Regulations and Regulatory Issues

Currently in the life cycle of the cannabis industry, it is not obvious where the heavy metal regulatory landscape will end up. Clearly, the big four are not enough, but what is a realistic panel that reflects the real world of cannabinoid production?

Experts within the global cannabis and hemp industries discuss the importance of testing and regulations and sustainable measures that can reduce the sector’s environmental impact.

Creating a “culture of compliance” is a buzz phrase that you have probably heard before when speaking to regulators, lawmakers, auditors, and compliance consultants. At Allay Consulting, we have worked with a multitude of companies, and we have found that creating a compliance culture alone is not enough to keep your employees happy enough to follow all compliances. I would argue that creating a “culture of excellence” that includes compliance is the best way we have seen to mitigate risk and decrease revenue lost due to employee turnover and lack of employee engagement. This article is meant to encourage our industry to create a culture of excellence at the workplace. I hope our tips and hands-on experience shed light into creating the culture you want at your workplace.

The beginning of 2023 will be a huge step to the US’s legalized psilocybin industry! Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS), a new section housed within the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), will begin accepting license applications January 2, 2023. Oregon’s legalization and implementation of regulations will take three years altogether—several years may seem too long for the legalized psilocybin roll out, but better late than never. This should give the department plenty of time to draft, edit, edit some more, then implement the nation’s first regulatory framework for psilocybin.

Psychedelics, also known as entheogens. Everyone has an opinion. From the superb kaleidoscope shapes, or making that concert even more memorable, or to digging a bit deeper within yourself for self-healing—entheogens can be a game changer. For some, these experiences are life changing, especially if it means improving well-being and life satisfaction. Thanks to many published clinical trials, the benefits of using entheogens such as psilocybin include reducing anxiety and depression, successful addiction interruption, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment, and many others. With increased awareness of the benefits of psilocybin and other entheogens, we are observing an acceptance of entheogens followed by decriminalization and future legalization.

Cannabis testing laboratories play an important role in ensuring consumer safety and quality throughout the industry. These laboratories face many challenges—from the variety of samples in the industry to changing regulations and testing requirements and everything in between. In this interview, Sarah Ahrens, Founder and CEO of True Labs for Cannabis LLC, explains her philosophy and approach behind building her cannabis analytical testing laboratory in New Jersey. She also covers current developments in the cannabis testing industry and what needs to be done to ensure it has a transparent and productive future that benefits producers and consumers alike.

Delta-8 and delta-10 have gained considerable traction over the past year. Although these cannabinoid isomers fall in an extreme grey area, consumers are driving up demand. They can be purchased in many different forms and are commonly found in vaping products, gummies, and tinctures. Since these isomers are commonly derived from hemp extract, many consumers see delta-8 and delta-10 as a lawful hemp-derived good that provides a psychoactive effect. Per a new stance from the federal government, vaping products with these isomers fall under the 2018 Farm Bill. Even with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) stance regarding the 2018 Farm Bill exempting hemp from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the popular edible cannabinoid isomers are not automatically legal.

AC Braddock, the CEO of Eden Labs, shares a preview of the talk she plans to give at Cannabis Science Conference West as well as other industry insights.

In this interview, Abbey Roudebush, Director of Government Affairs for Americans for Safe Access (ASA), explains the goals of ASA and provides an in-depth analysis of their annual State of the States report.

In this article, regulatory requirements are explored as they are meant to create confidence that cannabis and cannabis-infused products are safe to use.

In the cannabis industry there seems to be a misconception that your company will never have a recall in its lifetime, or that there isn’t any possibility it will ever happen to you. In reality, all cannabis companies experience at least one or multiple recalls during their lifetime. It isn’t about if it will happen, it’s more of a when. And when it happens, how will your company handle it?

What are current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) certification and why get it? It takes a lot of time, it’s hard work, and can be expensive to become cGMP certified, so why be interested in something that isn’t yet required?

Let’s check back in with some of our top authors over the years to get their insight on how their articles resonated with readers and where the cannabis industry is headed.

Terpenes can be tricky. Although cannabis is heavily regulated, since cannabis-derived terpenes do not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids, they are not regulated in the same way that cannabis is.

What is mycology and why is it important to the cannabis industry?

An overview of the changes needed to increase standards and regulations in the cannabis industry and why they are so important.

Regulations and compliance are sometimes deemed a necessary evil, but consumer and employee safety are at the heart of those rules. The cannabis industry faces unique challenges when it comes to compliance because each state has their own rules. Federal regulation would certainly simplify matters, but until then Kim Stuck, CEO and founder of Allay Consulting, offers some practical advice for how to stay ahead of potential issues. Here, Stuck shares her background in regulatory work, the cannabis industry, her new blog coming out in Cannabis Science and Technology next month, and more.

How does the pharmaceutical industry test better to avoid mislabeling problems?

This article explores five common cannabis tests and the benefits of incorporating filter plates.

This study offers guidance to establishing meaningful quality standards for the commercialization of cannabis and cannabis-related products.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected all types of businesses, such as those found in the cannabis industry. Though it was hit hard from the virus, the cannabis industry suffered another blow in the form of the December 2020 COVID-19 stimulus package, which included a provision classifying all vape products as cigarettes, subjecting them to the same regulations as cigarettes. Here, U.S. Navy veteran Dana E. Shoched, president and chief executive officer of O2VAPE, discusses the impacts this legislation may have on the cannabis vaping industry.

This column discusses where the USDA went wrong in their final rule regarding hemp and how the author thinks it can be fixed.

A review of the general state standard quality control checkpoints and how companies can go above and beyond by applying federal requirements to their businesses.

Gretchen Schmidt, Faculty Program Director Criminal Justice Programs & Cannabis Control at Excelsior College, discusses the graduate certificate program offered at her college.

A discussion on how extractors need to monitor the chemical processes they perform.

How will the need for increased testing impact extractors?

This article intends to clarify the main goals of GACP and GMP guidelines, identify differences between the two, and also explore why it is important, when operating within the medicinal cannabis sector, that these two guidelines are complied with and their standards achieved.

What does FDA oversight mean for cannabis businesses and the industry as a whole?

This article discusses the difficulties of reining in the intense energy use of the cannabis industry from the perspective of the most energy efficient state: Massachusetts.

Highlights of the challenges facing the cannabis extracts industry and discussion about the need for standardized methods and the role of laboratory accreditation.