While many cannabis growers use organic methods in their cultivation, it is not possible to claim that the product is itself organic, as the federal government, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, oversees organic labeling and won’t do so for a product that is federally illegal. Thanks to the efforts of Dawson Julia, the owner of East Coast CBDs in Unity, Maine, growers in the state can be recognized for their methods and earn the “Certified Clean Cannabis” label from the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association (MOFGA), which has certified more than 500 organic farms and processors in the state representing over 6% of all farms. 5 growers have earned the certification initially.
Julia, who, along with his wife, is a caregiver for 10 patients, began his effort in 2013 to persuade MOFGA, and the five growers who worked together from early 2014 were able to finalize the process last month. Outside of Maine, there are other workarounds to the organic label prohibition, including Clean Green Certified and and the Organic Cannabis Association out of Colorado. In Canada, growers are able to be certified as organic.
Read Murray Carpenter’s “Maine’s ‘Clean’ Medical Marijuana: ‘Organic’ in Disguise”: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/29/business/smallbusiness/maines-clean-medical-marijuana-organic-in-disguise.html
