Medical marijuana is often characterized by higher levels of CBD than THC though there are numerous strains, crosses, and products that have higher THC than CBD in addition to other phytocannabinoids less commonly discussed. The only way to quantitate the amounts of phytocannabinoids, terpenes, and contaminants in any cannabis product is to complete laboratory testing on said product. This is more complex and easier said than done. Why? The amounts of the relevant compounds in each individual plant are temperature dependent, light sensitive, and age or developmentally dependent. Choosing a single bud for testing is not necessarily representative of an entire plant. Leaves near the bottom that may have not gotten the same amount of light can have differing concentrations of cannabinoids and other compounds than the upper ones. There are additional concerns from some in the instrumentation industry that labs can be, and have been, pressured at times to alter results to meet a distributor’s demands. This is dangerous on numerous levels. It is unethical to provide consumers/patients with products that are not accurately and precisely evaluated. The distrust that creeps in between the consumer, distributor, and laboratory testing services will destroy relationships. It also negatively reflects on all those working to validate and legitimize cannabis for scientific and medicinal purposes. It is also doing a disservice to patients or individuals looking for alternative therapies to ease suffering or symptoms. 
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Mauri S. Brueggeman is a Medical Laboratory Scientist and Educator with a background in Cytogenetics and a Masters in Education from the University of Minnesota. She has worked in the clinical laboratory, taught at the University of Minnesota, and been in post secondary healthcare education administration. She is passionate about advances and leadership in science, medicine, and education.
