A certificate of analysis, or COA, is the lab report for a specific batch. Any retailer worth buying from can produce one on request, tied to the batch number printed on the package you're holding. If the batch number doesn't match, the COA isn't for your product.

Start with the cannabinoid panel. It lists the compounds present and their concentration, and it's what compliance is measured against. Confirm the totals line up with what the label claims and that the product falls inside the legal limits for your state.

Then check the safety panels: pesticides, residual solvents, heavy metals and microbials. Each should read PASS. A missing panel is not the same as a passing one — if a section isn't there, it wasn't tested.

Finally, look at the date and the lab name. Results should come from an accredited third-party lab, not from the producer, and they should be recent enough to correspond to the batch in front of you.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. For adults 21+ only. Keep out of reach of children and pets.