DO THC VALUES IN CBD FLOWER CHANGE OVER TIME? Answer 1.

A laboratory which analyses CBD flower was asked this question: Can CBD flower which measures 0.2% measure 0.5% when tested a few years later. Does the THC content in CBD flowers can change over time? The answer is yes, the THC can change.

Question:

• If industrial hemp flower is analysed and it measures at < 0.2% THC and the hemp flower is re-analysed 2 or 3 or 4 or even 5 years later, is it possible that the flower will test at a slightly higher THC reading? Or the flower might test at a slightly lower THC reading than < 0.2% ? Is this hypothetically possible? Small variations only from < 0.2% THC to < 0.5 % or even < 0.1% THC. Flower which is simply stored or poorly stored and then re-analysed 2 or 3 or 4 or even 5 years later, giving a different reading to the original < 0.2 analysis? I have been curious about this question for some time and searching the internet doesn’t give reliable information. Hypothetically, i just wondered if this is possible?

Here is the fuller answer:

Hi How are you –

Yes, it is hypothetically possible for the THC content of industrial hemp flowers to show some variation when analyzed years later, whether slightly higher or lower than the original reading of <0.2%. This can occur due to several factors:

• Degradation of Cannabinoids: Over time, cannabinoids, including THC, can degrade when exposed to light, oxygen, heat, and humidity. THC can convert to CBN (cannabinol), which could lower the overall THC reading. However, if the storage conditions were poor, some cannabinoids could degrade unevenly, potentially leading to variations in THC concentration.

• Moisture Content: Changes in moisture content during storage can affect the concentration of cannabinoids. If the flower loses water weight over time, the remaining THC content could become more concentrated, potentially leading to a slightly higher reading.

• Laboratory Methodology and Sensitivity: Differences in the precision and sensitivity of the equipment used between the initial and subsequent tests could also cause small variations. Different laboratories or even improved analytical methods over time might result in slightly different THC readings.Overall, these variations are typically small, but changes from <0.2% to <0.5% or lower (e.g., <0.1%) could occur under certain conditions. Proper storage, such as keeping the flower in a cool, dark, and airtight environment, would generally minimize these variations.

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Best wishes