Did you know this past spring both Walgreens and CVS announced they would begin selling CBD products in hundreds of stores across select US states? From creams, salves and patches to sprays, oils and candies, CBD is the three-letter word popping up on all kinds of packaging as it continues to become one of the hottest ingredients in consumer products.
Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is the non-intoxicating and non-psychoactive extract of the cannabis plant. CBD is the second-most abundant cannabinoid in the cannabis plant after tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC) and is believed to have many potential health 
benefits.
Walgreens and CVS aren't the only ones to add CBD to their inventory—the CBD industry is growing rapidly and conservatively projected to hit $16 billion in the United States by 2025, however manufacturers regardless of product will need to continually produce quality products to help this industry flourish. A 2017 study from University of Pennsylvania found that nearly 70 percent of cannabidiol extracts sold online were mislabeled meaning the amount of CBD included in the product was over or underrepresented compared to the label. Talk about bad advertising!
So the question arises: how can CBD product manufacturers produce consistent and quality product? Using statistical methodology of course! Let Minitab show you how to verify, ensure and predict future product quality to deliver consistent CBD levels in products every time in just 4 simple steps.
Step 1: Ensure CBD Potency Levels are Accurately Measured
To begin this process, you first need to confirm that the technicians and instruments being used to measure the potency levels of CBD as an accurate as a third-party laboratory. This can easily be achieved in Minitab Statistical Software through Gage Linearity and Bias Studies and Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility Studies.
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If you're new to statistics or just need a refresher on Minitab, look to Minitab's Assistant to help guide you with confidence through this step and the remainder of analysis as-needed.
Once both studies have been completed, you then know if your measurement system can be trusted.
Step 2: Verify The Process is Stable Over Time
Now that you know your measurements are accurate and trusted, you need to see if the process is stable over time to ensure the product made is consistent.
Some degree of variation will naturally occur in any process. Use control charts in Minitab Statistical Software to identify and monitor the two types of process variation that can happen: common-cause variation and special-cause variation.
Once your process is proven to be in control, you can move on to ensuring consistent CBD levels and quality in your product. Processes that are not in control, will need to pause and perform a root cause analysis to identify and then fix the reasons for instability before moving forward.
Final Steps
See the full details for Steps 3 & 4 to complete your CBD potency journey in our guide 'Purity & Consistency Matter: Take the Mystery Out of CBD with Statistical Methodology'.
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Read how on our blog