CBD consumer safety
With a rapidly growing number of Americans realizing the health benefits various forms of cannabis provides, ensuring the consumer is connected with products that are cultivated and processed in a safe, responsible way becomes an important focus. With no uniform set of standards as the federal government remains stubborn on legalization, this task is difficult. When you think of medicine, the most basic assumption is that what you are putting into your body is safe and beneficial. However, in an economic system that often puts profit ahead of people, greed can seep in and inexpensive yet dangerous practices take place.
A statement by the Food and Drug Administration says, “FDA is aware that some companies are marketing products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds in ways that violate the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and that may put the health and safety of consumers at risk.” While it is possible to cut safety corners in farming, that aspect of production has a long history of regulation that is more difficult to side-step. But when it comes to oil extraction, the fastest growing aspect of the cannabis industry, things are very muddy. There is a surge in entrepreneurs, and legislation is always a slow process, which creates problems in need of solutions.
State regulations vary in regard to the legality and licensing of cannabis farming. At the very least, there are regulations. Do some farmers find ways to skirt these regulations? Sure they do. But there are at least standards set. As of now, the most dangerous threat to cannabis consumers is the method by which oils are extracted. Extraction is largely unregulated, which opens the door for farmers, oil manufacturers, and retailers to cut corners on cost at the expense of the consumer’s safety. For commercial extraction, there are two main methods used: CO2 and hydrocarbon. CO2 extraction involves pressurizing carbon dioxide into a supercritical fluid, which is then used to pull the desired compounds from the plant. Hydrocarbon extraction, the more commonly used method, use solvents like ethanol, propane, or butane. Hydrocarbon extraction invites the most concerning occurrences of shady practices. Without regulation, extraction companies can offer dirt cheap price per pound extraction to farmers using solvents that the FDA would never dream of approving for safe consumption. Harmful residual solvents from such extractions can be prevalent in a product that makes it all the way to a retailer.
With an established safety concern when it comes to product safety and local, state, and federal governments with more pressing issues than regulating the cannabis industry, the burden of finding solutions is put on the industry itself and consumer demand. Consumers can choose to only purchase products that can be proven safe. Manufacturers and retailers will have to fill this demand with products that have viable oversight. The obvious solution: blockchain technology. Blockchain, in a nutshell, provides a live ledger of events with the ability to track a farm product from conception to consumer. Every detail of a plant’s journey can be traced and logged, from soil temperature the day a seed was planted all the way to the moment what was sown arrives to a store. With a simple scan of a QR code one could pull up every bit of information you would need to make a safe, informed purchase.
Momentum from a couple decades of consumer interest in farm to table dining has gained the attention of several blockchain entrepreneurs. As of 2017, blockchain innovations in the agricultural market was around $41 million. It is now projected to grow to $430 million by 2023. Agriculture for food production has government oversight, but with the cannabis industry having no set standards on the federal level, implementing blockchain technology is the best path to ensuring the safety and quality of goods.