Understanding Your Cannabis
What lab data means, why it matters, and how to use it
Potency: Cannabinoids
You've seen THC percentages on labels. Probably CBD too. But there's a lot more going on in a lab report than those two numbers. Here's what they mean and why the rest of the panel matters.
What are THC and CBD?
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is what gets you high. When a lab report shows "Total THC," that number includes both THCA (the raw form in the plant) and Delta-9 THC (the activated form). The formula: Total THC = Delta-9 THC + (THCA x 0.877).
CBD (cannabidiol) is non-intoxicating and shows promise for anxiety, inflammation, and seizure management. Total CBD works the same way: Total CBD = CBD + (CBDA x 0.877).
Beyond THC: Minor Cannabinoids
There's more to cannabis than THC percentage. Labs test for a whole panel of cannabinoids, each with different properties:
The "parent" cannabinoid. Early research points to anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.
Forms as THC ages. Often associated with sedation, though research is limited.
Non-intoxicating. Studied for anti-inflammatory and antidepressant potential.
May modulate appetite differently than THC. Research is emerging.
The Entourage Effect
There's growing evidence that cannabinoids and terpenes work better together than alone. That's the "entourage effect." A product with 20% THC and a rich terpene profile can feel completely different from one with 30% THC and barely any terpenes.
That's why we built the Entourage Leaders leaderboard: to highlight products with the richest overall chemical profiles, not just the highest THC.
What the Percentages Mean
When a COA says "25.3% Total THC," that means 25.3 milligrams of THC per 100 milligrams of product for flower. For concentrates, numbers can be much higher (60-90%). For edibles, potency is measured in milligrams per serving rather than percentages.
mg/g (milligrams per gram) is the other common unit. The conversion is simple: 1% = 10 mg/g. So 25.3% THC = 253 mg/g.
Key takeaway
THC percentage alone doesn't predict your experience. The entourage of cannabinoids and terpenes may matter as much as potency.
Flavor & Effects: Terpenes
Ever notice how different products smell completely different? That's not just branding. It's chemistry.
What Are Terpenes?
Terpenes are aromatic compounds produced by plants. They're what makes lemons smell citrusy, pine trees smell fresh, and lavender smell calming. Cannabis produces over 200 of them, and the specific mix gives each strain its unique aroma and character.
Terpene testing matters more than most people think. Two products with identical THC percentages can feel very different based on their terpene profiles.
Common Terpenes
Citrus aroma. Linked to elevated mood and stress relief. Also found in lemon peel and orange rind.
Earthy, musky aroma. The most common cannabis terpene. Associated with sedating, relaxing effects. Also found in mangoes and hops.
Peppery, spicy aroma. Unique: it's the only terpene that directly activates cannabinoid receptors (CB2). Strong anti-inflammatory evidence. Also found in black pepper and cloves.
Fresh pine aroma. Linked to alertness and memory retention in early studies. The most common terpene in nature. Also found in pine needles and rosemary.
Floral, lavender aroma. Well-studied for anti-anxiety and calming effects. Also found in lavender, mint, and cinnamon.
Woody, earthy aroma. May suppress appetite (early research). Also found in hops, sage, and ginseng.
Research Citations
Effects described above are based on peer-reviewed research. These are not therapeutic claims.
"Two products with identical THC can feel completely different based on their terpene profiles."
Safety: Contaminants
This is the part of the lab report most people skip. Don't. It tells you what's in your product besides cannabinoids.
What Labs Test For
Before any cannabis product can be sold in New York, a licensed lab has to screen it for several categories of contaminants:
Residues from pest management. NYS tests for a panel of prohibited pesticides with defined pass/fail thresholds.
Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Cannabis can absorb these from soil. Measured in parts per million (ppm) with specific limits.
Total yeast & mold, aerobic bacteria, E. coli, Salmonella. For flower, some microbial counts are report-only (no pass/fail threshold).
Toxic compounds produced by molds (aflatoxins, ochratoxin). Have defined pass/fail thresholds.
