Cannabis is a beautiful flower, but can also be moldy, contain fungus, and bugs. Interestingly, when cannabis is in the cultivation stage, it absorbs everything around what it is exposed to. This includes nutrients in the soil to contaminant pesticides in the air. Cannabis is tested to get rid of any materials that cannot remain in the final product thus eliminating anything that could potentially harm a medical or recreational cannabis patient.  

The main reason cannabis is tested is to ensure it is safe for human consumption. Residual chemicals can create safety issues, especially to ones prone to asthma, allergies, or compromised immune systems. Therefore, getting rid of any chemicals should be at the top of cannabis lab testing agendas.  

Ways cannabis is tested includes:  

1. Potency  
   • It is important that the product potency is labeled correctly because users want to know the exact amount of intake when dosing. Ways potency is measured can be done by cannabinoid per weight (typically seen as for example: 18% THC), the total amount of cannabinoids in the product (measured in mg), or a ratio of THC and CBD.  
2. Contamination 
   • Microbial contaminants 
     • Where fungus, mildew, mold, salmonella, or E. Coli grow on the flower. Typically seen when cannabis gets wet.  
   • Chemical contaminants  
     • Where pesticides, growth hormones, or in extraction processes, ethanol and butane are found in the plant.  
   • Physical contaminants  
     • Where dirt, dust, heavy metals, hair, lead, or mercury are found in the plant.