A lot of people are only now discovering this unique cannabinoid called delta 8, which is psychoactive yet legal (to an extent) thanks to being a hemp derivative, which is protected under federal law. Now that companies have come up with brilliant ways to create pure delta8 extracts using advanced chemistry methods, the delta-8 market is booming like never before.
But just because delta 8 is now widely and legally available, does that mean that any old delta 8 product that you find will do? Well, not really. As you may know already, the hemp market remains unregulated as it stands. This means that there is no governing body overseeing every aspect of manufacturing hemp-based product. And that’s as true for the CBD industry as it is for the delta 8 market.
What Does This Mean?
Well, companies that product delta-8 products can get away with a lot of questionable methods. Delta 8, like any natural product, can contain impurities, be chemically unstable or flat-out illegitimate or dangerous if it’s not made properly. Hence, some companies have been caught lying about what’s in their formulas in the past, so customers need to be extra careful.
At iDELTA8, we provide our customers with objective information about our delta 8 products so that consumers can feel safe when they buy our products. The way in which we do this is by making certificates of analysis accessible on our website. We’ll explain what this certificate is and why it matters, as well as how to read it properly to know exactly what you’re getting.
What is a Certificate of Analysis Report?
A certificate of analysis, or CoA, is a certificate that provides a full lab report from a third-party testing facility. It indicates that a hemp company has sent their hemp extract off to a laboratory to have it tested. The resulting certificate breaks down important, unbiased information about the extract so that customers can read legitimate information about what’s inside the product.
This is one of the only ways in which a hemp company can prove their legitimacy and quality to customers. In fact, hemp companies are technically required to have each batch of their hemp extract tested, so companies that fail to do this should be avoided completely.
Both CBD and delta 8 are hemp derivatives, and so they must be tested in the same manner.
What to Look for When Reading a Delta 8 CoA Report
A certificate of analysis is broken up into different categories of information. Here are the ones that matter the most to you as a consumer.
#1: Chemical Composition
The chemical composition tab will simply break down the chemical compounds present in the delta 8 extract. If the product in question claims to have a delta8 isolate, then you should not see any compounds except for delta-8 THC. If the extract combines delta 8 with other compounds, such as terpenes or CBD, you should clearly see these on the chemical composition breakdown.
#2: Potency Level
There should be information regarding the potency of the delta8 as well as any other compounds that may be present. This will be described in milligrams, or as a percentage of the full extract that’s in the formula.
#3: Presence of Pesticides
There will be a list of impurities, broken into categories. One will be pesticides. The presence of pesticides indicates two things. One is that the hemp was not grown organically, which could lessen the quality of the product. Two is that the extraction and purification methods used were not sufficient in removing the pesticides, which speaks of the company’s commitment to quality, or lack thereof.
#4: Presence of Heavy Metals
Another impurity to look out for is heavy metals, which are toxins present in the soil. Again, the presence of heavy metals shows that they were not adequately removed during the purification process, and that the hemp was likely not grown organically.
#5: Presence of Microbes
Microbes may be present in a hemp extract, and some are friendly to the body while others are harmful. Read this section thoroughly to know whether or not the delta-8 extract is safe for consumption.
#6: Delta 9 THC Content
By law, all hemp products must have a maximum of 0.3% delta 9 THC to be legal. The lab reports should indicate this clearly.
The Delta 8 Products at iDELTA8: Always Lab-Tested for Quality Assurance
At iDELTA8, we make sure that we have each batch of our hemp extract tested. We use both CBD and delta 8 in our products, and all of the hemp that we use is tested for by a third party. We offer certificates of analysis for all of our products.
We offer three unique formulas for our vape oils, and each one contains hemp extract that has been properly lab-tested. Our Blue Label vape oils have a 2:1 CBD to delta 8 ratio, and our Gold Label vape oils have a 50/50 blend, while our Platinum Label vape oils contain only delta 8 and no other hemp compounds.
iDELTA8, Strives to Prove Our Commitment to Quality to Our Customers
That’s why we never hesitate to make our certificates of analysis widely available. If a company does not offer this level of transparency, you should choose another brand that is proud to show their lab results.