INTRODUCTION
On 19 June 2024, K-Tipp published a comprehensive CBD flower test in its issue no. 12. The Kassensturz test focussed on the cannabinoid content and the presence of pesticides. A total of ten products, all grown in Switzerland, were analysed for their quality. The results were alarming: only three of the CBD flowers tested had a high cannabinoid content and were free from pesticides. Other test criteria would also have been important to be able to really judge the quality of the CBD flowers. The CBD flower test emphasises the importance of looking for and finding suppliers and products that are truly trustworthy and should also provide an impetus for politicians and authorities to take responsibility in order to better protect consumers with binding test and quality criteria. But one thing at a time:
SUMMARY OF THE K-TIPP CBD FLOWER TEST
On 19 June 2024, K-Tipp presented a comprehensive test of CBD flowers in issue no. 12. The focus of the test was on determining the cannabinoid content and checking for pesticide residues. A total of ten CBD flower products grown in Switzerland were analysed for their quality. The results were worrying: only three of the CBD flowers tested had a high cannabinoid content and were free from pesticides.
TEST RESULTS CANNABINOID CONTENT
The product ‘Green Lee’ was chosen as the K-Tipp test winner CBD flowers. With a total of 21 per cent cannabinoids, it clearly stood out from the others. The product was only followed by three other suppliers, whose products each contained 17 per cent cannabinoids.
Brand:
Green Lee
Herba di Berna
Black Widow
Artur
Vapor Spirit
Product name:
Kim's Selection
Harlequin Mini
Jack Frost
CBD Pack N4
Erdbeerli Nugs
Cannabinoids:
21% Total
17% Total
17% Total
17% Total
10% Total
The results which are listed in the text in the overview. Unfortunately, nowhere in the test is it clear how many cannabinoids the CBD flowers tested actually contain.
Unfortunately, many of the other CBD flowers in the test contained either too few cannabinoids or even pesticides. Products such as Floralpes, Sonnenfeld and Swiss Botanic scored poorly in the test, as they contained between 4 and 24 milligrams of pesticide residues per kilo. These pesticides can enter the body via smoke or vapour when consumed and pose health risks.
Price comparison of the tested products
In addition to the pesticide analyses and cannabinoid content, K-Tipp also listed the prices of the tested products as price per gram in its CBD flower test. It was noticeable that there are considerable price differences. Some products are available for as little as CHF 0.70 per gram, while others are up to ten times as expensive.
What is not clear from the test article is that different products were compared. One example of this is the tested Lemonhaze Trim from Hanfpost, which is not sold as CBD flowers but as CBD Trim. CBD Trim consists of waste cuttings from the processing of CBD flowers. It is therefore a by-product of flower processing that differs significantly in quality and cannabinoid content from full CBD flowers. It is therefore understandable that CBD Trim is not comparable in price to full CBD flowers.
Green Lee
Herba di Berna
Black Widow
Artur
Pure Production
Vapor Spirits
Hemp mail
Kim's Selection
Harlequin
Jack Frost
Pack N4
Ganja Slash
Strawberry
Lemon Haze
Blossoms
Mini Buds
Blossoms
Blossoms
Trim
Mini Buds
Trim
5.-
1.90
7.50
6.60
1.70
1.30
-.70
Here it becomes clear that the prices are difficult to compare. Trim and mini buds are naturally much cheaper as by-products than CBD flowers.
It is therefore important for consumers to pay attention to the product categorisation. Sometimes it is not immediately obvious from the products whether they are CBD flowers or trim.
What do the k-tipp cbd flower test results mean?
The alarming results of the K-Tipp CBD flower test emphasise the need to use tested and trustworthy products from reputable suppliers. It is essential to ensure that CBD flowers do not contain any harmful pesticides and deliver the promised cannabinoid content, especially as many health-conscious people consciously choose CBD flowers. However, the K-Tipp CBD flower test has shown that many products on the market have unfortunately not earned the trust of customers and that producers apparently cannot be relied upon to monitor themselves. It therefore remains absolutely crucial that consumers choose products that have been extensively tested, deliver consistent quality and have earned their trust. Otherwise you run the risk of unknowingly ingesting substances that are harmful to your health.
