Walking up to a cannabis menu for the first time can feel like reading a nutrition panel in another language. Percentages, milligrams, dates, batch codes. Take a breath. Once you know what each part means, a label becomes one of the most useful tools you have for choosing a product that fits you.
A quick note before we start: this is general education, not medical advice. We don’t make health claims. For anything personal, please talk with your provider, and lean on our budtenders in the shop.
What’s on a Maine Cannabis Label
Maine requires cannabis products to be labeled clearly and consistently, which is good news for you. Every label should tell you the product type, the potency, the amounts of key cannabinoids, and the dates and codes that trace it back to a specific batch. You’ll also find the name of the cultivator or manufacturer — for our shelves, that’s often our own farm. If you want a broader primer on product types before diving into the numbers, our cannabis guide is a friendly place to begin.
THC, CBD, and Total Cannabinoids
The percentages usually catch your eye first. On flower and concentrates, THC and CBD are shown as a percentage of weight — so 22% THC means roughly 22% of that flower’s weight is THC. Higher isn’t automatically “better.” It’s simply stronger, and the right strength depends on you and your experience.
You may also see total cannabinoids or total THC, which account for the acid forms (like THCA) that convert to active THC when heated. It’s a fuller picture of what you’re actually getting. CBD is listed the same way, and many patients look for a balance of the two rather than chasing the biggest number.
Milligrams: Reading Edibles
Edibles play by a different rule. Instead of percentages, you’ll see milligrams per serving and milligrams per package. A gummy might read 5mg THC per piece and 50mg per package — ten servings in one pouch. That per-serving number is the one to anchor on, because edibles take longer to kick in and are easy to underestimate. Start low, go slow, and give it time. Our edibles dosing guide walks through this in more detail.
Terpenes
Some labels list terpenes — the aromatic compounds that give cannabis its smell and character, from citrus to pine to earth. When they’re printed, they can hint at the aroma and overall vibe of a strain, which is often more telling than the strain name alone. If terpenes intrigue you, our terpenes guide breaks down the common ones and what they smell like.
Dates, Batches, and Freshness
Look for the harvest date or packaged date. Cannabis is a fresh agricultural product, not a shelf-stable one, and terpenes gently fade over time. A recent date is a good sign that flower will taste, smell, and burn the way it should. Store it cool, dark, and airtight to help it hold up.
Nearby, you’ll find a batch or lot number. It looks like a random code, but it’s a thread you can pull — it ties your exact product back to when and where it was grown and, most importantly, to its lab test.
The COA and Third-Party Lab Testing
That batch number connects to a Certificate of Analysis, or COA — the report from an independent, third-party lab. This is the label’s backbone. A COA verifies two things: potency, confirming the THC and CBD numbers are accurate, and safety, confirming the product was screened for contaminants like pesticides, mold, residual solvents, and heavy metals. If you ever want to see one, just ask. We’re happy to share.
Because we grow our own cannabis, we know each plant’s story from seed to shelf — and every batch still goes through the same independent testing and clear labeling. Farm-to-table doesn’t skip a single step. If that matters to you, here’s why farm-grown matters.
Putting It All Together
Here’s the label working for you: check the type to match your routine, glance at THC and CBD for strength, read milligrams if it’s an edible, scan terpenes for aroma, confirm a recent date for freshness, and trust the COA for safety. That’s a confident choice — not a guess.
Still deciding? Bring the label questions with you. Our budtenders love this stuff, and they’ll help you read between the lines. Stop by either of our locations in Winslow or Portland’s Old Port, and we’ll take good care of you.