Spoiler: It’s not always just weed and sugar.

Edibles are delicious, discreet, and sometimes… not at all what they claim to be. As a cannabis lab director, I’ve seen gummies that tested way below the label, chocolates with mystery potency spikes, and more than one “vegan” edible that turned out to be anything but.

So here’s what you really need to know before biting into that brownie.

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🧪 Dosing Isn’t Always What It Says

The #1 issue with edibles? Inconsistent dosing. This happens because:

• Cannabinoids don’t always mix evenly during production
• Some producers don’t test for homogeneity (whether each bite has the same dose)
• Labels may only reflect one sample—not the whole batch

⚠️ Red Flag: A label that says “100 mg per pack” but doesn’t break it down per piece. Or worse—doesn’t match the lab report at all.

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🧫 Contaminants Can Be a Thing

If the starting material (flower, distillate, isolate) wasn’t clean, the edible isn’t either. Common edible contaminants include:

• Pesticides from source biomass
• Residual solvents from poorly purged distillate
• Microbials if the kitchen was sketchy

And don’t forget allergens—many products aren’t made in allergen-safe facilities, even if they’re labeled “free from.”

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🧠 The Importance of Real Testing

A proper edible COA should include:

• Potency panel for both total and per-serving dose
• Homogeneity testing (for multi-piece edibles)
• Residual solvent and pesticide screens for distillate-based products
• Microbial testing for baked goods and non-shelf-stable items

If you’re only seeing THC numbers and nothing else? That’s not a full COA.

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🧂 Bonus: What Else Is in There?

Pay attention to:

• Carrier oils (MCT, coconut, olive, etc.)
• Sweeteners and preservatives
• Terpenes or “natural flavorings” — ask what they actually are
• Coloring agents — especially in brightly colored gummies

Some of these can affect absorption, shelf life, or even trigger reactions in sensitive users.

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TL;DR (Too Lit, Didn’t Read the Label)

• Edibles can have inconsistent dosing and hidden contaminants
• Not all COAs cover what matters
• If it’s not lab-tested thoroughly, it’s just a guess
• Ask questions. Trust brands that give answers

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👩‍🔬 Author Note

I’m the scientific director of a cannabis testing lab, and I write Chronically Informed to help you get baked safely, not blindly.