Should THC Be a Range Instead of One Number? with guest Ben Cleary

In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with cannabis research scientist Ben Cleary to unpack groundbreaking research published in Scientific Reports examining THC variability in cannabis flower and what it means for consumers, cultivators, laboratories, and regulators. If you've ever wondered why the same strain can feel different from batch to batch—or why chasing the highest THC percentage often leads to disappointment—this conversation explains the science behind it. Ben shares how his team's research demonstrates the natural variability of THC within a single cannabis plant and why reporting one THC percentage may not accurately represent what consumers actually purchase. Together, Riley and Ben discuss the future of cannabis labeling, range-based THC reporting, lab testing variability, terpene science, chemical diversity, and how better education can improve purchasing decisions and consumer trust. They also explore why aroma may be a better guide than THC percentage alone, how Canada's cannabis industry is beginning to implement THC ranges, the role of laboratory variation in cannabis testing, and what future cannabis packaging could look like as science continues to evolve. Whether you're a cannabis consumer, cultivator, scientist, budtender, regulator, or simply curious about how cannabis testing really works, this episode offers an evidence-based look at one of the industry's biggest conversations. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Meet Ben Cleary 01:04 Inside Village Farms 02:56 Why Study THC Variability 07:19 What the Data Shows 10:28 Range Based Labels 14:08 Low Dose Access Debate 16:37 Health Canada Pilot 19:06 Beyond THC Terpenes 22:56 Lighting and Scale Limits 30:31 Sampling Protocol Shortcut 33:23 Lab Testing Variability 35:26 Measured THC Reality 36:56 Quality Metrics Beyond THC 38:56 Industry Adoption Push 40:48 Why Village Farms Did It 43:05 Next Research Frontiers 45:11 Real World Data Approach 46:20 Science Community Stories 49:02 Medical Education Gap 52:50 Chemical Diversity Score Idea 56:15 Simplifying Labels for Consumers 57:39 Where to Follow the Research 59:40 Closing and BC Invite   Read the Scientific Reports paper discussed in this episode:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-06962-2 Connect with Ben Cleary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-cleary-746b00172/ Village Farms International: https://villagefarms.com/ Want Exclusive Content and ad-free episodes? Join the Bioactive Patreon community for as little as $1/month to ask guests your burning questions, access exclusive content, and connect with Dr. Kirk one-on-one.  www.Patreon.com/Cannabichem      Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more expert insights into cannabis science, plant biology, and more!   Sign Up for Emails!  www.AppliedPharmacognosy.org     Keep up with Dr. Riley Kirk: https://www.bioactivepodcast.com/  https://www.youtube.com/@cannabichem  https://instagram.com/cannabichem  https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices