Organic Weed: What does it mean?

Hey folks! It’s time again for another round of weed-learnin’ as part of my effort to slowly fill your brains with an encyclopedic knowledge of cannabis. Will I succeed and turn Northumberland into the most well-informed stoners in the world? Only time will tell.

                When you’re shopping for flower or pre-rolls, you might occasionally notice that a product has the word “organic” in its name or description. If like me you’re the curious type, you might want to know what exactly the heck that means. Well you’re in luck inquisitive reader, because this week we’re going to be talking all about Organic Cannabis and what goes into achieving that certification.

Marketing Term or Growing Practice?

                The first thing we should address is whether or not the organic moniker is a legitimate reflection of the growing practices involved in the production of the flower in question or if it’s just a marketing buzzword, like how I call my gray hair “Executive Blonde”. Anyway, the term organic gets tossed around mostly when we discuss food. Any food brand or product that carries that moniker has to pass the scrutinizing gaze of the CFIA (Canada Food Inspection Agency). This organization not only inspects food but also created the criteria for what makes food “Organic”. Under their criteria a food item is only considered organic if it contains more than 70% organic material in the growing process (for example, not using synthetic pesticides or fertilizers) and a food producer is only considered an organic producer if their company contributes to biodiversity and environmental protection as part of their growing practices. So pretty tight criteria.

                Cannabis is not under the umbrella of the CFIA when it comes to it’s organic status because, well it’s not food. As such, there is no governmental body that designates an item as being organic or not. That’s where third-party groups come into play, like the FVOPA (Fraser Valley Organic Producers Association) who have created a list of requirements for what makes a cannabis grow organic or not. The cannabis growers need to hit a lot of the same marks for their cannabis to qualify as being organic as the food folks do, with the main prerequisite being that it cannot contain synthetic growing materials and usually requires a ‘living soil’ to qualify. A living soil is a growing ecosystem that relies on a natural balance of microorganisms in order to facilitate the growth as opposed to fertilizers and other grow mediums. It’s not easy to do but produces great results.

                So, if you see a product touting itself as being organic, check the packaging and see if you can find a logo certifying it as being organically grown. For example, if it’s certified under the FVOPA you’ll find a logo indicating that this is the case.

That’s cool and all, but what difference does it really make?

                The difference between an organic and nonorganic cannabis product becomes apparent when it comes to the quality of the smoke. If you’re someone who wants a smooth, flavourful experience out of your cannabis, you can’t get any better than an organically grown batch of bud. The amount of hard work and skill that goes into creating and maintaining an organic grow for cannabis cannot be overstated and is something that certain growers like Rubicon Organics strive for out of a genuine love for the cannabis plant. Reward that love and hard work by trying out some organic cannabis next time you’re in the market for some bud, you won’t be disappointed! Some brands to keep an eye on include: Simply Bare, 1964 and The Green Organic Dutchman.

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