Red alert! There are various THC vape pens available to Americans, but most of which’s contents are unknown. Unfortunately, this means that there are many consumers exposed to vape products that can harm them.
There have been 12 deaths and 805 hospitalizations across 46 states linked to vape pens. Most of the patients admitted to using vapes with THC contents.
Further tests revealed that the vape pens are positive for vitamin E contamination. When mixed with THC, these cause serious lung damage.
Therefore, it’s practical to know the contents and the marijuana potency in your flower before sampling them yourself. Read on to find out more about marijuana potency and how you can test them more accurately.
What Is Marijuana Potency and Why Do You Need to Test it?
Marijuana potency refers to how much tetrahydrocannabinol or THC the drug contains. THC is the compound that mainly causes marijuana’s psychoactive effects.
How much THC level is legal depends on each state’s ruling. Florida, for instance, only allows products with a cannabis potency below .8% THC and above 10% CBD by weight.
It’s vital to test the potency of marijuana in your flowers so that you’ll know what to expect. While it’s true that seed banks provide details on the amount of THC a strain contains, they’re not as accurate as you think.
While genetics play a vital role in the potency of strains, environmental factors such as lighting, plant health, weeks of flowering, and the use of growth-promoting rhizobacteria affect THC levels.
Should all these affect the weed, your flower might have a higher level of THC than indicated. Therefore, administer marijuana potency testing so that you’ll know the exact amount of THC you’re dealing with.
This information is useful for growers as it will help you point out a more accurate dosing instruction. This is especially true when you’re crafting extracts and edibles. You can figure out how much THC is present in every oil or brownie you make.
Marijuana potency testing will also tell you which among your seeds produces high-quality marijuana. The higher the THC levels, the quicker and the more ferocity its effects appear. Hence, the higher the quality of the marijuana.
Tips for Accurate Testing of Marijuana Potency
Testing marijuana potency is more accessible thanks to the availability of testing kits. Nowadays, you can use home drug testing kits to check for the presence of compounds such as THC, CBD, and THV.
However, when done wrong, testing will yield inaccurate results. So one important tip to remember is that you need to make sure that you’re using the right testing kit.
You have three choices: a color chart kit, Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) test kit, or a testing gadget. Note that color chart kits are most compatible with extracts, flowers, and oils. They are also the best test for CBD and THC levels.
Since they’re cheaper, they don’t offer detailed results. Some kits only test a certain amount of THC land CBD quantities.
For instance, one color chart kit only tests for a THC level of up to 20%. Therefore, should the THC level in the sample exceed 20%, the results will be inaccurate, and you’ll most likely be guessing.
Meanwhile, TLC test kits are more expensive, but they give a far more accurate reading. They also detect minor compounds that color chart kits neglect, such as CBN and CBG.
Testing Devices Are a Safer Bet
If you want more advanced testing tools, opt for a THC potency tester. This is a testing device that is often linked to smartphones. It uses an application to analyze the sample and give a more accurate and detailed reading for various compounds.
With a THC potency tester, it will only take a few minutes before you get a reading for levels of THC, CBD, CBN, and more. This type of investment is perfect for breeders who pay extra attention to the marijuana potency of their crops.
Don’t Neglect the Instructions in Your Testing Kits
Home testing is simple to use, but they all work differently depending on their make and model. As such, always make sure to check out the instruction before proceeding with the test.
Also, it usually only requires a small amount of sample to get an accurate result. The testing kit you’re using will indicate how much you’ll use, so make sure to go over it. When neglected, this mistake can cause an inaccurate reading.
The Second Time Is a Charm
Most testing kits provide at least three testing tools. If you doubt the first result, go ahead and retest another sample and compare.
A 1-2% difference between the results of the first and second tests is acceptable. You can keep testing for marijuana potency as you’d like; however, such practice is a waste of resources.
Further, although it’s okay to test for the second or third time, test only one type of sample at a time. Otherwise, this could throw the reading of the marijuana potency tester off.
If you’re a grower, it’s advisable to test your crop regularly. Consistent testing will allow you to learn how factors such as lighting affect your crop. Thus, allowing you to develop a solution to increase your crop’s potency, optimizing your harvest.
Check the Source of Your Flower
Another factor affecting marijuana potency is the source of the flower. In some cases, brokers might sell you low-quality or impure weed.
If you’re testing a sample strain from an unknown source, chances are it’s contaminated with mold, bacteria, and other substances. Such a combination could pose a potential health hazard. Thus, it’s advisable to get the strain tested for marijuana potency in a professional lab but at a hefty price.
Hence, be extra careful when buying online as risks for contaminated products are high. As a precaution, read and analyze the online review of the website you’re looking to buy from. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them and ask them about their quality standard.
Always Know the Marijuana Potency
Keep these in mind when planning to test for marijuana potency. Such prove to make a difference in the accuracy of the results of the tests your conduct.
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