The U.S. Department of Agriculture is in charge of certifying products as organic. This certification, created more than two decades ago, is what allows businesses to use the word “organic” on their products. The certification of marijuana products as organic is currently up for debate. Some stakeholders agree that the U.S. Department of Agriculture can’t certify any product that is illegal under federal law.
Despite the fact that 38 states have legalized the medical use of marijuana while 24 have legalized the drug’s recreational use, the drug is still classified under schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Drugs under this classification are illegal, said to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Other drugs under this category include LSD, MDMA, heroin, peyote and ecstasy.
Clean Green Certified director, Chris Van Hook, argues that because of this, the agriculture department won’t have anything to do with marijuana. Clean Green Certified is accredited by the department to develop a program to help products as well as farms acquire a sustainable certification based on global and national organic, sustainable and regenerative programs.
Growers have tried to circumvent this issue with certification in different ways, with states such as Vermont, Maine, Colorado and California rolling out organic cannabis-certification programs that allow businesses to award their stamps to cannabis businesses.
Well-known private certifiers of organic marijuana include Clean Green, Dragonfly Earth Medicine Pure, and Sun and Earth. The issue, however, is that not many consumers know what being certified by these companies means because organic isn’t on the label.
Ben Gelt, the Cannabis Certification Council’s board chair, says that the department doesn’t directly certify products as organic. Instead, he notes, this is done by third-party organic certifiers accredited by the department of agriculture. He explains that this certification by the Department of Agriculture allows products such as baby food to be sold at higher prices, because it adds to the value of a product. This, he argues, hasn’t been observed in companies that bear marijuana certifications to replace organic.
Not all agree with Gelt, however. Van Hook asserts that his and other organic certifications do bring value to marijuana products, revealing that in 2023, Clean Green certified more than 400,000 pounds of marijuana flower and trim. He refers to this as growth, adding that he remains focused on helping members sell their products at good prices.
This, Van Hook explained, could be done by growers posting the logo on their marketing materials and products more frequently. In addition to making these certification logos more recognizable by consumers, who will then associate the products with organic, it’s good advertising.
Many more innovative solutions are likely to be brought to market targeting major cannabis companies such as Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) that are seeking new ways to continue thriving despite the stifling regulatory environment at the federal level.
About CannabisNewsWire
CannabisNewsWire (“CNW”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on cannabis news and the cannabis sector. It is one of 60+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.
To receive SMS alerts from CNW, text CANNABIS to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information, please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com/Disclaimer
CannabisNewsWire
Denver, CO
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com
CannabisNewsWire is powered by IBN
