You picked up some goodies at our eastside dispensary and you’re ready to dive in. Out of curiosity, you check the label to see how much THC is in the product. Suddenly you’re looking at a bunch of stuff at once. Multiple percentages, a bunch of numbers, letters everywhere—it can all be very confusing. But don’t worry. We’ll go over how to read a weed product label so you can understand what you’re working with.
Reading a weed product label for THC and other cannabinoids
THC is a cannabinoid. Put simply, it’s a tiny, powerful compound found in the cannabis plant. But the plant has many other cannabinoids in it, too. You may have heard of some of the other popular cannabinoids, like CBD, CBN, and CBG. These little compounds all play important roles, but also have vastly different effects.
Understanding how much THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are in your product can help you get an idea of the expected effects.
Let’s start with total THC. When reading an edibles product label, you’ll see the total THC listed in mg. When you buy from a retailer like our dispensary near Issaquah, you’ll notice that all edibles contain a maximum of 10 mg THC per serving and 100 mg of THC per package.
Products that you can inhale, such as pre-rolls, flower, and concentrates all use percentages to indicate the THC content. Typical flower contains anywhere between 10 and 30% THC, while infused pre-rolls can contain significantly more. Concentrates typically contain anywhere from 60% to 90%, making them extremely potent.
You will also see CBD levels listed on most labels. Just like with THC, CBD content is listed in mg for edibles and as a percentage for inhalable items.
When you look at your product label, you’ll likely see a total cannabinoids number listed. This is the combined cannabinoid content, which includes both THC and CBD. Depending on the company, you might also see numbers for other cannabinoids like CBG and CBN.
You may also notice specific breakdowns of total THC or total CBD on the label. Sometimes, this includes THCA and CBDA. Without getting into the weeds, we’ll explain this quickly: THCA is the acid precursor to THC. When THCA is heated up, it turns into THC. The same goes for CBDA and CBD. When CBDA is heated up, it becomes CBD. When you see these numbers, followed by a total THC or total CBD count, it means the “potential” for the acid precursor versions to become THC or CBD.
Think about it like THCA and CBDA as being THC and CBD’s younger siblings. They haven’t fully matured yet, but will eventually become “adult” molecules. It’s important for the label to include these numbers, since THCA and CBDA convert into THC and CBD when heated up with a lighter.
Some brands opt to include their terpene content, too. This can tell you a lot about the product’s potential effects. Some terpenes are uplifting (like citrusy limonene) and others are more sedating (like myrcene or limonene).
Other items on a weed label
If you’re buying concentrates made with solvents, you’ll see them listed on the label. Producers are required to include a statement disclosing the extraction method as well as the solvents, gases, or other chemicals used to extract the compounds from the plant.
If you see a product that says solvent free or solventless, you don’t have to worry about finding this part of the label.
You’ll also see other required information listed on a weed label from our North Bend area dispensary. The information may be accessible with a link, web address, or QR code listed on the label.
When you visit the link, you can look at information regarding the pesticides applied to the plants during cultivation. There should also be a list disclosing any chemicals, additives, thickening agents, terpenes, or other substances added during or after production for concentrates.
You may also see optional information on your weed product label, such as the suggested “best by” date, the date of harvest, and the date the product was manufactured.
Depending on the product, you might see some warnings, too. Additionally, you’ll see a “Not For Kids” sign and a universal symbol indicating that the product contains THC.
Our budtenders are here to help
Whether you’re visiting a dispensary for the first time or you’re a seasoned pro at buying cannabis, you may find yourself confused about product labels from time to time. There’s a lot of information packed into a small space, so it’s natural to be a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information on display.
If you’re not sure what your product label says, feel free to chat with our eastside dispensary team. We are happy to help you better understand the product label to find the right weed for your needs.
We’re located close to Fall City, Carnation, and other great cities on the eastside. Fireweed Cannabis is located next to the Crescent Market by the Snoqualmie Casino and Resort. Find us at 37500 SE North Bend Way Suite 2B, Snoqualmie, WA 98065. We’re open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day of the week.
