Every year since Washington legalized cannabis, consumer watchdogs inside and outside of the industry have warned the public about the presence of unsafe pesticides, or unsafe levels of pesticides in the legal weed supply. Most recently, pesticides are at the forefront of consumers' minds again following a report that a medical marijuana advocate with Patients United wrote to the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) to tell them that pesticide contamination levels in Washington may constitute a public health emergency.
Read MoreHow I502 Cannabis Regulations Are Made
The Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) is the state agency that enforces [as well as introduces] rules pertaining to the commercial sales of cannabis in Washington state. In light of their recent attempt to ban certain types of edibles overnight— gummies, hard candies, tarts, fruit chews, and other candies they retroactively consider to be “especially appealing to children”— I wanted to take the time to better understand how our cannabis regulations can change so frequently with little to no input from the people who are affected by them. Specifically, I wanted to understand the full extent of the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s authority, and whether that could or should be reformed.
Read MoreHigh Standards for Lab Testing Cannabis
Laboratory testing is vital to the success of a regulated cannabis economy, however, there are myriad problems relating to Washington’s cannabis lab testing ranging from standardization, to regulation, to consumer perception. In this article, we’ll explore these issues at length, and discuss some potential solutions.
Read MoreLab Results: Our Love-Hate Relationship
What makes recreational marijuana different than black market weed? Aside from the tax structure and all the other compliance stuff, black market cannabis may be identical to recreational herb save for one major difference: quality assurance in the form of laboratory testing. As with food safety regulations, lab testing weed is important to ensure that marijuana products are safe to ingest. Sure, you can buy cheap and untaxed weed from “the guy,” but how do you know that it isn’t contaminated with mold, heavy metals, or harmful pesticides? Smoking pot won't kill you, but contaminated cannabis just might.
Read MoreWhat Does Kush Mean?
You’ve heard of it, you’ve probably smoked it, but what exactly is “kush?” The answer should be simple, but the truth is that it’s actually a very loaded question. At Herbn Elements we have some customers who specifically seek out kush strains, often viewing the word “kush” itself to be synonymous with “the best” or “the strongest” weed. Not to say that kush cultivars aren’t potent or memorable, but the 4-letter-word [arguably] refers to the strain’s parentage and shouldn’t necessarily be regarded as a status symbol.
Read MoreCannabis Advertising Regulations in Washington State
Let’s be clear: nobody in the marijuana industry wants children to get their hands on cannabis products. We’re not conspiring in dark rooms full of bong smoke, fingertips together like Mr. Burns, and plotting ways to poison the youth with the devil’s lettuce; quite the opposite, we all recognize our privilege of being able to produce and sell a Schedule I drug with the blessing of the state, so we gladly work with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) to ensure we’re doing everything we can to prevent sales to minors (and where possible, make cannabis products seem less appealing to children).
Read MoreCannabis Labeling and The Magic Formula
As Washington's marijuana producers and retailers are all too aware, lab test results (specifically THC %) drive product sales, but there is confusion about whether or not some producers are overstating their potency. Before discussing a fundamental problem in the marijuana industry, particularly Washington—a lack of understanding, on all levels, about what "total THC" actually means—let's talk about the reason that lab results have become a selling point in the I502 market.
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