Certified organic labeling program arrives for cannabis in 2020

certified organic cannabis

Certified organic labeling program arrives for cannabis in 2020

Do you know what's in your weed? #WhatsInMyWeed

Do you know what's in your weed? For the majority of cannabis users, the answer is an unequivocal statement from dispensaries, growers, or manufacturers of derivative products (i.e. edibles, topicals and tinctures).

2020 cannabis sustainability symposia

The Cannabis Certification Council (CCC) asked this same question during its first launch campaign. A cornerstone and continuing message for the nonprofit, #WhatsInMyWeed, aims to bring out more clearly the link between organic foods, fine foods and cannabis. It is a still necessary reminder that buyers prioritize buying products that are only organic, fair trade, cage-free and grass-fed (the list is long ...) at the grocery store, while what When it comes to cannabis, there is much less concern about the transparency and quality of what people inhale and ingest.

In December, during MJBizCon annual in Las Vegas, the Denver-based standards body quietly announced an industry-wide cannabis certification program. This extensive labeling system, which lasts for years, will apply an “Organically Grown” CCC sticker to qualifying products in addition to any cannabis labeling already required by law, which varies by state. 

The CAC launched the projet last month and estimates that the development of the standard will take at least six months and will require a period of public comment, mandatory for all high-level certifications. The standard will have different labels for indoor, greenhouse and outdoor hemp and marijuana production, as well as cannabis by-products. Once the standard is in place, applicants for “Organically Grown” certification will go through a one-month process that includes multiple inspections to achieve certification.

“The bulk of the problem the industry has faced is the bogus organic product claims,” says Amy Andrle, co-owner of The Eagle, an integrated marijuana company in Denver and a member of the founding board of directors of the CCC. " Certification will help clarify the market and inform consumers about what they are buying. And since this is the first cannabis label that anyone, growers, consumers, owners, can clearly understand, a premium can be applied to products certified on the legal market ”.

Prior to being known as CCC, the organization was conceived in 2015 as theOrganic Cannabis Association by its co-founder and current Chairman of the Board, Ben Gelt. Realizing the synergy between its mission and that of the Portland-based Ethical Cannabis Alliance, the two organizations merged in 2018 to formally form CCC to bring their master plan to life.

“Growing clean cannabis has been a practice we've been practicing for years, but converting this knowledge into a political standard is the best way to protect public health and educate consumers across the country, Honestly, a standard organic is a natural progression for the cannabis industry and sustainable production ”.

By comparison, “USDA Organic,” the best-known label applied to food and other agricultural products - considers hemp under its umbrella of certification following the Farm Bill of 2018. Hemp growers in the United States can now grow crops. in certain regulated situations, the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) confirming that organically managed hemp can be certified organic.

Mr. Gelt believes that the growing recognition of hemp by the USDA will only help the CCC cause.

“We are excited about this news, as any effort to promote transparency and expand consumer choice in cannabis is in line with our mission,” says Gelt. The “Organically Grown” standard will stand up to scrutiny and help cannabis consumers make more informed choices about the products they buy ”.

The published scientific literature has already identified pesticide residues in cannabis smoke (flower). As concentrates and edibles are becoming more and more popular, it is important to understand the practices of pest control (use of pesticides) in all facets of the cultivation and production process.

“I look forward to the organic standard prioritizing integrated pest management and for EPA and USDA (not just DEA) to participate in studies on pyrolysis [breaking down large molecules into small molecules in the presence of heat] and the regulation of cannabis, ”adds Leslie McAhren, who worked as Research Director and Executive Director at CG Corrigan for nine years and uses her role on CCC's Cannabis Sustainability Working Group. . "This will allow us to better explore the effects on human health of pesticides used in the cultivation of cannabis."

This new certification was made possible by five founding sponsors, including L'Eagle, CG Corrigan and House of Cultivar. Organically Grown will complement already existing clean cannabis certifications, including Sun + Earth, Envirocann, Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS) and The Cannabis Conservancy (TCC), with ongoing fundraising initiatives.

Since its first annual conference in Denver in 2016, CCC's Cannabis Sustainability Symposium continues to expand to other cities. Each event connects industry executives, advocates, scientists and thinkers to define a strategy for a sustainable future of cannabis while giving decision-makers tools to implement immediate changes in their own businesses.

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