A certificate of analysis, or COA, is the document that turns a label claim into a verifiable fact. Learning to read one takes about five minutes and is the single most useful skill a CBD buyer can have.
Step one: match the batch
Find the batch number printed on your packaging and confirm it matches the number on the certificate. A COA for a different batch tells you nothing about the bottle in your hand.
Step two: compare measured against labelled
The cannabinoid profile section lists what the laboratory actually measured. Compare the cannabidiol figure with what the label claims. They should agree within a reasonable tolerance.
Step three: check the controlled cannabinoids
Confirm THC and other controlled cannabinoids fall below the legal threshold. This is the compliance line, and it should be unambiguous on the certificate.
Independent means independent
The laboratory should be a third party, not the manufacturer's own bench. Ours are, and the certificates are published rather than supplied on request.
TODO(content): full-length version to be authored in WordPress.
