only
Medical Only
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical and Adult Use
Medical Only
Medical and Adult Use
No Testing