Cannabidiol Gummy Products: LC-MS/MS Assessment of Cannabinoid Concentrations

Background: Hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) products are now widely available for purchase in the United States and in many international jurisdictions. However, these products are largely unregulated (with very few exceptions) and are widely available without restriction. This has created a market in which low-quality and contaminated products are commonplace. The aim of the current study was to analyze the cannabinoid content of 56 selected CBD gummy products. Methods: Gummy-based CBD products from national brands, available for purchase online, were obtained. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for cannabinoid analysis. Key outcome measures included: (1) concentration of CBD in each product, (2) accuracy of the product labeling regarding CBD concentration, and (3) concentration of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) and other cannabinoids of interest (e.g., cannabidivarin and cannabinol) in each product. An exploratory analysis assessed within-product consistency of CBD and THC concentrations (e.g., variation in cannabinoid content from gummy to gummy within a single bottle). Results: The products contained a mean of 21.38 (±11.16) mg CBD per gummy (range: 5.70 − 59.99 mg). In total, 70% of the gummies contained CBD in a concentration that differed by >10% of the dose listed on the packaging. In total, 39% of the products contained Δ⁹-THC and concentrations were highly variable (range: 0.019-0.88 mg Δ⁹-THC/gummy); 9 products (16% of products tested) contained >0.4 mg Δ⁹-THC per gummy. Within-product analysis (n = 10 products) revealed high variability across gummies (coefficient of variation for CBD: 2.1 − 27.1%; Δ⁹-THC: 3.1 − 23.5%). Conclusions: As several studies have demonstrated, unregulated CBD product packaging is not an accurate indication of the product constituents. This study further confirms that CBD products do not have reliable CBD concentrations—both relative to the dose listed on the label and among individual gummies within the same bottle. These products also frequently contain Δ⁹-THC (and occasionally Δ⁸-THC), often unbeknownst to the consumer. The results of this study support the growing body of literature suggesting the necessity of CBD product regulation to ensure customer health and safety.