First post: How to Correctly Analyze for Cannabinoids in Cannabis

What's good RollItUp!!!


We (Steep Hill Halent Laboratories) have recently started a blog covering all topics related to cannabis science, from genetics, to extraction methods, to growing techniques, to industry news, and I wanted to share the information with you guys and see what kind of reception it got. Being new to these forums, I would welcome any advice as to which forum pages are most suited to this information, post formatting, etc.


This first post should give you a good idea of what our background is, the quality of information provided, and what we do. Your feedback and questions are always appreciated.


Without further ado:
How to Correctly Analyze for Cannabinoids in Cannabis

Cool info! So if someone says their mj measures at 20% THC, the sample of THC in the trichome will be the numerator? What is the denominator in the equation?

Cheers!

The ratio is THC-A:THC. The more important number here is THC-A (for liquid chromotography testing).

THC-A decarboxylates in the presence of heat (your lighter), time, light, etc, creating the psychoactive cannabinoid THC. Common nomenclature mistakes THC-A with THC... because the THC-A number is higher 99% of the time, unless the flower is very old. Higher numbers sell.. and who wants to explain decarboxylation? When someone says 20% THC for a flower, it's usually safe to assume they actually mean 20% THC-A... so you can also assume that the active THC amount is going to be many points lower than that, think single digits. 20% is usually some solid mid-grade, even primo bud.

If the sample was tested using gas chromotography, which is not advised because of the room for error, then saying 20% THC is actually correct because the sample was tested in a heated (read active) state, therefore decarboxylating the THC-A. It would also mean that this person actually has some ridiculously impressive mj because their THC-A value would be much higher.

Here is a good example of these values listed properly.... almost: http://www.harborsidehealthcenter.com/shop/flowers.html. They are listing the pre-decarboxyate THC-A value and the post-decarboxylate THC value. Which brings up another good number, rate of decarboxylation, or decarb efficiency, which can also be expressed as a ratio.

You will notice there is not a single THC value on that menu over 19%.

Thanks for the answer! Never really understood the testing process so very interesting. I'd recommend you post in the advanced growing area with stuff like this, and chime in anyplace else you like!

welcome to RIU, read with interest your article about declining robustness in mother plants.

^^great read. thx and plz keep us stoners educated