Total cannabinoids is the combined amount of every cannabinoid on a lab's panel, typically THCA, Δ9-THC, CBDA, CBD, CBGA, CBG, CBN, CBC and a few others. Labs differ on how they sum it: some add the raw acid and neutral values, others apply decarboxylation factors first. The figure depends on how many compounds the panel includes, so it is not directly comparable between labs.
In practice
A COA with total THC 19.5%, CBGA 0.9%, CBG 0.1%, CBCA 0.3% and trace CBN might report total cannabinoids around 21-22%, depending on the summing method. Always check whether the total is "raw sum" or "decarboxylated sum": the raw sum is larger by roughly 12% of the acid content.
Raw sum = sum of all measured cannabinoids (% w/w). Adjusted sum applies factors (0.877 for THCA, CBDA, CBCA; 0.878 for CBGA). Note the basis (dry weight or as received).
Don't confuse with
- Total THC: one component of the total.
- Total terpenes: a separate measurement.
Myth check
House position: flower labelled above about 35% total cannabinoids is not credible; such numbers come from concentrates, lab shopping or inflated testing. See buyer beware and Mythbusters.
A cannabinoid is any compound that binds the body's cannabinoid receptors or shares the typical cannabis terpenophenolic structure; the plant-made ones are phytocannabinoids such as THCA and CBDA.THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is the acid cannabinoid that drug-type cannabis makes in its trichomes; heat or time decarboxylates it into THC, losing about 12% of its mass.CBDA (cannabidiolic acid) is the acid cannabinoid made by CBDA synthase from CBGA; it dominates hemp-type and CBD-type cannabis and decarboxylates to CBD.CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-intoxicating neutral cannabinoid formed when CBDA decarboxylates; hemp-type and CBD-dominant cannabis make it mainly as CBDA in their trichomes.CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) is the precursor cannabinoid that the plant converts into THCA, CBDA or CBCA, formed by joining olivetolic acid to geranyl pyrophosphate.CBG (cannabigerol) is the neutral, decarboxylated form of CBGA, the cannabinoid precursor; most plants convert nearly all of it onward, but some cultivars are bred to accumulate it.CBN (cannabinol) is a cannabinoid formed mainly when THC or THCA oxidises after harvest, so high CBN readings usually signal age, heat, light or air exposure, not plant ripeness.CBC (cannabichromene) is a minor neutral cannabinoid formed when CBCA decarboxylates; it is usually present at well under 1% w/w in mature drug-type flower.Total THC is a calculated figure, Δ9-THC plus 0.877 × THCA, estimating the maximum THC a sample could yield after full decarboxylation.Total CBD is a calculated figure, CBD plus 0.877 × CBDA, estimating the maximum CBD a sample could yield after full decarboxylation.Potency testing is laboratory measurement of a sample's cannabinoid content, normally by HPLC, reported as % w/w or mg/g for each cannabinoid plus calculated totals.The potency ceiling is the practical upper limit of cannabinoid content in dried flower; GenetixBay holds that flower labelled above about 35% total cannabinoids is not credible.A COA (certificate of analysis) is a lab's signed report of what it measured in a specific sample, such as cannabinoids, terpenes, moisture and contaminants, with methods and limits.
