Most products that are certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – such as baby food, meat, produce and other items – enjoy a hefty upcharge that consumers are willing to pay.
“The most valuable certification on the planet Earth is organic, particularly as it pertains to consumer-packaged goods,” said Ben Gelt, an adviser to the cannabis practice at law firm Greenspoon Marder and board chair for the Denver-based Cannabis Certification Council, a nonprofit group providing education about cannabis certification.
Without that USDA organic certification, which was created in 2002, businesses are not allowed to use the word “organic” on their products.
No organic certification for cannabis
There is some dispute over whether marijuana cultivators and products can achieve USDA organic certification.
Most stakeholders agree the USDA, as a federal agency, can’t bestow the certification on a product that is illegal under federal law.
“The USDA won’t have anything to do with cannabis,” said Chris Van Hook, a compliance attorney and director of Clean Green Certified.
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