Using “clean” to describe products is nothing new. There are “clean” beauty products made popular by Gwyneth Paltrow, “clean” household cleaning products free from phthalates and parabens, and, yes, even “clean” weed. Like clean beauty and household products, the term “clean weed” is more than just a catchphrase: it’s a highly coveted label that means the cannabis has gone through pure organic cultivation, rigorous lab testing, and was grown using sustainable practices. 

If you’re curious about the clean cannabis label, including what it means and how to find it, we’ll explore what you need to know about clean cannabis. 

What is Clean Cannabis? 

Clean cannabis refers to products grown, harvested, processed, and tested in a way that prioritizes safety, purity, and environmental sustainability. The term encompasses several key factors, including: 

• Pesticide-Free: Clean cannabis is often grown without harmful pesticides, herbicides, or synthetical chemicals, just like organic produce at the market. 

• No Additives or Contaminants: Clean cannabis goes through rigorous testing to ensure it’s free from things like heavy metals, mold, and mildew. 

• Sustainable Growing Practices: Clean cannabis is cultivated using environmentally friendly methods, such as using renewable energy and water conservation techniques. This helps minimize carbon footprints during growing and manufacturing. 

• Transparency and Testing: Producers of clean cannabis are proud of their test results and don’t try to make them difficult to find. In fact, most include lab test results right on the packaging. 

• No Harmful Chemicals in Processing: The processing and extraction methods used to create concentrates or edibles are also important. Clean cannabis means that no toxic solvents or harmful chemicals are used during extraction or product creation.

Overall, "clean cannabis" refers to products that meet high standards of purity, safety, and ethical production practices.

Benefits of Clean Cannabis   

Beyond the environmental benefits, there are several benefits of clean cannabis that trickle down to you, the user. Here are a few user-focused benefits of clean cannabis. 

• Enhanced Flavor and Aroma: Organic cultivation methods allow the cannabis plant to grow as nature intended. As a result, the end product is often richer in terpenes and cannabinoids than cannabis grown with pesticides and chemicals. The result is cannabis with stronger flavors and aromas. 

• A Safer Cannabis Experience: Have you ever wondered what kinds of chemicals are on your cannabis buds? Many pesticides commonly used during cannabis farming can have harmful effects when consumed. To avoid the respiratory problems and cancers linked to pesticides, opt for clean cannabis instead. 

• Consistent and Reliable Effects: Because clean cannabis is rigorously tested, consumers can trust their cannabinoid and terpene profiles. This allows users to have more consistent and predictable effects, which is especially helpful for medical users who may be using cannabis for relief from very specific symptoms. 
• Less Guilt About the Environment: Finally, opting for clean cannabis can help you feel a little better about your carbon footprint. The farming and processing techniques used by clean cannabis producers have a lower environmental impact than conventional ones. 

Incorporating clean cannabis into your routine not only supports your health and well-being but also contributes to a more sustainable environment. By choosing clean cannabis, you’re enhancing your experience with safer, more flavorful products while supporting eco-friendly practices. It’s a win for the environment and a win for you.

How Can I Find Clean Cannabis?  

If finding clean cannabis sounds complicated, it doesn’t have to be. There are several ways to get a better understanding of what you’re buying, including buying from a trusted dispensary and doing your due diligence.

Buy from a Licensed & Trusted Dispensary

This is the single most important aspect of ensuring you know what’s in your cannabis. Why? Well, before a cannabis product can even make its way to the shelves of a licensed dispensary, a batch of each product is required to be tested and have a certificate of analysis to back it up. In many cases, you can even easily view the certificate of analysis for yourself by scanning a QR code on the packaging itself. You simply cannot find this type of assurance at an unlicensed dispensary. 

Look for the “Clean Green Certified” Label 

The Clean Green Certified program was created in 2004 to regulate legal cannabis products that called themselves “organic.” The Clean Green Certified label is reserved for cannabis products that meet a specific set of criteria, including legal compliance, passing an agricultural inspection, and ensuring their cultivation methods are up to snuff. You can learn more about Clean Green Certification and why we’re so proud to say that all our outdoor-grown cannabis is Clean Green Certified in this blog. 

Do Your Research (& Be Patient) 

Finally, you might need to do a little research independently. Dig into the company history and values of your favorite cannabis brands and seek out their stance on sustainability and organically grown cannabis. As technology improves and demand for clean cannabis products grows, you’ll see more and more space dedicated to these types of products in dispensaries. 

Buy Clean Cannabis from CULTA 

At CULTA, we take sustainability in the cannabis industry seriously, and that includes our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint via our growing methods. Not only is all of the cannabis grown outdoors at our Cambridge farm Clean Green Certified, but we were the first organically managed farm in Maryland to achieve the highly coveted certification. Clean is better, and you can find out for yourself by visiting our Baltimore, Urbana, or Columbia dispensaries and requesting more information about our clean cannabis.