Inaccurate labelling on cannabis oils in Ontario

A recent study by researchers in Ontario has shed light on some concerns regarding the labeling accuracy of cannabis oils available in Canada’s market. This investigation, which may be the first of its kind focusing on legal cannabis oils. It echoes previous studies that scrutinized the labeling accuracy of cannabis flower, edibles, and some extracts.

Discrepencies Found

Conducted by a team from McMaster University and St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, the study examined 30 cannabis oil products listed on the cannabis store website. These products underwent a rigorous testing process at the Centre for Microbial Chemical Biology at McMaster University. There the actual THC and CBD content was measured and compared against the label claims.

The findings revealed that while none of the oils contained more THC than what was stated on their labels. The discrepancies were nonetheless prevalent. Specifically, 12 of the 30 products tested did not stay within the allowable variance limits for THC. Thee fell outside the acceptable range for CBD.

Lower Amounts than Claimed

When delving deeper, of the 16 oils that claimed to contain 2.5 mg/g of THC or more, seven were found to have lower amounts than what was labeled, exceeding the 15% variance permitted by regulations. Moreover, the study also highlighted inconsistencies on the OCS website itself. The THC and CBD amounts listed in the product descriptions did not match the labels for 10 out of the 30 oils tested.

Another intriguing aspect of the findings was the labeling inconsistency between active THC/CBD and total THC/CBD amounts. In one notable instance, a product labeled as having 5 mg/g of CBD actually contained 26 mg/g of total CBD upon secondary testing. This inconsistency is particularly concerning because, unlike dried flower, cannabis oils are expected to have consistent active and total THC/CBD levels.

Quality Control Measures

The researchers emphasized that their findings underscore the need for enhanced quality control measures within the industry. They also acknowledged the limited scope of their research, given that the OCS currently offers around 50 cannabis oil SKUs online.

This study not only highlights the ongoing challenges with product consistency and labeling accuracy in the cannabis industry but also signals the critical need for regulatory oversight to ensure consumer trust and safety. As the market continues to evolve, such research is vital in guiding improvements and maintaining high standards across all cannabis products.

Inaccurate labelling on cannabis oils in Ontario