THC Labeling Discrepancies Across Cannabis Flower Product Subtypes in a State-Legal Market.

Savage T.; Ortiz Torres M.; Lisano J.; Skrzynski C.; Bidwell L.; Mackie D. · Cannabis and cannabinoid research · 2026

**Background & Methods** This review examined THC labeling accuracy in recreational cannabis flower products purchased from 59 licensed dispensaries across Colorado between November 2022 and March 2025. A total of 265 cannabis flower products were analyzed and categorized into four subtypes: pre-pack (n=76), pre-roll (n=27), re-pack (n=55), and deli (n=107), with accuracy determined by comparing labeled versus observed THC concentration using a ±15% regulatory threshold. **Key Findings** • Only 51.7% of sampled cannabis flower products were accurately labeled for THC content, indicating substantial labeling discrepancies across the legal market. Labeling accuracy and percent deviation from labeled THC concentration both significantly depended on product subtype (p=0.02 and p<0.001, respectively). • Pre-roll products demonstrated the highest propensity for over-labeling (59.3% over-labeled) with the greatest mean deviation from labeled values (19.6%), while re-pack products showed the most severe mislabeling overall with 96.0% of inaccurate products being over-labeled. • Products requiring greater handling by dispensaries (pre-rolls and re-packs) exhibited substantially lower labeling accuracy compared to minimally-handled products, suggesting that post-production processing and handling introduce significant THC concentration variability. **Dosage & Administration** Not reported. **Safety & Adverse Effects** Not reported. **Evidence Quality** This review is limited by its cross-sectional design examining products from a single state (Colorado), which may not generalize to other legal cannabis markets with different regulatory frameworks or testing protocols. The study does not establish mechanistic explanations for labeling discrepancies or evaluate potential confounders such as storage conditions, time elapsed since testing, or testing laboratory variability. Additionally, the ±15% accuracy threshold is regulatory-defined but not validated as clinically meaningful. No data regarding consumer health impacts or adverse outcomes associated with mislabeled products were collected. The findings provide valuable market surveillance data but represent observational evidence rather than experimental data, limiting causal inference regarding handling mechanisms.

More recent cannabis research