# Total cannabinoids

> Total cannabinoids is the sum of all cannabinoids a lab measured in a sample, usually reported in % w/w, with acid forms either summed raw or decarboxylation-adjusted.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/total-cannabinoids.html
- Also written: total cannabinoid content, TC, sum of cannabinoids, total actives, total cannabinoid %
- Glossary category: Lab testing · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

Total cannabinoids is the combined amount of every [cannabinoid](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cannabinoid.md) on a lab's panel, typically [THCA](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/thca.md), Δ9-THC, [CBDA](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cbda.md), [CBD](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cbd.md), [CBGA](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cbga.md), [CBG](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cbg.md), [CBN](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cbn.md), [CBC](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cbc.md) 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.

## Units and formula

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](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/basics/buyer-beware-label-claims.md) and [Mythbusters](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/mythbusters.md).

## Related terms

[Total THC](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/total-thc.md), [Total CBD](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/total-cbd.md), [Potency testing](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/potency-testing.md), [Potency ceiling](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/potency-ceiling.md), [COA](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/coa.md)

## Read more

- [Buyer beware: potency labels, strain names and other claims that don't hold up](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/basics/buyer-beware-label-claims.md)

## Sources

1. Schwabe AL, Johnson V, Harrelson J, McGlaughlin ME. 2023. Uncomfortably high: Testing reveals inflated THC potency on retail Cannabis labels. PLOS ONE 18(4):e0282396. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0282396
2. Jikomes N, Zoorob M. 2018. The cannabinoid content of legal cannabis in Washington State varies systematically across testing facilities and popular consumer products. Scientific Reports 8:4519. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-22755-2