The first Cannabis Safety and Quality (CSQ) Certificates were awarded to Curaleaf and One Plant.
The CSQ Certification Program and applicable standards aim to serve as protection for these brands by minimizing the risk and ensuring regulatory requirements are met from seed-to-sale.
The standards were built in 2020 to meet ISO requirements and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements.
Curaleaf and One Plant received the certification because both placed transparency very high in their list of priorities.
The companies were reviewed under the “Manufacturing and Infusion of Cannabis into Food & Beverage Products” standard.
This standard applies to the “addition of cannabis flower or cannabis derivatives into shelf-stable food and beverage products.”
It is one of four total standards set in CSQ meant to break new ground as part of the first cannabis certification program while meeting GFSI requirements.
The standards are set to be benchmarked in 2022.
Additional standards include the growing and cultivation, manufacturing and extraction, and manufacturing of dietary supplements.
“We are thrilled to have Curaleaf and One Plant as the first of many industry-leading brands putting compliance and quality first with CSQ’s stamp of approval,” said Tyler Williams, founder and CTO of CSQ. “Obtaining third-party certifications like ours helps lay the groundwork for a more self-regulated industry that continuously produces safe and reliable products for patients and consumers.”
Why Obtain a CSQ Certification?
CSQ is safety-driven.
The company aims to set “reliable cannabis industry standards to help companies minimize risk, protect their brand, and provide the best product for their consumers.”
The CSQ Standards were created in 2020 to meet ISO requirements, GFSI requirements, and regulatory cannabis requirements from seed-to-sale.
Receiving a certificate lets other companies know how dedicated their potential partner may be.
One Plant is currently operating in a Nexus greenhouse and full lab.
They have seven stores, but plan to expand to 12 in the near future.
One Plant “operates a robust, ecommerce driven, next-day statewide delivery model.”
Curaleaf is vertically integrated.
Their high-growth cannabis operation is known for “quality, expertise, and reliability.”
Curaleaf’s brands, Curaleaf and Select, provide accessibility across both medical and recreational sales.
Curaleaf operates in 23 states, 95 dispensaries, and multiple cultivation and processing sites.
The CSQ Certification is available in eight short steps.
Their website has instructions on how to obtain a certificate.
