Blockchain and CBD: How Technology Is Fixing a Trust Problem

The CBD market has a well-documented trust problem. Independent testing repeatedly finds that many CBD products contain different cannabinoid levels than their labels claim. Sometimes the product contains more than stated. Sometimes less. Sometimes neither. For consumers trying to make informed choices, this creates a serious problem.

Blockchain technology offers a structural solution. Specifically, it creates a transparent, tamper-resistant record of every step in a product’s journey from plant to shelf. This article explains the mislabelling problem, how blockchain addresses it, and what verified traceability means in practice for CBD consumers.

The CBD Mislabelling Problem

In 2017, a study published in JAMA tested 84 CBD products sold online. Researchers found that 69% carried inaccurate labels — either over- or under-reporting actual CBD content. A 2020 follow-up analysis confirmed the problem persisted across the UK market. Moreover, the issue shows up consistently in EU markets too.

Why does mislabelling happen? Several reasons contribute. Extraction methods vary widely between producers. Many jurisdictions require no mandatory pre-market testing. Furthermore, labelling standards differ across EU member states, so brands face inconsistent rules depending on where they sell.

The consequences are real. A consumer choosing CBD for a specific purpose cannot make a meaningful decision when the label is inaccurate. Additionally, a product containing unexpected THC levels creates both legal and practical problems for the buyer.

What Is Blockchain and Why Does It Matter for CBD?

Blockchain is a distributed digital ledger. Rather than storing data in one central location, it distributes records across many computers simultaneously. Once a record is written, the network makes it extremely difficult to alter. Any change becomes visible across the entire system immediately.

This makes blockchain particularly useful for supply chain management. Specifically, it allows every step in a product’s journey to carry a verified, permanent record: where raw materials came from, who processed them, what testing took place, and when each handoff occurred. For CBD — a market where label accuracy is a documented problem — this kind of verifiable record-keeping is directly relevant.

How Blockchain Technology Applies to the CBD Supply Chain

A blockchain-verified CBD supply chain creates a continuous public record from cultivation to consumer. Each stage generates a verified data point. Crucially, nobody can alter these data points retroactively. Here is what each stage records:

• Cultivation: Hemp variety, growing location, farming practices, and harvest date — all logged and verified at source.
• Extraction: Extraction method (CO₂, ethanol, etc.), yield, and initial cannabinoid profile — entered as a verified record immediately after processing.
• Third-party lab testing: The Certificate of Analysis (COA) results — cannabinoid levels, THC content, contaminant screening — attach to a specific batch on the blockchain. Because the record distributes across the network, nobody can alter the lab result after submission.
• Packaging and labelling: Label contents are checked against batch data. Any gap between the tested batch and the labelled product becomes visible immediately.
• Consumer verification: A QR code or batch number on the product lets any consumer access the full supply chain record and confirm it matches the product they hold.

CanCheck: Blockchain Traceability in the Dutch CBD Market

In 2020, Cannabinoïden Adviesbureau Nederland — the same body that issues the CAN mark — launched CanCheck.org. It is a free public tool. Consumers use it to trace CBD products from seed to shelf through blockchain verification. Every supply chain step is publicly accessible. A consumer enters a batch number or scans a QR code and immediately sees the full chain of custody for the product in their hands.

Consequently, CanCheck is not a theoretical concept — it is an operational system that both consumers and regulators can use today. It addresses the mislabelling problem at its root. When a product’s lab results go onto the blockchain at the time of testing, no brand can subsequently change what the test found. The record is permanent and public.

The CAN Mark: Regulatory Verification Beyond the Label

Blockchain traceability and independent lab testing form the technical layer of CBD verification. However, the CAN mark adds a regulatory layer on top. Cannabinoïden Adviesbureau Nederland issues the CAN mark. It confirms that a product passed formal review under Dutch food supplement regulations and is fit for human consumption. It is not a self-declared quality claim. Instead, it requires documentary evidence of product composition, safety, and labelling compliance.

This matters for a specific reason. Most CBD brands in the Netherlands must display a ‘not for human consumption’ disclaimer. That disclaimer exists because most products are not formally registered. CAN-marked products are registered — so they do not need that disclaimer. Canna Health Amsterdam oils carry the CAN mark, making them among the very few CBD and CBN oil brands in the Netherlands with this formal registration.

What Verified Traceability Looks Like in Practice

Before buying any CBD product, a consumer should be able to answer the following questions clearly:

• Does an independent, accredited laboratory provide a Certificate of Analysis?
• Does the COA batch number match the specific product you are buying?
• Is the test date recent enough to be meaningful?
• Does the lab test confirm 0.0% THC or within legal limits?
• Does the brand’s supply chain record match what is on the label?
• Does a recognised Dutch or EU regulatory body formally register the product?

If a brand cannot answer these questions with public documentation, it asks you to trust its label. In contrast, a brand that answers all of them — through blockchain traceability, independent COAs, and formal regulatory registration — builds verifiability into its product from the start.

Conclusion

Blockchain and CBD connect at one specific, genuine point: the need for verifiable supply chain transparency in a market with a documented mislabelling problem. Blockchain provides tamper-resistant record-keeping. As a result, every step in a product’s journey becomes publicly auditable and permanently recorded.

Tools like CanCheck and registrations like the CAN mark show what this looks like in practice in the Dutch cannabinoid market. Together, they give consumers a way to verify rather than simply trust. In a market still building its credibility, that distinction matters.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational and educational purposes only. We review and reference available studies and reputable sources; however, content may not reflect the most current research or regulations and should not be taken as medical, legal, or professional advice. We do not make or imply health claims. Products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and statements have not been evaluated by EFSA or the FDA. Effects can vary between individuals. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before use and verify that any product or ingredient is lawful in your jurisdiction.