Learn

Learn about cannabis safety

Short, sourced guides for people who use cannabis and the people around them. Each guide says who checked it and when.

Hemp, delta-8 and THCA

What California and federal law say about hemp products that can get you high.

Children and families

What to do if a child eats cannabis, and how to store it out of reach.

  • Consumer guide Draft, in review

    If a child ate cannabis: what to do right now

    Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away, even if your child seems fine. Call 911 for trouble breathing, a seizure, or a child who won't wake up.

Labels

What the label on a cannabis product tells you, and what it does not.

  • Explainer Draft, in review

    How to read a cannabis label

    What a cannabis label can tell you about strength, servings, warnings and who made the product, and what it cannot. Start here, then read California's rules.

  • Consumer guide Draft, in review

    How to read a California cannabis label

    What to look for on a California cannabis label: the universal symbol, the government warning, THC per serving and package, and the Prop 65 warning.

Testing and lab results

What labs test for, and how to read a certificate of analysis.

  • Explainer Draft, in review

    How cannabis is tested

    Why labs test cannabis, what they look for, and where to find the results. Start here, then read what California requires and how to read a lab report.

  • Consumer guide Draft, in review

    How to read a certificate of analysis (COA)

    A certificate of analysis is the lab report for one batch of a cannabis product. Five steps to check that it matches your product and what it shows.

  • Explainer Draft, in review

    What California tests cannabis for

    Before licensed cannabis is sold in California, a state-licensed lab tests its batch for THC, pesticides, solvents, heavy metals, mold toxins, germs and more.

Pages marked “Draft, in review” have not yet been signed off by a medical or legal reviewer. Read our editorial standards.