Santos-Torres worked with SIU researchers Mary and Gary Kinsel to use analytical instrumentation to examine various CBD products, including tinctures, topicals, gummies and pet treats, and their active ingredients. Together, the research team used liquid chromatograph mass spectrometers to separate the CBD from the other ingredients in the products and compared them against five standard CBD solutions.

“Roberto took the two types of data, measured the area of the CBD signals and calculated the amount of CBD using the standard calibration equations,” Mary Kinsel said. “We repeated the extractions up to three times to calculate an average amount of CBD for the CBD consumer products.”

“It is problematic when the public cannot trust that the product labelling is accurate,” said Mary Kinsel.

The letter was prompted by complaints of some producers taking a “static” approach to labelling THC and CBD values. According to Mandesh Dosanjh, president and CEO of Pure Sunfarms, static labelling is when “one potency label is pre-printed and applied across many batches which fall within a pre-determined range to save on costs.”

“What I believe certain producers are trying to do is indicate to consumers that the product they were buying was at a higher potency by using an average,” Dosanjh argued. “As a result, I think they probably saved millions of dollars if they were a large producer.”