The Role of Chromatography in Cannabis Testing

Cannabis use in the U.S. is expanding rapidly as more states legalize its consumption. With this growth, mandatory testing has become required in many states to ensure consumer safety. The Farm Bill also established that any cannabinoid derived from hemp is legal, provided it meets the production standards outlined in the bill, in compliance with federal and state regulations. Keep reading to learn more about the role of chromatography in cannabis testing. 

Reasons for Chromatography in Cannabis Testing

Cannabis products must be proven safe before they reach consumers. Cannabis testing uses chromatography to test for harmful contaminants, determine concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), and identify cannabinoids. Cannabis grows from a plant, meaning that it can be susceptible to harmful pesticides used on crops. Chromatography can detect trace amounts of pesticides present in the cannabis plant. Growers, manufacturers, and retailers alike will also want their cannabis products tested for the potency or lack of potency of THC and CBD to provide better transparency to their customers and to know how to eventually market and price the product.

For CBD specifically, products should be tested to ensure they do not exceed the percentage of THC allowed in CBD products. Another reason to use chromatography in cannabis testing is to profile and analyze the cannabinoids of the cannabis plant. There are hundreds of cannabinoids in a cannabis plant, each with its own pharmaceutical use. Chromatography can identify these cannabinoids to then analyze their benefits and drawbacks.

Types of Chromatography Tests

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a common type used for potency tests and cannabinoid profiling, as it does not require heating for accurate content analysis. Gas chromatography (GC) is more common for pesticide screenings, as it can more accurately detect small traces of volatile compounds. Gas chromatography can also be used in tests such as cannabis terpene analysis, to identify strains of cannabis.

The role of chromatography in cannabis testing is to ensure the safety of cannabis products for human use. As the acceptance of cannabis as a legal drug grows, the need for extensive cannabinoid profiling, potency analyzation, and pesticide testing has grown as well. Researchers, growers, and analytical labs alike rely on chromatography consumables suppliers for analytical instruments that can give them effective and quick results on cannabis products.