Potency: The Number That Isn't the Whole Story
The potency line usually lists a raw THCA percentage, and sometimes a second figure called "total THC." These are not the same number, and mixing them up is the single most common label mistake shoppers make.
Raw THCA converts to Delta-9 THC at roughly 0.877 to 1 once heated. So a label reading 28% THCA actually delivers closer to 24.6% total THC after combustion. A label that shows both numbers side by side is being upfront with you; one that only shows the higher raw figure is picking the number that looks better on the shelf.
- Raw THCA % = potency before heat
- Total THC % = potency after decarboxylation
- Minor cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, CBN) sometimes listed separately below the main figure
Batch Number: Your Link to a Specific Harvest
Every jar carries a batch number, a code tied to one specific cultivation and cure run, not a whole product line. This matters more than most buyers realize: two jars of the same strain name can carry different batch numbers and test at noticeably different potency, because they came from different plants, different rooms, or different cure times.
If you ever have a question about a product, that batch number is what a brand or a lab uses to pull the exact test results tied to your jar, not a general result for the strain as a whole.
QR Code: The Fastest Way to the Lab Report
Scan the QR code on any Costa Brand label, and it should take you straight to the Certificate of Analysis for that exact batch, hosted by the testing lab itself, not a PDF the brand uploaded and controls. That distinction matters: a lab-hosted result is far harder to alter after the fact than a file sitting on a brand's own server.
If a QR code on any hemp product leads to a homepage, a generic "our testing" page, or nothing at all, that's a sign the batch behind that jar hasn't actually been verified.
Lab Testing: What Should Already Be Done Before You Buy
The lab testing disclosure on a label should confirm the product passed screening across potency, heavy metals, residual solvents (for concentrates), and microbial testing. A label that lists a lab name and a batch-specific date is showing you real, completed work, not a blanket claim.
| Label Element | What It Confirms |
|---|---|
| Lab name | Which third-party facility ran the tests |
| Test date | How recently this specific batch was verified |
| Pass/fail status | Whether the batch cleared every required panel |
Packaging Information: The Details People Skip Past
The bottom of a label carries the packaging information most shoppers skip past, but it's worth a second look:
- Net weight, listed in grams, and the number to weigh your jar against if you're ever unsure
- Harvest or packaged date, which tells you how fresh the flower is, not just how it tested
- Child-resistant packaging symbol, required for compliant hemp products sold across most states
- Farm Bill compliance statement, confirming Delta-9 THC sits at or below 0.3% by dry weight
- Warning language, covering age restrictions and intended use
A label missing a harvest date or a child-resistant symbol isn't automatically unsafe, but it's a gap worth asking about before you order again.
Costa Brand: Every Label Backed by a Real Result
Costa Brand builds every label around one rule: nothing gets printed that the batch number and QR code can't back up. Our THCA flower, pre-rolls, and concentrates each carry a COA from an independent third-party lab, published in full and tied to the exact batch in your hand, not a strain-wide average. We carry premium and exotic flower, ready-to-smoke pre-rolls, and live resin concentrates including badder, sugar, diamonds, and rosin, all federally compliant under the 2018 Farm Bill. Orders over $100 ship free across most of the USA. If a label should tell you the whole story, ours does. Browse our full collection and scan the code for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
The potency figure shows raw THCA content before heating. Some labels also list total THC, the lower number you actually get after smoking or vaping.
A batch number ties your jar to one specific harvest and test result. It's how a lab or brand identifies exactly which run your product came from.
Scanning the QR code pulls up the Certificate of Analysis for that exact batch, hosted by the testing lab, confirming potency, purity, and safety results.
Look for a lab name, a batch-specific test date, and a pass status on the label or linked COA. Missing details usually mean incomplete lab testing.
Compliant labels include net weight, harvest or packaged date, a child-resistant symbol, a Farm Bill compliance statement, and clear packaging information around intended use.
Different batch numbers mean different cultivation and cure runs. Even the same strain name can show different potency results between batches.
A missing QR code or unlinked lab testing claim is a warning sign. Always confirm a batch-specific COA exists before purchasing.