- Always Requires a Full-Panel COA
- Test Products from Multiple Batches
- Use Advanced Testing Methods
- Source Products from Trusted Suppliers
- Stay Updated on Evolving Regulations
- Conduct Regular Internal Audits
- Educate Your Staff about Product Quality
Ensuring the quality of your cannabis products isn’t just about compliance—it’s about building trust with your customers and standing out in a crowded market. As the industry grows, so do the expectations around safety, consistency, and transparency. Whether you’re a new retailer or an established one, maintaining high product standards is essential to protecting your business and delivering the best experience to your customers.
Based on insights from Ryan Bellone, Chief Commercial Officer at KCA Labs, this guide will cover practical best practices for ensuring product quality. From demanding full-panel COAs to educating your staff, these steps will help you stay compliant, improve product reliability, and, ultimately, build a more substantial business.
1. Always Require a Full-Panel COA
Bellone’s Insight: “A lot of manufacturers provide basic COAs, but to ensure quality, you need a full-panel COA. This is the only way to be sure the product is safe for consumers.”
A COA is your proof that a product has been properly tested, but not all COAs cover the same ground. A full-panel COA goes beyond just cannabinoid potency and checks for harmful contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, and residual solvents.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stresses the importance of testing for contaminants like pesticides in hemp-derived products. Ensuring your product is contaminant-free isn’t just about meeting legal standards—it’s about protecting your customers from potentially harmful chemicals.
Questions:
- Are the COAs you receive from your suppliers full-panel, covering potency and contaminants like pesticides and heavy metals?
- Have you reviewed your current COAs to ensure they meet these standards?
2. Test Products from Multiple Batches
Bellone’s Insight: “Batch testing ensures consistency. One batch might be clean, but contaminants like heavy metals can appear in another.”
Product quality can fluctuate from one batch to the next, so testing each batch you receive is important. This way, you can catch any inconsistencies before they reach your customers.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), routine batch testing helps ensure that hemp-derived products, including those with Delta-8 THC, remain compliant with THC limits and don’t contain hidden contaminants. Testing each batch can save you from unknowingly selling non-compliant products.
Questions:
- Are you testing each batch you receive from your suppliers or relying on a single COA?
- What systems do you have to track and compare batch test results for consistency?
3. Use Advanced Testing Methods for Accuracy
Bellone’s Insight: “On HPLC, Delta-9 can sometimes appear as Delta-8, leading to mislabeling. GCMS provides better separation, ensuring accurate results.”
Not all testing methods are created equal. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a common method, but it can sometimes mistake Delta-9 for Delta-8, leading to inaccurate COAs. That’s why Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) is becoming the gold standard for accurate cannabinoid testing.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) highlights the critical role of advanced testing methods like GCMS in separating cannabinoids, ensuring accuracy in lab results. For retailers, this means fewer surprises and a more reliable product for your customers.
Questions:
- Are the labs you use equipped with advanced testing methods like GCMS, or are they relying on less accurate techniques like HPLC?
- When did you last review your lab’s testing methods to ensure accuracy in separating Delta-8 from Delta-9?
4. Source Products from Trusted Suppliers
Bellone’s Insight: “Choose suppliers who use third-party testing and can provide reliable COAs for every batch. This protects both your business and your customers.”
Sourcing products from reliable suppliers is a key step in ensuring quality. Not every supplier follows the same strict testing procedures, so it’s essential to work with those who prioritize full-panel COAs and third-party testing.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recommends that businesses carefully vet their suppliers to ensure they meet quality and safety standards. Partnering with reputable suppliers reduces the risk of carrying non-compliant or low-quality products.
Questions:
- How thoroughly are you vetting your suppliers? Do they consistently provide third-party full-panel COAs for each batch of products?
- Are you confident in the quality control processes of your current suppliers?
5. Stay Compliant with Evolving Regulations
Bellone’s Insight: “Retailers need to check for updates in state and federal regulations regularly. Falling behind could result in non-compliant products on your shelves.”
The cannabis industry is in constant flux, with new laws and regulations popping up regularly. Retailers need to stay informed about these changes to avoid unintentionally selling non-compliant products.
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) tracks cannabis laws across all states and provides updates on new regulations. Regularly checking these resources can help you stay compliant as the industry evolves.
Questions:
- How often do you check for updates in state and federal regulations around cannabis products? Do you have a system in place to track these changes?
- What steps are you taking to stay compliant as regulations change in your state or countrywide?
6. Conduct Regular Internal Audits
Bellone’s Insight: “Internal audits are a proactive way to ensure that the products you’re selling are safe and compliant. It also shows customers that you care about quality.”
Even with third-party testing, internal audits can be valuable for maintaining quality control. These audits help ensure that your products consistently meet quality and safety standards before reaching consumers.
The Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) recommends businesses conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with state regulations and prevent costly penalties. Conducting internal checks shows that your business is committed to maintaining high standards.
Questions:
- How often do you conduct internal audits to ensure the products on your shelves meet quality and safety standards?
- What tools or systems are you using to manage these audits, and how effectively are they catching issues before they become problems?
7. Educate Your Staff About Product Quality
Bellone’s Insight: “Educating your staff about what to look for in a COA can prevent potential issues and ensures everyone is on the same page when it comes to product quality.”
Your team is the face of your business, and they need to be well-versed in identifying quality products. Educating them on how to read COAs and the importance of third-party testing ensures that everyone in your business is aligned with maintaining high standards.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advises regular staff training is essential for maintaining compliance in regulated industries. Well-trained staff can also help educate your customers, building trust and credibility.
Questions:
- Have you trained your staff to understand COAs and the importance of third-party testing? How confident are they in identifying product quality issues?
- What educational resources or training programs could you implement to ensure your team stays knowledgeable about product safety and compliance?
Key Takeaways for Maintaining Product Quality in Your Cannabis Business
Maintaining product quality is essential for the success of any cannabis retail business. By implementing these seven best practices—ranging from requiring full-panel COAs to conducting regular internal audits—you can ensure your products meet regulatory standards and build trust with your customers. Taking these steps will protect your business and set you apart as a retailer committed to safety and transparency.
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Part 1 on the importance of COAs and Part 2 on navigating the complexities of Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC testing.
For more insights, don’t miss the full episode of High Profit with Kush.com CEO John Lynch and Ryan Bellone, where they dive deeper into product quality and compliance in the cannabis industry.