How to Read a Cannabis Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Reviewed by The Farmers Choice Team · Updated
A Certificate of Analysis is the lab report that proves what's in your cannabis. Here's how to read THC, terpenes, and safety results at a glance.
A Certificate of Analysis, or COA, is the lab report that proves what is actually in your cannabis. Every product on our shelves is tested by an independent, New York-licensed lab before it is sold, and the results are yours to read. Learning to skim a COA takes about two minutes and makes you a sharper, safer shopper for life. Here is what to look for.
The four things worth checking
A COA can look dense, but four things carry most of the value.
Cannabinoid potency. This is the THC content, shown as a percentage for flower and concentrates or in milligrams for edibles and tinctures. Total THC is the figure most people compare, since it accounts for the THC that becomes active when the product is heated.
Terpenes. Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give each strain its smell and flavor, and many people connect them to how a strain actually feels. A COA that lists terpene percentages tells you more about the character of a batch than THC alone.
Safety screening. A passing COA reads PASS for pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbials like mold and bacteria. This is the part that matters most for your health, and it is exactly why buying from a licensed dispensary beats the unregulated market.
Batch and date. The COA should match the batch number printed on your product, and the test date tells you how fresh the results are.
Total THC vs. THCA
You will often see two numbers, THCA and Total THC. Raw cannabis contains THCA, an inactive form that converts to active THC when you heat it by smoking, vaping, or cooking. Because a gram of THCA does not equal a gram of active THC once that conversion happens, labs publish a Total THC figure that does the math for you. When you are comparing two products, Total THC is the apples-to-apples number.
Reading the terpene results
If your COA lists terpenes, scan the top two or three by percentage. Myrcene tends to show up in strains people describe as relaxing, limonene in bright and citrusy ones, and pinene in sharp, alert ones. You do not need to memorize the list; you just need to notice that two flowers with identical THC can carry completely different terpene profiles, which is a big reason they feel different. Our guide to indica, sativa, and hybrid goes deeper on terpenes and how to shop by them.
Safety screening in plain English
The safety section is the one to never skip. Pesticides and heavy metals are contaminants that can end up in a plant from how it was grown. Residual solvents are traces left behind when concentrates are extracted. Microbials cover mold, mildew, and harmful bacteria. New York sets legal limits for each, and a compliant batch reads PASS across the board. When a product carries a passing COA from a licensed lab, you know it cleared those checks, which is something the illicit market simply cannot show you.
A quick worked example
Say you are comparing two flowers. The first lists 24% Total THC, a healthy 2% total terpenes led by myrcene, and PASS on every safety line. The second lists 27% Total THC, under half a percent terpenes, and the same clean safety results. On paper the second is stronger, but the first will likely smell richer and feel more distinctive because of those terpenes. Neither choice is wrong; it depends on what you want. That two-minute comparison is the entire skill.
Why this matters in New York
New York's Office of Cannabis Management requires licensed products to be lab-tested and accurately labeled before they reach a shelf. When you shop at a licensed dispensary like Farmers Choice, the COA is your proof that a product was screened for safety and labeled honestly. The unregulated market offers no such paperwork and no such guarantee.
How to find the COA for your product
Most legal packaging prints a QR code or a batch number. Scanning the code, or searching the batch number on the producer's site, pulls up the matching COA. If you cannot find it, ask us: our budtenders can pull up lab results in store, and we are happy to walk through any line on the report with you.
Common questions
What is a Certificate of Analysis?
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a lab report from an independent, state-licensed testing facility. It shows a cannabis product's cannabinoid potency, led by THC, along with its terpene profile, and its safety screening for contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, and mold. In New York, licensed products are tested before they reach the shelf.
What THC percentage is considered strong?
For flower, roughly 15 to 20% THC is moderate, 20 to 25% is strong, and above 25% is very strong. Percentage isn't everything, though. Terpenes and your own tolerance shape the experience as much as the number does.
Where do I find the COA for my product?
Many products print a QR code or batch number on the packaging that links to the COA. Our budtenders can also pull up lab results in store, so just ask.
What is the difference between THC and THCA on a label?
THCA is the raw, inactive form found in unheated cannabis; it converts to active THC when you smoke, vape, or cook it. Total THC already accounts for that conversion, so it is the more useful number when comparing products.
What does a passing safety screen mean?
It means the batch was tested and came back within legal limits for contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbials such as mold. A passing screen is the core reason to buy from a licensed dispensary.
Do all products have a COA?
Every product sold at a licensed New York dispensary is tested and has a COA. Many print a QR code or batch number that links to it, and our budtenders can pull up the lab results in store.
Sources
- New York State Office of Cannabis Management, adult-use cannabis laboratory testing requirements.
- New York State Office of Cannabis Management, product labeling and packaging standards.