Results Shopping: The Cannabis Industry’s Dirty Little Secret

Key Takeaways:

• Results shopping is a method by which cannabis retailers test their products at multiple labs until a desirable result is achieved.

• Some cannabis labs have altered their tests to produce desirable results for their clients.

• Unwitting consumers are being misled and sold potentially unsafe cannabis products.

Have you ever found yourself questioning the potency of that expensive 40% THC flower you splurged on, only to realize it didn't even pack the punch of the outdoor you’re used to? The answer may have to do with a concerning, yet common industry practice we like to refer to as; results shopping.

Results shopping is raising serious doubts about the reliability of lab testing that patients have relied on to ensure safe access to their medicine of choice.

What is Results Shopping?

Results shopping is a deceptive practice within the cannabis industry, where retailers test their products at various laboratories until they obtain the “best” results. Unfavorable results (such as those with low THC percentages) are disposed of, and only the most advantageous ones—typically the highest test results—are showcased and advertised.

It’s even more sinister when you realize that this practice is also used in safety testing. In Massachusetts, our home base, commercial cannabis is subject to strict testing guidelines, by which products must be tested for potency, heavy metals, pesticides and microbes. But what happens if a cultivator’s product fails one (or more) of these tests? Are they going to throw away the entire crop from that room? Of course not.

Instead, cultivators can save tens of thousands of dollars (and months of time) by simply sending the failing sample off to a different laboratory. This other lab may have different protocols or testing methods that potentially won’t discover the same failing conditions the first lab might have.

In an instant, a low-testing, failing sample destined for disposal can be manipulated into a high-testing, compliant product, ready for sale and consumption by an unwitting patient. These fraudulent results can lead to unexpected adverse effects, such as unintended over consumption or even serious health complications.

Deceptive Lab Practices

Once laboratory stakeholders noticed cultivators partnering exclusively with labs generating favorable results, they devised strategies to manipulate their own outcomes to remain in business.

They began devising testing methods to artificially boost cannabinoid percentages and fraudulently manipulate microbial and mycotoxin test results.

Although we are hesitant to disclose these methods publicly, we aim to raise awareness among our readers about the widespread prevalence of this practice.

But that’s not all. If that wasn’t enough, some labs go a step further by directly manipulating the results on the lab report itself. This approach bypasses the need for fraudulent testing procedures, making it more challenging for regulatory agencies to detect any misconduct.

Dispensaries: Testing Manipulation at the Source

Cultivators themselves employ numerous deceptive tactics of their own to manipulate test results before their sample even makes it to the lab.

In most places with legal cannabis, dispensaries and cultivators are responsible for sending their own samples to testing labs, giving them the opportunity to cherry-pick, or even fraudulently manipulate samples before they go in for testing.

Taking advantage of this oversight, many dispensaries and cultivators attempt to artificially inflate cannabinoid percentages through various means. The most common and least offensive method is cherry-picking a plant’s best sample (often the top cola) and sending it off for testing to represent the entire crop’s contents (including larfy, low-testing popcorn buds found at the bottom of cannabis plants).

Consumers might be misled into thinking the product they purchase has higher test results than it would if they conducted the test themselves. This can happen if the flower they purchase comes from a lower part of the plant than what was originally sent for testing by the cultivator.

A more misleading and sinister method often employed by dispensaries and cultivators is covering samples in kief, a concentrated form of cannabis pollen, before sending them out for testing. Doing this can greatly increase a sample’s cannabinoid percentages, misleading customers to purchase products they otherwise might not have.

It’s even more alarming to realize that dispensaries also attempt to falsify safety testing. Most commonly, this is done by irradiating cannabis samples in order to eliminate mold and contaminants. Yes, you read that right, they use radiation on your cannabis to eliminate mold and microbes (but mainly to protect their profits).

We plan to investigate the effects of this contaminant remediation method in a future article.

Taking a Toll on the Cannabis Community

While it’s all hunky dory for dishonest dispensaries and testing labs, it's the consumers who suffer the most. We end up unknowingly consuming unsafe products, putting our health at risk.

Patients relying on cannabis for medicinal purposes, in particular, face the risk of unknowingly consuming products that may contain harmful substances, undermining the therapeutic benefits they seek.

Results shopping damages the trust between consumers and the cannabis industry. When accurate lab results are scarce due to selective reporting, it becomes challenging for consumers to make informed decisions. Such unethical practices not only discourage new consumers but also lead to skepticism among those already involved in the cannabis community. This lack of trust hinders the growth and credibility of the entire cannabis market.

It also damages the reputation of the industry, especially in the eyes of regulators, who are actively looking for any reason to lengthen prohibition.

Ensuring Product Safety Amidst an Industry of Deception

In an industry taken over by greed, you can’t just take your dispensary’s word for it. Verify the results for yourself.

Testing laboratories in most states (including Massachusetts) offer walk-in potency, microbial, pesticide and mycotoxin testing for a reasonable fee.

Our go-to choice is MCR Labs. You can click these links to schedule a sample drop-off, or view their pricing by testing type here.

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Written by SeshWell Media. Copyright 2023.