Criticism and expansion of the test criteria for cbd flowers
The results of the CBD flower K-Tip test become even more precarious when you consider that only one relevant safety feature of CBD flowers was tested. Testing for pesticides and cannabinoid content is important and correct, but it would have been just as important to test for mycotoxins and bacteria. These can be present in old or low-quality CBD cannabis, for example, and pose significant health risks. With new methods, characteristics that normally indicate low-grade cannabis (e.g. smell or colour) are nowadays often simply drowned out with chemical agents. This makes it even more difficult for consumers to identify inferior CBD flowers. Mycotoxins in particular, which form on low-quality CBD flowers, can cause considerable health problems when inhaled. Similarly, certain bacteria that grow on plants (mostly on brownish old cannabis) can be harmful to health when consumed. As mentioned in the section above, official controls and strict quality guidelines are therefore essential to protect consumers. Until then, there is unfortunately no other option but to inform oneself and, if possible, to use trustworthy manufacturers.
Tips and helpful input on how to recognise low-quality or even harmful CBD flowers can be found here: CBD Flowers - what you should look out for!
MYCOTOXINS INFOBOX:
Mycotoxins are toxic metabolic products of moulds that can be harmful to health in large quantities. These toxins can grow on various plants, especially under humid and improper storage conditions. If mycotoxins are present in CBD flowers, they can enter the body when consumed by smoking or vaporising and cause health problems.
Cannabinoid content as an assessment criterion in the CBD flower test
In the K-Tipp test, the cannabinoid content of the CBD flowers was used as the main criterion for determining the test winner. Although the CBD content can be an important indicator of the quality of CBD flowers, it alone is not sufficient to make a comprehensive assessment of product quality.
Firstly, in addition to cannabinoids, cannabis also contains numerous other substances that contribute to the overall effect, particularly in the context of the so-called entourage effect. This effect describes the interaction of various plant substances that can enhance the effect of the cannabis product. Secondly, even flowers with a high cannabinoid content can be of poor quality, for example due to impurities or improper processing.
Assessing the quality of CBD flowers is therefore complex and should take several aspects into account. In addition to measurable factors such as the active ingredient content and the presence of pesticides or harmful bacteria, subjective criteria also play a role. Similar to wine evaluation, where flavour, appearance and consistency are essential quality characteristics, a comprehensive assessment should also be carried out for cannabis flowers.
Qualicann: Our approach to quality assurance
At Qualicann, we endeavour to be a one-stop shop for safe and reliable products through uncompromising quality and rigorous testing on all our products. High quality CBD products to be. All our products are comprehensively tested in state-of-the-art laboratories. Our analyses include not only cannabinoid content and pesticide residues, but also mycotoxins and bacteria. This is how we ensure that our CBD flowers are of the highest quality and safe for consumption. Unfortunately, our CBD flowers were not tested by K-Tipp this time. Otherwise, our products would probably have been the test winner again, as they were in 2019 when K-Tipp tested our CBD oils. Back then, our products were the only ones that really delivered what they promised (to the CBD oil K-Tip test).
WHY SWEET STAR WOULD CONVINCE QUALICANN
One example of our high-quality CBD flowers is our long-standing bestseller - Sweet Star. According to the latest cannabinoid analysis, our Sweet Star has a cannabinoid content that is significantly higher than that of the products tested. With 25.92% CBD and 0.93% THC, it is probably the strongest CBD variety in Switzerland. Through regular tests and controls, we can also ensure that all our CBD flowers are completely free of pesticides, mycotoxins and harmful bacteria. With these quality features, the Sweet Star would certainly have once again emerged as the CBD flower test winner in the K-Tipp.
CONCLUSION OF THE CBD BLOSSOM K-TIP TEST
The K-Tipp CBD flower test emphasises the importance of quality and purity in CBD flowers. Politicians and authorities should see it as their duty to draw up and implement binding quality criteria for CBD flowers as soon as possible. Otherwise, consumers will be left alone in a very confusing market. We encourage all consumers to pay attention to the quality and safety of their CBD products and to choose suppliers who really deserve their trust. Because when it comes to health, it is not worth making compromises.
