Terms of Service

Last updated: February 7, 2026

Welcome to OpenCOA. By accessing or using our cannabis lab data platform (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Eligibility and Age Restriction

You must be at least 21 years of age to use this Service. By using the Service, you represent and warrant that:

  • You are at least 21 years old
  • You are legally permitted to access cannabis-related information in your jurisdiction
  • You will comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws

2. Description of Service

OpenCOA is an informational platform that:

  • Aggregates and displays Certificates of Analysis (COAs) from licensed cannabis testing laboratories
  • Verifies laboratory data against New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) records
  • Allows users to upload, search, and save COA documents
  • Provides educational information about cannabinoids and terpenes

OpenCOA is not:

  • A retailer or marketplace for cannabis products
  • A medical or healthcare provider
  • A cannabis testing laboratory
  • A guarantor of product quality or safety

3. User Accounts

3.1 Registration

Some features require account registration. You agree to:

  • Provide accurate and complete registration information
  • Maintain the security of your account credentials
  • Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
  • Accept responsibility for all activity under your account

3.2 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that:

  • Violate these Terms
  • Upload fraudulent, falsified, or misleading COA documents
  • Engage in abusive behavior toward other users
  • Attempt to circumvent security measures or scrape data in bulk

3.3 Membership

OpenCOA offers an optional one-time membership for enhanced features. By purchasing a membership, you agree that:

  • Membership is a one-time payment granting lifetime access to member features
  • Member features include My Stash, Community Notes, member profile, and additional features as they are released
  • The free tier (browsing, searching, and viewing COAs) remains available to all users regardless of membership status
  • OpenCOA may add, modify, or retire specific member features with reasonable notice
  • Refunds are available within 30 days of purchase, no questions asked. After 30 days, all sales are final.

4. User-Submitted Content

4.1 COA Uploads

By uploading a COA document, you represent that:

  • The document is authentic and unaltered
  • You have the right to share the document
  • The document does not infringe any third-party rights

Uploaded COAs undergo automated extraction and human moderation before publication. We reserve the right to reject or remove any upload.

4.2 Community Notes

You may submit notes or comments on COA pages. You agree that your submissions will not:

  • Contain false, misleading, or defamatory statements
  • Make unsubstantiated health or therapeutic claims
  • Include spam, advertising, or promotional content
  • Harass, threaten, or abuse other users
  • Violate any applicable law

4.3 License to User Content

By submitting content, you grant OpenCOA a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute that content in connection with operating the Service. You retain ownership of your original content.

5. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its design, features, and original content, is owned by OpenCOA and protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. You may not:

  • Copy, modify, or distribute the Service without permission
  • Use automated tools to scrape or harvest data in bulk
  • Remove or alter any copyright or trademark notices
  • Use the OpenCOA name or logo without written permission

COA documents displayed on the Service are provided by third-party laboratories and cannabis operators. OpenCOA claims no ownership of this underlying data.

6. Disclaimers

Important Disclaimers

6.1 No Medical Advice

Information on this platform is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. No doctor-patient relationship is created between you, OpenCOA, or any laboratory whose results are displayed. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before making decisions based on COA data.

6.2 Third-Party Laboratory Data

COA results are provided by third-party licensed cannabis testing laboratories. While these laboratories are accredited under New York State regulations and maintain quality control procedures, OpenCOA makes no warranties about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or currentness of any COA data. Laboratory testing involves inherent limitations and potential for error.

6.3 No Endorsement

Display of a COA on this platform does not constitute an endorsement of any product, brand, operator, or laboratory. Rankings, scores, and categorizations are algorithmic heuristics for discovery purposes and should not be interpreted as quality certifications.

6.4 Regulatory Compliance

OpenCOA verifies laboratory and operator data against NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) license records. However, we are not a regulatory body and cannot guarantee ongoing compliance status. Always verify current licensing status with the OCM directly for critical decisions.

7. Limitation of Liability

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

  • OpenCOA disclaims all warranties, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement
  • OpenCOA is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
  • OpenCOA's total liability shall not exceed $100 USD or the total amount you have paid us for the Service, whichever is greater

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of certain warranties or damages. In such cases, limitations apply to the fullest extent permitted by law.

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless OpenCOA, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) arising from:

  • Your use of the Service
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any third-party rights
  • Content you submit to the Service

9. Prohibited Uses

You agree not to use the Service to:

  • Upload falsified, fraudulent, or misleading COA documents
  • Impersonate any person or entity
  • Interfere with or disrupt the Service or its infrastructure
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any systems or data
  • Use automated means to access the Service without permission
  • Collect or harvest user information without consent
  • Engage in any activity that violates applicable law

10. Modifications to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by:

  • Posting updated Terms with a new "Last updated" date
  • Sending email notification for significant changes
  • Displaying a prominent notice on the Service

Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. If you disagree with changes, discontinue use and delete your account.

11. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in New York County, New York. You consent to personal jurisdiction in these courts.

12. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force and effect. The unenforceable provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable.

13. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and OpenCOA regarding the Service and supersede any prior agreements.

14. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Contact us:

OpenCOA operates in accordance with New York State cannabis regulations (9 NYCRR ยง 130). This platform is informational only and does not facilitate the sale, purchase, or distribution of cannabis products.