When the topic of edibles comes up, most people think of the culturally ubiquitous pot brownie. And many consumers are even wary of edibles. That’s because the majority of cannabis users can probably recall at least one unpleasant experience when they underestimated the strength of a baked cannabis confection.
But with cannabis legal in California, edibles are more regulated than ever before and potency labeling is now a de facto requirement. Additionally, Companies specializing in cannabis edibles are eager to escape the stigma of the homemade pot brownie and help consumers properly dose and enjoy cannabis edibles.
Here’s our guide to the different types of edibles and how we test them.
Different Types of Cannabis Edibles
As a result of the booming medical and now recreational cannabis market in California, the category of cannabis edibles has expanded to include everything from infused soft drinks to premade cannabis butter. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular types of cannabis edibles.
Food Items: The most prevalent type of edible. These include baked goods, candies like gummies and truffles, butter, beef jerky, and whatever else cannabis companies can dream up.
Soft Drinks: This quickly growing category of edibles includes sodas, sparkling water, teas, and other beverages infused with cannabis. Even traditional beverage companies like Arizona Iced Tea are entering the cannabis-infused beverage market.
Pills, Powders, and Capsules: This category is great for non-smokers who are looking for an easier and more discreet way to consume cannabis than traditional edibles.
Edible Extracts: Alcohol tinctures and cannabis oil extracts can be placed directly on the tongue and also allow for easy and discrete dosing.
How We Test Cannabis Edibles
The California Bureau of Cannabis Control has strict regulations governing all cannabis products sold legally in the state, including edibles and infused cannabis products.
All cannabis edibles and extracts must undergo the following quality control tests:
-Cannabinoid profiling/potency
-Pesticide testing
-Microbial screening
-Heavy metal testing
-Mycotoxin testing
-Foreign material testing
-Residual solvent testing
-Water activity*
*This depends on the type of product. Concentrates and extracts do not need to be tested for water activity.
The majority of these tests are meant to protect consumer health and safety. But mandatory potency testing also offers peace of mind. Armed with accurate potency information, cannabis users can feel confident that they’re correctly dosing their edibles.
Closing Thoughts
The booming recreational cannabis market in California has led to the creation of new, creative, and tasty cannabis edibles. Enjoying an edible no longer has to be a game of Russian roulette for the consumer. Mandatory quality testing, especially potency labeling, helps take the guesswork out of dosing for cannabis users.
Do you have a batch of edible products that need lab testing? Contact Encore Labs to learn more about testing for your cannabis edibles.