Legally, marijuana cannot be called organic — no matter how environmentally friendly the cultivation practices used to grow it — because the term is federally regulated and the USDA does not recognize cannabis as a legitimate agricultural crop.
Rather than just wait for the federal government to begin certifying, industry leaders are working to find their own way to legitimately market marijuana products as pesticide-free and environmentally friendly.
Based in Crescent City, Calif., Clean Green has certified more than 100 cannabis grow operations, processors and collectives in the western U.S. All active certifications are listed online.
The Organic Cannabis Association in Denver is in the final stages of preparation to launch its pesticide-free certification program.
Read “Cannabis producers have legal alternatives to “organic” label” by Emily Rusch: http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_28879392/cannabis-producers-have-legal-alternatives-organic-label