At Litmosphere, transparency is one of our unshakeable family pillars. Every product we stock on our shelves at 1649 Columbia Turnpike has been independently tested by an OCM-licensed, third-party laboratory. The results of these tests are compiled into a document called a Certificate of Analysis, or COA. By New York law, every packaging label must carry a scannable QR code linking directly to this document. Learning to read a COA is the ultimate way to protect your health and verify what you are putting in your body.
A standard COA is broken into three main architecture zones. The first is the Cannabinoid Profile. This section lists the exact weight percentages and milligrams per gram of all detected cannabinoids. Look closely at the Delta-9-THC percentage and compare it to the THCA percentage (which converts to active THC when heated). A transparent COA will also list minor compounds like CBD, CBG, or CBN, giving you an accurate picture of the strain’s chemical makeup.
The second zone is the Terpene Analysis. While not all brands pay extra for terpene profiling, craft New York producers almost always do. This section lists the top terpenes present in the plant by percentage. If you see high levels of Limonene or Linalool, you can expect an uplifting or calming experience, respectively. This data is represented in our signature "lab readout" styling across our showroom.
The third, and most critical, zone is the Safety and Contaminants Screen. This is where licensed cannabis outclasses the illicit market. A legal COA will display individual "Pass" or "Fail" marks for heavy metals (such as lead, arsenic, and mercury), chemical pesticides, residual extraction solvents (like butane or ethanol), mycotoxins, mold, and harmful bacteria like E. coli. If a product fails any of these screens, it can never legally reach our shelves. Your health is our family’s priority.