In the past few years, items derived from cannabis have sparked considerable interest due to their supposed therapeutic qualities (featuring cannabinoids such as THC and CBD) and their extensive presence on the market. That said, the accuracy of cannabinoid content on product labels is often questionable. Our investigation, conducted with goods available in Portugal, revealed substantial gaps between advertised claims and the actual cannabinoid profiles. A fully validated analytical technique was developed to profile various products collected from pharmacies and street vendors (infusions, plant matter, lipid extracts, and personal care items) using high-performance liquid chromatography interfaced with a diode-array detector. The dynamic range for linearity covered 0.4 to 100 µg/mL (0.04–10 µg/mg) (THC, 8-THC, CBD, CBG, CBDA, CBGA), 0.1–100 µg/mL (0.01–10 µg/mg) (CBN), 0.4–250 µg/mL (0.04–25 µg/mg) (THCA-A), and 0.8–100 µg/mL (0.08–10 µg/mg) (CBCA). In the beverage category, none of the samples contained measurable cannabinoid levels, even though the wrapping suggested their presence. Correspondingly, lipid extracts commonly deviated from the cannabinoid contents listed on their labels, with some specimens containing CBD concentrations far higher than declared. These mismatches generate profound alarm over consumer welfare and the ability to make knowledgeable choices. In addition, our results highlight the acute need for stringent regulatory oversight and standardized testing procedures to verify the accuracy and integrity of cannabis-based products.
