Tolling should make life easier for cannabis brands. It allows teams to hand off extraction, refinement, formulation, or finished-goods manufacturing to partners who specialize in each step. Done right, it accelerates product releases, boosts consistency, and frees up internal bandwidth. But many brands walk into tolling unprepared—creating avoidable delays, added costs, and quality issues that could have been flagged up front.
Below are the most common mistakes cannabis brands make before tolling and how to avoid them.
1. Not Verifying Biomass Quality Before Transport
One of the biggest pitfalls happens long before the tolling partner receives anything. Brands often assume their biomass is compliant simply because the cultivator provided a certificate of analysis. But moisture spikes, improper storage, or mishandling during transit can change everything.
If the biomass arrives hot—microbially, or in total yeast and mold, or saturated with moisture—the tolling partner may have to quarantine it, request remediation, or reject the batch entirely. Pre-shipment QC saves money and time. A third-party check on moisture, potency, and basic contaminants is worth every penny.
2. Overestimating Potency or Yield
Brands sometimes promise certain potencies to retailers without fully understanding the actual yield they’ll get from their biomass. Toll processors can only work with what’s there. If the material has lower cannabinoid content or wasn’t trimmed or dried properly, the final oil will reflect that.
This leads to two problems: reformulation to hit target potencies (which adds cost) or having to scrap a product SKU altogether. A better approach is to let the tolling partner run a micro-batch first. This gives both parties real-world expectations based on the exact biomass being shipped.
3. Not Declaring All Pesticides and Additives
Tolling partners need transparency. If the biomass was grown with certain pesticides—yes, even ones approved for cannabis—or if any additives, nutrients, or foliar sprays were used, the processor must know.
Residual traces can show up during extraction, and processors need to understand what solvents, equipment, and remediation steps will be safe and compliant. Surprises here can slow down entire production lines.
4. Ignoring Packaging Requirements for Bulk Oil or Distillate
Brands sometimes send materials without understanding how they’ll be returned. Bulk crude, winterized oil, distillate, or isolate typically must be packaged in specific containers that withstand heat, vacuum pressure, and transport stress. If the brand doesn’t supply appropriate containers—or budget for the processor’s containers—things get messy.
Improper containers can crack, leak, or pull air during transport. Clear expectations on drums, liners, lids, or temperature requirements prevent logistical disasters.
5. Failing to Provide Clear Product Specifications
Tolling partners rely on exact instructions. Brands often send loose descriptions like “we want it potent and flavorful” or “we want a strong cart that tastes fruity.” That isn’t a spec sheet.
Processors need:
- Desired potency ranges
- Terpene goals
- Viscosity targets
- Acceptable carriers
- Required testing thresholds
- Packaging format requirements
When brands skip this step, processors either guess or constantly chase clarifications—delaying production.
6. Not Aligning Timelines and Expectations
A common mistake is assuming tolling works at the speed of in-house production. Most toll processors queue projects weeks in advance. Not aligning internal product launch timelines with the processor’s capacity can derail entire campaigns.
The best brands treat tolling like a partnership: clear timelines, realistic expectations, and early communication.
Final Thought
Tolling can elevate a cannabis brand—but only when the brand shows up prepared. By avoiding these common mistakes, companies build stronger partnerships, reduce delays, and deliver products their customers trust.
