Cannabis Edibles Contained Up to 5,491 mg More THC Than Labels Claimed | Research

The takeaway

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.

Cannabis edible consumers, regulators, poison control specialists, parents

Up to 5,491 mg more THC than labeled in one product

What the researchers 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.

Why it 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 numbers in context

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 the study worked

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.

What this study cannot 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.

How to read the evidence

Moderate: rigorous GC-MS laboratory analysis, but very small sample from one location

When this study was published

Published in 2025

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.

Questions still open

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?

Common 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.

Read the original research

Dazed and confused: variability in reported and measured tetrahydrocannabinol content in cannabis edibles.

Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 63(11), 981-986

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

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