People lab-test homegrown cannabis to discover the exact cannabinoid and terpene percentages.
You can contact CCTL, (located in the Greater LA area) to lab test your homegrown cannabis or hemp. They will not be able to advise you to mail your cannabis or cannabis product to them. This includes flower, extracts, edibles or topicals. You will need to deliver and pick up at their location, per their policies.
CCTL offers an analysis of terpene and cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, etc.) found in cannabis and hemp, and you can also test for pesticides. Once you become a client, you will get login access to their website to review all of your lab results in one central location. Before you order a lab test, review our general information about cannabinoids and terpenes below.
Terpenes
If you appreciate the flavor, aroma, and taste of cannabis, you need to know the possibilities of terpene combinations are limitless like the stars in the sky. Terpenes are actually responsible for scents and flavors, as well as physiological and psychoactive effects with cannabis. They are chemical compounds that appear in all kinds of plants! Terpenes give flowers, fruits and plants and more a very unique aroma. For example, when you have blueberry smells and tastes in your Blueberry Muffin or Blue Dream varieties of cannabis, it is so simply due to terpenes. Mirage smells of citrus, lemon, and herbal woody notes which culminate into something reminiscent of a zesty botanical citrus gin.
The most prominent cannabis terpenes include myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, pinene, terpinene, terpinolene, camphene, terpineol, phellandrene, carene, humulene, pulegone, sabinene, geraniol, linalool, fenchol, berneol, eucalyptol, and nerolidon. You can even order a terpene poster to help you remember each one along with their benefits.
Terpenes can be sweet: flowery, fruity, and tropical. This includes smells of apple, pear, berry, pineapple, mango, guava, jasmin, lilac, rose, cherry, strawberry, blueberry, peach, plumb and more.
Terpenes can be spicy: warm, herbal and sharp. This includes smells of sage, black pepper, green pepper, saffron, cloves, cedar, rosemary, sage, dill, cinnamon, ginger, mint, jalapeno and more.
Terpenes can be bitter: nutty, musky, vegetative and chemically. This includes smells of cucumber, peas, chives, garlic, walnut, almonds, onion, tobacco, tea, coffee, cocoa, vinegar, ammonia, metallic and more.
Terpenes can smell sour: citrus and cheesey. This includes smells of orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit and blue cheese, sour cream, hot milk, and more.
When terpenes are mixed, you get new possibilities of flavor and aroma profiles. Often you will smell a combination of terpenes. One of the most common examples is the “diesel” smell — that of fuel / gas. Other notably strange smelling cannabis smells include tar and peanut butter.
Terepene combinations beg the imagination — will there ever be varieties smelling like roses & cheese? minty hot milk? ginger butter? mango & clove?
Lab-testing Homegrown Cannabis
Getting your homegrown cannabis tested to discover the terpene profiles is educational and exciting. Lab testing your homegrown cannabis allows you examine the consistency of your plant genetics and growing styles — and truly aid you on your personal journey to finding your perfect strain. Once you know your terepene %’s of myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, pinene, terpinene, terpinolene, camphene, terpineol, phellandrene, carene, humulene, pulegone, sabinene, geraniol, linalool, fenchol, berneol, eucalyptol, and nerolidon — you’ll be able to better understand cannabis and its effects at a far deeper level. Don’t get it twisted — cannabis isn’t witchcraft. There’s a rhyme and reason to cannabis and your experience with it. Love is in the details, right? And let’s not forget about some details of cannabinoids!
Cannabinoids
The primary cannabinoid classes are THC, CBD, CBN, CBG. Other classes include CBC, CBDL, CBL, CBV, THCV, CBDV, CBGV, CBCV, CBGM, CBE, CBT, CBNV, CBO, THCA, THCVA, CBDA, and CBGA. If you are breeding cannabis, you’ll certainly want to evaluate the THC and CBD levels. However, other cannabinoid classes are becoming more sought after due to the ongoing decriminalization and legalization of cannabis allowing for more research.
It is fascinating that even just a small change in terpene and/or cannabinoid profile can cause noticeable differences in the effects it creates. You can now empower yourself and get to know the cannabis genetics you are growing at home. By doing so, you’ll be able to better choose varieties to grow at home that benefit you most.
You can test your homegrown cannabis in Southern California with CCTL. CCTL is located in Los Angeles. Currently there are no testing labs in San Diego. Lab Tests will asses for 10 cannabinoids: THC, THCA, THCV, CBD, CBDA, CBDV, CBN, CBG, CBGA & CBC. Additionally, 20 terpenes including: Alpha Pinene, Camphene, Beta Myrcene, Beta PINENE, DELTA 3 CARENE, Alpha Terpinene, Limonene, P-Cymene, B-Ocimene, Gamma Terpinene, Terpinolene, Linalool, Isopulegol, Ulegol, Geraniol, Beta Carophyllene, Alpha Humulene, Cis-Nerolidol, Trans-Nerolidol, Gualiol, Carophyloxide, & Alapha Bisabolol.
Contact us if you have any stories about your experience testing your homegrown cannabis to be featured on our cannabis growing podcast.