When you visit the grocery store, do you head straight for the organic foods? Perhaps you prefer cage-free chicken and grass-fed beef. And we all check the nutrition labels on the products we buy to make sure we know exactly what we’re feeding ourselves and our family. Being discerning when shopping for food is an ingrained part of the American mindset at this point.
But when it comes to our cannabis, we’re not nearly so picky.
You may have turned over a cannabis product in a dispensary to read the label on the back and try to find out more about it. But the information available about cannabis products is half-baked at best. Is your cannabis organically grown? Most people would have to confess that they don’t know. Unless you grow it yourself, or you know a private grower, chances are you know very little about the contents of the cannabis products you’re using.
That’s what the #WhatsInMyWeed campaign aims to change.
Who Is Behind It?
The #WhatsInMyWeed campaign is spearheaded by the Cannabis Certification Council, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing transparency and choice throughout the cannabis industry. Ensuring that consumers know exactly what they’re getting when they purchase a cannabis product is right in line with the CCC’s mission. Another aim of theirs is to bring to the forefront the connection between fine foods and organics and cannabis, a link that is often overlooked.
This past December, the CCC announced the implementation of an industry-wide labeling standard. Of course, some cannabis labeling is already required by law. But the CCC’s new goal is to supplement that labeling with an additional label of their own. The new label will inform potential customers and consumers when a product they’re looking at has been certified as organically grown, enabling those who want to choose organic products, just as they might with their groceries.
What Does It Mean To Be Organic – And Why Should I Care?
For many, the concept of organic produce requires no explanation—it’s something they think about every time they enter a supermarket. But others may not be as familiar with exactly what constitutes “organic” cannabis. Obviously, nothing synthetic is going to pass the test, but what other bars must a product clear?
To be considered organically grown, cannabis must be grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, radiation, or genetic modification. Growers who raise their crops organically are attentive to things like carbon footprint and the conservation of soil and water.
Many people choose organic products for their own health, concerned about the effects that pesticides and fertilizers might have on the human body. Others select organic products out of concern for environmental impact, hoping to protect the Earth and its resources.
Whatever your reason may be, if organics are important to you, the CCC’s new labeling protocol will help you find an organic version of the cannabis product you need.
When Can I Expect To See These Labels?
The CCC estimates that the rollout of the new program will take about six months, so the organic labels should begin showing up on shelves in late summer or early fall. If all goes well, they should be fairly ubiquitous by the end of the year. To obtain the certification, products will have to submit an application and undergo a rigorous testing process. There will be different labels distinguishing cannabis grown indoors, outdoors, and in greenhouses, as well as differentiating marijuana from hemp.
Get ready to learn more about what’s in your weed! The #WhatsInMyWeed campaign is headed to a dispensary near you.
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