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Understanding Cannabinoid Labels

Decoding the abbreviations, units and calculations printed on hemp flower packaging and product pages.

By THCA Guide Hub Editorial Team · Updated 2026-09-06 · 5 min read

Labels compress a lot of laboratory detail into a few lines. Here is what the common elements mean.

Common abbreviations

  • THCA — tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, the acidic form
  • Δ9-THC — delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the neutral form
  • CBD and CBDA — cannabidiol and its acidic form
  • CBG, CBN, CBC — other cannabinoids often included in a full panel
  • ND — not detected; <LOQ — below the limit of quantitation

Units

Concentrations are usually shown as a weight percentage and as milligrams per gram. One percent equals ten milligrams per gram.

Calculated values

Total THC and total cannabinoid figures are calculated from measured values. Check whether a listing quotes a measured result or a calculation before comparing products.

What labels omit

A package label is a summary. The full report carries the panels, limits, methods and dates, so use the label as a pointer to the report rather than a substitute for it.

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