Cannabis Edibles Contained Up to 5,491 mg More THC Than Labels Claimed
Lab testing of 12 cannabis edible products from Mississippi found THC content ranging from 288 mg below to 5,491 mg above what was advertised, with no CBD detected in any product.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Significant discrepancies were found between labeled and measured THC content. Products contained between 288 mg less and 5,491 mg more THC than advertised. Three products of the same brand had delta-8-THC differences of 1,542, 719, and 5,491 mg. No CBD was detected in any product despite some labeling it.
Key Numbers
12 products tested. THC discrepancies ranged from -288 mg to +5,491 mg. Same-brand variation in delta-8-THC: 1,542, 719, and 5,491 mg differences. Zero CBD detected in any product.
How They Did This
Twelve cannabis edible packages purchased from local dispensaries and convenience stores in Jackson, Mississippi were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to quantify CBD, delta-8-THC, and delta-9-THC content.
Why This Research Matters
Inaccurate labeling means consumers cannot reliably dose cannabis edibles. A product containing 5,491 mg more THC than labeled poses serious overdose risk, particularly for inexperienced users or children who accidentally ingest them.
The Bigger Picture
The edible cannabis market has persistent quality control problems. Even products from the same brand showed wildly inconsistent THC content. Without standardized testing requirements, consumers are essentially guessing at their dose.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample (12 products) from one city. Mississippi's cannabis market may not represent other states. Single time point testing. Products from convenience stores may not be from regulated supply chains.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are regulated state markets more accurate than unregulated ones?
- ?Would mandatory third-party testing eliminate these discrepancies?
- ?How do these labeling errors affect consumer health outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Up to 5,491 mg more THC than labeled in one product
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: rigorous GC-MS laboratory analysis, but very small sample from one location
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025
- Original Title:
- Dazed and confused: variability in reported and measured tetrahydrocannabinol content in cannabis edibles.
- Published In:
- Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 63(11), 981-986 (2025)
- Authors:
- Beneke, Laura Lee, Kyle, Patrick B(2), Benton, J Barnes, Maready, Matthew
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06045
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can you trust cannabis edible labels?
Based on this study, not reliably. Products contained between 288 mg less and 5,491 mg more THC than advertised. Even products from the same brand showed dramatically different THC content, suggesting poor manufacturing consistency.
Why is this dangerous?
A product containing thousands of milligrams more THC than labeled could cause severe adverse effects, especially in new users, people with low tolerance, or children who accidentally consume them. Accurate dosing is impossible without accurate labels.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06045APA
Beneke, Laura Lee; Kyle, Patrick B; Benton, J Barnes; Maready, Matthew. (2025). Dazed and confused: variability in reported and measured tetrahydrocannabinol content in cannabis edibles.. Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 63(11), 981-986. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2025.2559183
MLA
Beneke, Laura Lee, et al. "Dazed and confused: variability in reported and measured tetrahydrocannabinol content in cannabis edibles.." Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2025.2559183
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Dazed and confused: variability in reported and measured tet..." RTHC-06045. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/beneke-2025-dazed-and-confused-variability
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.