What’s Really in Your Hemp-Derived THC Product?
By Michael A. Davis
A hemp-derived THC gummy may look like an ordinary packaged snack, with a product name, a list of ingredients, and a label describing how much THC it contains. For the person buying it, the package may be the main source of information about what they are consuming. But laboratory studies have raised questions about whether cannabinoid labels always tell the full story, and regulators have warned that some products present additional concerns involving formulation, contaminants, and misleading claims.
The issue is especially relevant to consumers purchasing products containing delta-8 THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid commonly produced by converting cannabidiol (CBD) extracted from hemp. Although these products are often marketed as hemp-derived goods, the word “hemp” does not mean a product is non-intoxicating or that its contents have been independently verified.
In a study published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology in 2023, researchers purchased 20 commercially available delta-8 THC products from retail stores in Pittsburgh and compared their advertised cannabinoid content with independent laboratory results. Delta-8 THC was detected in 19 of the 20 products, but the relationship between the amount advertised and the amount measured was weak. Researchers also detected delta-9 THC in seven products, demonstrating that products marketed around one cannabinoid may contain others as well.
The study was small and limited to products purchased in one city, so it cannot establish how accurately all delta-8 THC products are labeled. Nevertheless, it illustrates why consumers should not assume that a potency figure on a package always provides a complete picture of what is inside.
What a Laboratory Report Can Tell You
A certificate of analysis, commonly called a COA, is a laboratory report that provides information about a product or its ingredients. Depending on the product and the testing performed, it may identify measured cannabinoid concentrations and report results for contaminants. For a consumer, the value of the document depends on whether it corresponds to the specific product being purchased and whether the testing covers the questions that matter.
A QR code or website address alone does not establish that a product is safe. Consumers need to be able to connect the report to the product’s batch, understand which substances were tested, and determine whether the results support the claims printed on the package. A report that measures cannabinoid content, for example, should not automatically be treated as proof that every possible contaminant has been assessed.
Texas already requires consumable hemp product labels to include a batch or lot identifier and a web address linking to a certificate of analysis for the product or its hemp-derived ingredients, alongside manufacturer information and a certification concerning delta-9 THC concentration. The Texas Department of State Health Services outlines these requirements in its consumable hemp program guidance.
Those requirements give consumers a starting point, but the practical question remains whether the information is accessible, understandable, and tied to the item on the shelf.
Why the Ingredients and Manufacturing Process Matter
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has raised separate concerns about the way some delta-8 THC products are manufactured. Because naturally occurring delta-8 THC is present in very small amounts in hemp, concentrated products are commonly made by converting other cannabinoids through chemical processes. The FDA has warned that manufacturing methods may leave potentially harmful by-products or contaminants when production is not adequately controlled.
These warnings do not establish that every delta-8 THC product is contaminated, nor do they show that every manufacturer uses unsafe methods. They do explain why a product’s advertised cannabinoid content is only one part of the information consumers need.
The FDA has also reported adverse-event reports and poison-control exposure cases involving delta-8 THC products, including accidental exposures affecting children. Such reports are important safety signals, although they do not represent a complete count of all exposures or prove that every reported event was caused by a product defect.
What Consumers Should Take Away
Consumers comparing hemp-derived THC products should look beyond the front of the package. Checking the batch information, reviewing the available certificate of analysis, reading the ingredient list, and examining the stated amount per serving can help a buyer understand what the manufacturer is claiming. Clear warnings and child-resistant packaging also matter when products contain intoxicating cannabinoids.
None of these steps can guarantee a product’s safety, and consumers should not interpret a laboratory report as a substitute for independent regulatory oversight. The evidence instead points to the importance of reliable manufacturing, accurate labeling, and testing that is relevant to the product being sold.
For consumers, the label is often where the purchasing decision begins. The challenge is making sure the information behind that label is accurate enough to deserve their confidence.