Chemicals used in extraction (butane, ethanol, propane). Only applies to concentrate and extract products.
Moisture is total water content. Water activity (aw) measures how much of that water is free for mold to use. A product can have moderate moisture but low aw if the water is bound.
What "PASS" Actually Means
A "PASS" result means the product met New York State's allowable limits for that test category. It doesn't mean zero contaminants were detected.
For example: A product can "PASS" heavy metals testing while still containing detectable levels of lead, as long as the level is below the state's action limit. That's why we show you the actual numbers, not just the stamp.
Some tests are "report-only" in New York State. For flower, total yeast & mold and total aerobic bacteria must be tested and reported, but there is no defined pass/fail threshold. The lab reports the numbers; the state doesn't set a limit.
Source: NYS Office of Cannabis Management. Testing limits published at OCM Testing Limits (Dec 2025).
Key takeaway
"PASS" means within state limits, not contaminant-free. The actual numbers tell the full story.
How to Read a COA
A Certificate of Analysis can look like alphabet soup. Here's how to read one without a chemistry degree.
The Key Sections
1. Sample Information
Product name, batch/lot number, sample date, and the lab that performed testing. The batch/lot number is the most important identifier here. It's what ties the COA to the specific production run of your product, and it's how you verify that the lab report actually matches what you bought.
2. Cannabinoid Panel
THC, CBD, and minor cannabinoids shown as percentages (%) and/or mg/g. Look for "Total THC" and "Total CBD" as the headline numbers. "ND" means Not Detected. "LOQ" is the Limit of Quantitation (below this, the lab can't measure precisely).
3. Terpene Profile
Individual terpenes listed with percentages. Total terpenes above 2% is considered a rich profile. This section tells you about flavor, aroma, and potential effects.
4. Contaminant Testing
Pesticides, heavy metals, microbials, and mycotoxins. Each shows the result, the action limit, and PASS/FAIL. Results below the Limit of Quantitation (LOQ) are reported as "<LOQ", meaning the substance wasn't detected at meaningful levels.
5. Lab Accreditation
The lab's permit number and accreditation. In New York State, only OCM-licensed laboratories can perform compliance testing.
On OpenCOA, we extract all of this data from the raw PDF and present it in a structured, searchable format. You can compare products side-by-side, see terpene profiles visualized, and understand what the numbers actually mean.
From Farm to Shelf: Who's on the Label?
The brand on the shelf isn't always the company that made and tested the product. Here's how the supply chain works and why it matters when you're reading a COA.
The Supply Chain
New York's cannabis law (the MRTA) defines four main license types in the supply chain. Each has a specific role, and the law keeps them separate.
Extracts, blends, infuses, packages, labels, and brands cannabis products. Submits for lab testing. Sells to distributors.
Sells cannabis products to consumers 21 and older.
New York limits how much of the chain one company can own. A cultivator can hold one processor and one distributor license, but only for their own products. Retailers can't hold any other license type.
Who Tests the Product?
The processor is responsible for testing. New York State requires that before any cannabis product is distributed, the processor must submit a representative sample to an OCM-licensed laboratory through an approved sampling firm.
An employee of the processor must be physically present during sampling. The lab performs the tests, and the resulting Certificate of Analysis (COA) is tied to the processor who submitted it. Processors are required to retain COAs for five years.
Source: 9 NYCRR §123.6, 9 NYCRR §130.21
What's Required on the Label?
New York's packaging and labeling regulations (Part 128) require every cannabis product to show:
Name, location (city or zip code), license number, and direct contact information of the processor.
A scannable barcode or QR code that links to a downloadable Certificate of Analysis.
A unique identifier that allows full traceability of the product back through the supply chain.
Total THC and CBD content in milligrams, complete ingredient list, and allergen declarations.
If multiple processors are involved, the one who actually manufactured the product must be clearly identified using the word "Manufacturer."
Source: 9 NYCRR §128.5, OCM Part 128 Guidance
Brands vs. Processors
The brand name you see on a dispensary shelf isn't always the company that made and tested the product. New York has a specific license for this: the Processor Type 3 Branding License.
