Those Licensed Producers who are looking to produce organic cannabis have an obvious advantage over the competition. The word organic in cannabis is argued to be much more than just a marketing ploy. It’s cultivated from facilities that only use organic fertilizers and soil media without the use of any synthetic nutrients, pesticides or herbicides. Permitting those who market certified organic cannabis the ability to offer it in its natural form. It continually references that 55% of Canadian consumers purchase organic products on a weekly basis. (SOURCE: ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION)
If it be medicinal or recreational - products accompanied by an organic seal of approval have already established a key market differentiator. When purchasing organic products, the consumer can almost guarantee that it’s free of chemical toxins, allowing customers to maximize their intended effect with peace of mind. When the recreational market opens in 2018, Companies like Whistler will be well positioned to take advantage of the growing demand for organic
products. A demand that was highlighted by Amazons recent purchase of Whole Foods. 80%+ of Canadian consumers have maintained or increased their organic purchases in the last year. (SOURCE: ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION)
Licensed Producers who have a Health Canada approved sales license will have a small window of opportunity to gain the trust of those seeking to try recreational cannabis. Packaging restrictions will make it hard for Licensed Producers to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack. As consumers weigh their options many will seek out those whom have Organic Certification visibly on their packaging. Currently there are only two governing bodies who have issued Organic Certification for Cannabis. The first is ECOCERT Canada which is an internationally accredited body started in 2003 that certified OrganiGram. They currently certify all of TGOD’s cannabis as Organic. The other being Fraser Valley Organic Producers Association. Which is the body that grants Whistler Medical Marijuana Corporation Organic Certification. Also of note is Green Relief who could be seeking a different kind of certification using it’s proprietary aquaponic system that’s coined ‘beyond organic’.
By: Patrick Moher
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