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and CBD, can be compared to gauge the
bud’s potency; terpene profiles can be aggregated to predict flavor and smell. With
complete information and a little experience, consumers can learn over time what
works best for them, empowering themselves to make better decisions when trying new strains in the future. But unfortunately, state regulations are already
headed in the wrong direction. Washington
state, for example, has passed labeling
rules providing woefully incomplete information, making it much more difficult for
consumers there to make informed purchases.
A better system would set up ‘grades’ of
cannabis according to potency and flavor,
through a system similar to the way computer processors are ranked according to
post-manufacture testing. Just as CPUs
each come out of the factory a little different but can be ranked for speed accord-
ing to stress tests, so can cannabis, with
all its minute variations, be tested by
laboratories after curing and ranked by
brackets of potency. Terpene levels can
also be standardized; machine-learning
software can analyze the relative prevalence of each fragrance-producing chemical to rank buds by its fruity, piney and
other scents.
When the cannabis industry adopts a
common language across producers, processors and retailers, the winners will be
the consumers. Any person of legal age
will be able to walk into a store or dispensary and easily compare the options
without having to know the subtleties
behind