The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced the release of a new hemp reference material designed to help laboratories accurately measure key components in cannabis products.

This development aims to aid law enforcement, cannabis regulators, and companies in distinguishing between hemp and cannabis, while ensuring product safety and accurate labeling.

The hemp reference material will enable labs to verify their measurement methods, allowing researchers to more accurately measure dosages in studies and ensuring product labels reflect true content.

Colleen Bryan, a biologist at NIST, emphasized the importance of trust in product labeling, particularly for CBD dosage claims, stating: “If you buy a product that claims to have 25 milligrams of CBD per dose, you should be able to trust that number.”

Hemp, defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC, was legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, whereas cannabis, with higher THC content, remains a controlled substance.

This distinction necessitates precise THC measurements, which the NIST reference material facilitates by providing standardized samples with known THC, CBD, and toxic element levels.

Walter Brent Wilson, a NIST chemist, added: “A farmer’s crop or a company’s product can be seized or potentially destroyed if it turns out to be a ‘hot’ material, so it’s important to make the correct determination.”

The new material also includes measurements for toxic elements like arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium, ensuring product safety for consumers, particularly those using cannabis for medical reasons.

The NIST hemp reference material is available for purchase on their website for $783 for three 1.5-gram samples, which equates to $174 per gram.