A branding licensee provides intellectual property (logos, product quality plans), non-cannabis ingredients, and equipment to a licensed processor who handles all the plant-touching work. The branding licensee doesn't touch cannabis, doesn't need a licensed facility in New York, and doesn't submit products for testing. The processor does all of that.
This means one processor can manufacture products for multiple brands. The COA will list the processor's name as the client, not the retail brand.
Example: Products sold under the Jeeter brand in New York are manufactured by DF New York One Inc. The COA lists DF New York One as the client. The product name on the COA says "Jeeter," but the regulatory paper trail traces back to the processor.
Source: OCM Licensing
Why This Matters When You Search
When you search on OpenCOA, you're searching by product name as the lab wrote it on the COA. Most of the time the brand name is included in the product field and you'll find what you're looking for. But sometimes the COA only shows the processor's name or a generic description.
We're working on mapping the connections between brands and their processors so you can search by either name.
Key takeaway
The company name on a COA is the processor who manufactured and tested the product. The brand on the dispensary shelf may be a different company that contracted with that processor under a branding license.
Sources & Regulations
Adult-Use Cannabis license definitions (Cultivator, Processor, Distributor, Retail)
Processor facility operations, testing requirements, COA retention
Cannabis product labeling minimum standards
Sampling of cannabis products
License types including Processor Type 3 Branding
Packaging and labeling guidance, multi-processor labeling rules
Tracking Numbers: What's on Your Label?
Notice a long code on your product label starting with "1A"? That's your product's tracking number in the state system. Here's what it means and how to use it.
What's This 24-Character Code?
Every legal cannabis product in New York gets a tracking number from Metrc, the state's seed-to-sale system. It's 24 characters long, starts with 1A, and follows a product from grow to shelf.
Something like 1A412030000164C000000356 on your label, receipt, or COA? That's a Metrc tag. It's your product's ID in the state regulatory system.
Why Every Product Has One
New York switched from BioTrack to Metrc in late 2025. All licensees were credentialed by December 17, 2025, and since February 28, 2026, every transfer from distributor to dispensary requires a Retail Item ID in Metrc. So every product on dispensary shelves now has a chain of tracking numbers from cultivation to sale.
A COA actually has three types of tracking numbers:
Identifies the production batch. This is the one most often on your product label.
Identifies the specific sample pulled from the batch and sent to the lab for testing.
The lab's own package tag for the sample they received and tested.
These numbers are per batch, not per individual item. If 500 units of the same product came from one production lot, they all share the same tracking number. A different production run of the same product gets a new one.
The QR Code on Your Package
That QR code on your product's packaging? It's a Metrc Retail ID. Scan it and you'll get a summary page with potency (THC, CBD), a terpene chart, batch numbers, and product origin.
Good to know: That Retail ID page isn't the full Certificate of Analysis. It shows the headline numbers, but it doesn't include contaminant details, limits of quantitation, or the complete compound-by-compound data. For the full picture, you need the actual COA.
Your Right to the Full Lab Report
New York regulation says every cannabis product must include a QR code or barcode linked to a downloadable Certificate of Analysis. That means the actual lab report, not a summary card.
The Metrc Retail ID QR code is now the official way this requirement gets met. Bottom line: you have the right to see the complete lab results for any legal cannabis product you buy.
Source: 9 NYCRR §128.5(b)(10) — requires "a scannable bar code or QR code linked to a downloadable certificate of analysis."
Look Up Your Product
Paste a tracking number into the OpenCOA search bar and we'll find the lab report for that product. If we have the COA, you'll get a direct link. If we don't have it yet, you can upload it.
We extract data from the actual COA PDFs the labs produce. Every cannabinoid, every terpene, every contaminant test. Not just the summary numbers.
Key takeaway
Every legal NYS cannabis product now has a Metrc tracking number and a QR code linking to lab results. The QR code shows a summary. OpenCOA gives you the full report.
Sources & Regulations
Ready to See Real Data?
Explore verified lab results from New York State cannabis products.