How to read a Certificate of Analysis

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a lab-issued document that reports what's in — and what's not in — a cannabis product. For hemp-derived products under the 2018 Farm Bill, the COA is also the proof that a product falls under the federal hemp definition (≤0.3% Δ9 THC by dry weight). For FLIGHT, every batch is tested by an independent third-party lab before it ships.

This is what to look at, and in what order.

1. The lab and the date

Every COA should clearly identify: - The testing lab (independent, third-party, ideally ISO-accredited) - The batch or lot number - The date the sample was received - The date the report was issued

A COA without a date is a red flag. A COA from a lab you can't verify (no website, no accreditation, no other published reports) is a red flag. If the product is more than six months past the test date, consider whether terpenes and cannabinoids may have degraded.

2. The cannabinoid panel

This is the section most shoppers anchor on, but it's not the most important.

• Total THC — the sum of THC plus the precursor THCa (which converts to THC when heated). Expect 18–30% for flower, 60–95% for concentrates.
• Total CBD — usually <1% in modern recreational cultivars; >5% indicates a high-CBD or balanced cultivar.
• CBG, CBN, CBC — minor cannabinoids. CBN climbs as products age and is studied for sedation. CBG is the precursor cannabinoid and is finding its own market.

Be skeptical of THC percentages above 32% in flower — measurement variance and inflation are well-documented industry problems.

3. The terpene panel

This is the most underrated section of the COA.

A trustworthy lab tests for 20+ terpenes; a weaker one tests for 5. Look for: - Total terpenes by weight — 1.5%+ is rich, below 1% is dilute - The dominant terpene — the highest single percentage - The supporting panel — usually 2–4 terpenes that round out the profile

If a COA lists the cannabinoid panel but not terpenes, that's a quality signal — about the producer's priorities.

4. Contaminants

This section is where the COA is most important. It tests for things you absolutely don't want in your lungs or body:

• Pesticides — every entry should read "ND" (not detected) or be below action level. Even one "fail" should rule the product out.
• Residual solvents — only relevant for hydrocarbon-extracted concentrates. Industry safety thresholds are typically 800ppm or stricter; quality producers come in well below 50ppm.
• Heavy metals — lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury. All should be "ND" or trace.
• Microbials — yeast, mold, total aerobic count, salmonella, E. coli. Pass/fail.
• Mycotoxins — toxic byproducts of mold. Should always read "ND."
• Water activity / moisture content — affects shelf life and mold risk.

Any failure here disqualifies the product. Any "limit reached" reading is worth questioning.

5. What's missing

A COA tells you what was tested. It doesn't tell you what wasn't tested. Some quality questions a COA can't answer:

• Was the sample representative? (Producers sometimes send their best lot.)
• How old is the flower? (Terpenes degrade significantly after 6 months.)
• Was it stored properly? (Heat, light, and oxygen all degrade terpenes and cannabinoids.)

These are answered by trusting the producer and retailer — not the document.

Where to find FLIGHT COAs

Every FLIGHT product page links to a current Certificate of Analysis. We keep the most recent three batches accessible. If you'd like an older batch report or a specific cultivar that's no longer current, email us — we keep the archive.