2018: The Testing Era Begins
California’s adult-use market launched with mandatory testing for THC potency, pesticides, heavy metals, and more. But there was no unified testing method—each lab used its own protocols. Results varied widely, even from the same flower batch.
The Rise of Lab Shopping
Producers quickly discovered they could submit a single batch to multiple labs and cherry-pick the highest THC result. Labs that consistently printed bigger numbers gained more clients, regardless of accuracy. Potency inflation became an open secret.
The 30% Trap
Dispensaries began organizing shelves by THC %. Flower testing above 30% sold faster—and for more. Some labs gained reputations for always hitting that number, even when it wasn’t scientifically sound. The number became the sales pitch.
Testing the Testers
Independent retests revealed widespread discrepancies. A 2023 study showed 64% of top-shelf products failed for either potency or contamination. Lawsuits soon followed, accusing brands of using falsified Certificates of Analysis to mislead retailers and consumers.
Fake COAs and Lab Shutdowns
From 2023 to 2025, multiple California labs—including CCTL, Verity, and BelCosta—were caught falsifying results or inflating THC scores. Their licenses were revoked, but not before thousands of mislabeled products made it to retail shelves.
Still No Real Standards
In 2024, California introduced a standardized method for flower potency testing—but not for vapes, edibles, or concentrates. That left room for continued manipulation in much of the market.
Incentivizing Inflation
With THC as the main pricing driver and weak regulatory enforcement, labs and brands face minimal risk for exaggerating numbers. The system still rewards fraud more than transparency.
Where It’s Going
While educated consumers are starting to ask about terpene content and effect-based metrics, most buyers continue chasing high THC numbers. Real change remains slow—and largely market-driven.
Conclusion:
California legalized testing—but never regulated the truth. Until standards and enforcement catch up, inflated THC numbers will continue to dominate dispensary shelves.
— Nugg Notes
sources:
California Department of Cannabis Control. “Cannabis Testing Requirements.” cannabis.ca.gov, 2018.
•Senate Bill No. 94. Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act. California State Legislature, 2017.
•Downs, David. “How California Lab Shopping Created Potent Pot Problems.” Leafly, 9 June 2020, leafly.com/news/industry/.
•Staggs, Brooke. “Why Did a Major Cannabis Testing Lab Shut Down?” Orange County Register, 8 Jan. 2021, ocregister.com/2021/01/08/why.
•Downs, David. “High THC Doesn’t Equal High Quality.” Leafly, 4 Oct. 2022, leafly.com/news/strains-p.
•McGreevy, Patrick. “California Cannabis Brands Fail Lab Tests.” Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2023.
•Higdon, Kevin. “Lab Tests Reveal THC Inflation and Contamination.” WeedWeek, 2023, weedweek.com. •Department of Cannabis Control. “License Actions – Verity Analytics, BelCosta Labs, CCTL.” cannabis.ca.gov, 2023–2025.
•Thompson, Kara. “California Shuts Down More Cannabis Labs Over Inflated Results.” Cannabis Business Times, 15 Apr. 2025, cannabisbusinesstimes.com.
•California Senate Bill 544. Cannabis: Laboratories: Testing Standards. Enacted 6 Oct. 2021. •Department of Cannabis Control. “Standard Method for the Testing of Cannabinoids in Flower.” January 2024.
•Downs, David. “Why You Should Stop Buying Weed Based on THC Percentage.” Leafly, 9 May 2022. •California DCC. “Disciplinary Actions – 2023–2025.” cannabis.ca.gov.
•Berke, Jeremy. “Consumers Are Learning to Look Beyond THC.” Business Insider, 24 Aug. 2023.
•Green, Elana. “The Terpene Takeover.” Cannabis Business Times, 17 May 2024.
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