How Tall Are You Really?
Budz has a question. How Tall Are You Really? Are you 5’11” or are you six feet tall because your dating profile, driver’s license, and fishing stories all say something different?
It’s funny how numbers seem to stretch when human beings get involved.
The Curious Case of Growing Taller
Kids are always trying to get older. Ask a four-year-old how old they are, and they’ll proudly announce they’re “four and a half.” The half matters. That extra six months is apparently the difference between being a toddler and running the free world.
Then something strange happens.
We get older.
Suddenly, nobody wants to add fractions anymore.
At 65, we’re suddenly “in our early 60s.”
At 72, we’re “about 70.”
At 80, we’re “still young at heart.”
The math gets fuzzy.
Height isn’t any different.
A guy who’s 5’11” somehow becomes six feet tall. A person who’s 190 pounds rounds down to 180. Numbers have a magical way of changing when pride enters the conversation.
When THC Starts Growing, Too
Which brings me to the cannabis industry.
At a recent cannabis conference, industry experts discussed one of the biggest ongoing problems facing legal cannabis markets: THC inflation.
In plain English, some products don’t always test as high as their labels claim.
Sound familiar?
The same way some folks add an inch to their height, certain cannabis products seem to gain a few percentage points of THC before reaching the shelf.
The difference is that in legal cannabis markets, those numbers matter. Legally.
Customers make purchasing decisions based on potency. Dispensaries make purchasing decisions based on potency. Cultivators negotiate contracts based on potency.
When the numbers aren’t accurate, everyone ends up paying for it, some by going to jail.
Why Accurate Testing Matters
Technology is helping solve the problem.
Portable testing equipment now allows cultivators and processors to verify cannabinoid content throughout the growing and production process. Better testing helps create more accurate labels, better consumer confidence, and a stronger industry overall.
That’s important because the cannabis industry still has enough critics without giving them extra ammunition.
Trust is hard to build and easy to lose.
Consumers deserve to know what’s actually inside the products they’re purchasing. Whether someone prefers THC, CBD, or a combination of cannabinoids, accurate labeling helps people make informed decisions.
The Truth Is Still the Best Marketing
The legal cannabis industry has spent years working to establish credibility. Honest testing, transparent labeling, and accountability all help move that effort forward.
Besides, if we’re asking cannabis companies to be honest about THC percentages, maybe we should hold ourselves to the same standard.
If you’re 5’11”, own it.
You’re still taller than Budz.
And if you’re six feet tall, congratulations.
Just make sure the tape measure agrees.