Food and Cannabis Industries to Pay Heed to the Good Manufacturing Practices

By Kathy Knutson

The cannabis industry is currently experiencing explosive growth, both in the United States and internationally. Yet the current landscape is murky, states operate independently from the federal government. There is federal regulation by the Drug Enforcement Administration where marijuana is a Schedule I listed drug. Also, the federal Farm Bill legalized the growing of hemp. While 33 US states have legalized the use of marijuana and marijuana edibles for patients with medical cards and for recreational use in eleven states. Each of the states with legal marijuana has created legislation independently of each other.

The cannabis industry is struggling without federal oversight and its focus is on meeting state regulations. The industry encompasses all aspects from growing to processing, manufacturing, packaging, transportation and sales operations, with the quality manager wearing many hats in the seed to sale process.