Whether you’re buying flower, pre-rolls, edibles, or concentrates, understanding THC potency can help you choose products that match your experience level. This guide explains what THC potency means, how it’s measured, and why a higher percentage doesn’t always mean a stronger experience.
The percentage on the package is an important piece of the puzzle, but it isn’t everything – and there isn’t always a percentage. Starting with the basics, this article details how to determine just how strong a cannabis product is and how it might impact your experience.
The potency of what, exactly?
When we talk about the potency of cannabis, what we’re typically referring to is the potency of THC. Known scientifically as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is the most highly researched cannabinoid of many that make up the cannabis plant. It’s also the cannabinoid that’s responsible for therapeutic benefits, psychoactive effects, and the feeling of being “high”.
Other psychoactive cannabinoids
THC is by far the most well known and potent cannabinoid we know of, but it’s not the only one.
CBD (cannabidiol) is the second most common cannabinoid you’ll find at your local cannabis shop. Unlike THC, CBD is non-intoxicating and is commonly chosen by consumers seeking products with little or no intoxicating effects. Products containing CBD display their own potency. If a product contains both CBD and THC, you’ll typically see separate percentages (or potency values) for each cannabinoid.
Beyond THC and CBD, there are many other naturally occurring cannabinoids you may not have heard of. While these are typically found in much lower concentrations in cannabis flower, some can also be produced through processing.
Naturally occurring minor cannabinoids include:
- CBG (Cannabigerol)
- CBN (Cannabinol)
- CBC (Cannabichromene)
- THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin)
You may also hear about cannabinoids such as Delta-8 THC, Delta-10 THC, THCP, and THC-O. These compounds are generally produced through processing rather than occurring naturally in significant amounts, and their availability varies depending on local regulations.
Understanding the potency of different products
Every cannabis product available for sale must indicate its potency or strength. But how that potency is indicated will vary by product.
The potency of flower
When you heat cannabis flower, a process called decarboxylation converts THCA, the non-intoxicating form of THC found in raw cannabis, into psychoactive THC. Without this heating process, raw cannabis flower won’t produce intoxicating effects because the THCA has not been converted into THC.
The strength of THC or CBD in cannabis flower is a measure of the total dry weight, whether you’re purchasing a pack of pre-rolled joints, or a bag of untouched flower. For example, if a 3,000mg package (3.5g) is labelled as 15% THC, we know that there is 525mg of THC in the package. Or a standard 0.5g pre-rolled joint labelled as 17% THC will have a total of 85mg of THC.
It’s important to understand just how much cannabis you’re consuming when you light up flower. In most cases, flower of any quantity sold at a cannabis shop is too much for one person to consume in one sitting. Experienced smokers will have a better understanding of their limits, but just because you purchase an individual joint, does not mean it’s a reasonable amount for an individual person.
The potency of edibles
When you understand the potency of edible cannabis products and compare that with packaged edibles, it will help put things into perspective.
Edibles do not use percentages to measure strength. Instead, things are little more simple with a straight up total weight of THC per package. For example, you can buy a package of gummies labelled as 10mg, and if there are 5 gummies in the bag, that means 2mg per gummy.
Because edibles are available in all sizes of dose starting as low as 1-2mg, it’s much easier to control your consumption and high with edibles versus a joint. Consuming your desired amount of an 85mg joint will be much more difficult than eating a gummy or two. Edibles take longer to take effect (typically 30 minutes to 2 hours), so it’s important to wait before consuming more.
The potency of concentrates & extracts
Concentrates and extracts are stripped down versions of cannabis. After processing and refinement, you’re left the isolated cannabinoids and terpenes. As a result, these products are extremely pure and far more potent.
Because concentrates and extracts are super strong, they aren’t the best option if you’re new to cannabis. But these products can be safely enjoyed when used responsibly and in appropriate amounts. Most commonly, they’re consumed using a special water pipe called a dab rig. But they can also be vaporized or added to joints.
When browsing at your local cannabis shop, you’ll notice the percentages of concentrates and extracts are sky high. Also expressed as percentages of dry weight, it isn’t unusual to see products labelled as 90% or even higher. Because they’re so strong, it’s extra important you’ve got the dosages dialed in before consuming.
Today’s cannabis is more potent than ever
People are often misled by the expected potency of cannabis. Much of this is due to the portrayal of cannabis in TV and movies dating back decades. When characters take down an entire joint on a 90s sitcom, that isn’t the same thing as smoking a joint rolled in 2026.
For example, the average potency of illicit cannabis in 1995 was just 4%. In the 80s, it was even lower. Since then, that potency has risen consistently. By 2014, the average was hovering around 12%, and modern cannabis averages around 15%. But when you browse the selection at your local cannabis shop, you’ll notice packages of flower and pre-rolled joints with 20%, 25% – even 30% THC.
From a potency perspective, the weed our parents were smoking in past decades is almost unrecognizable from the stuff available today.
High quality vs high potency
While many visit their local cannabis shop in search of higher potency, often the more interesting inquiry is for higher quality. More and more, today’s customers are after quality over quantity. If quality is what you’re looking for, Cheeky’s Cannabis is home to BC producers crafting some of the highest quality cannabis you’ll find. Plus, each product is tested for top quality by Health Canada.
At Cheeky’s Cannabis, our friendly staff will be more than happy to help you find something in your desired potency range. And if you’re new to cannabis, we’ll walk you through where to start.
Visit us in Maple Ridge, Mission, Kitsilano and North Saanich (Vancouver Island). Planned on staying put today? The potency of each product is clearly labelled in our online cannabis store as well.