THC counts in marijuana: It’s complicated

Growers discover lab results vary greatly even within same strain

By Sue Vorenberg, Columbian features reporter
Published: August 31, 2014, 6:00 AM

n the back room of Main Street Marijuana, Adam Hamide scrunched his eyes, puzzled, as he laid out four bags of pot that were harvested by the same grower on the same day.

Labeling on the packages showed a tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, content of 20.99 percent, 13.43 percent, 24.66 percent and 19.57 percent on the different bags, even though they all contained the same Blue Dream strain harvested by Liberty Reach on July 28.

“That’s just weird,” Hamide said, leaning over the bags for a closer look.

THC is the active ingredient in marijuana that makes users feel a euphoric high, among other things.

The variation of the drug is due to the sampling process. Growers must submit a test amount, usually about 3 grams, to a certified lab for every 5 pounds of product they sell.

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/aug/31/thc-counts-in-marijuana-its-complicated/