What cannabis syrup is
Cannabis syrup is a liquid oral product. It carries THC, CBD, or both, in a base of simple syrup, glycerin, or MCT oil. Bottles run from 100 mL to 1000 mL. Labels list total milligrams of THC and milligrams per serving. A cap or oral syringe measures the dose. The product enters the body through the stomach, not the lungs. Effects start in 30 to 120 minutes and last 4 to 8 hours.
Parameters to check before you pay
Five numbers decide whether a bottle is worth the price.
- Total THC per bottle. A 1000 mg bottle at $60 costs $0.06 per mg. A 100 mg bottle at $25 costs $0.25 per mg.
- Milligrams per serving. Common servings are 5 mg and 10 mg. Some bottles list 25 mg per cap.
- Serving volume in milliliters. Know how much liquid carries the dose. A pump or a squirt is not a measurement.
- THC to CBD ratio. A 1:1 ratio acts different from 10:1.
- Sugar per serving. Some syrups carry 10 g to 20 g of sugar per 10 mL dose.
Lab tests and batch numbers
Ask for a certificate of analysis (COA). The COA should come from an ISO 17025 accredited lab. It should match the batch number printed on the bottle. Check potency, pesticides, residual solvents, heavy metals, and microbials. A COA without a batch number proves nothing about the bottle in your hand.
Legal status across states
Cannabis is a Schedule I substance under federal law. Retail sales happen under state licenses in states with medical or adult-use programs. Shipping cannabis across state lines violates federal law. Hemp-derived delta-9 THC products with 0.3% or less delta-9 by dry weight sit in a separate federal category. State rules for those products differ, and some states ban them outright. The FDA has not approved cannabis as a food ingredient or dietary supplement for interstate sale.
Pitfalls
- Stores that ship to all 50 states and never ask for a medical card or license number.
- Labels with no mg per serving, only "serving size: 1 cap."
- Retail prices under $0.03 per mg of THC.
- No batch number, no COA, or a COA from an unaccredited lab.
- Claims that the product is FDA approved. No cannabis product holds that status.
- Payment by gift card, wire, or crypto only. No chargeback is possible.
Dosing and storage
Start with 2.5 mg to 5 mg of THC. Wait 2 hours before a second dose. Syrup settles, so shake the bottle before each pour. Store it in a dark cabinet at room temperature. Sugar-based syrups can ferment after opening. Check the discard date. Keep the bottle away from children. Child-resistant caps are required in licensed states.