The industry continues to forego other enterprises like none before it. Every year, the cannabis industry grosses revenue that surpasses the last. Further, more markets are entering the realm of cannabis almost quarterly. Economic mags affirm that the industry will surpass $200 billion within the next nine years. Illinois’ recreational cannabis market, which began last year, insists on the projection mentioned earlier, thanks to their record-breaking sales in September and October last year. Illinois also raked in $1B in retail cannabis sales. There is no way economists predicted a single cannabis market to bring in $1 billion in a single fiscal year without the help of medicinal cannabis sales. There is no would no such milestone if dispensary cannabis was inferior. However, unfavorable cannabis sometimes makes its way to a litany of markets. So how does the cannabis industry suppress harmful cannabis? It does so like any other industry: quality control.
Quality control
Quality control is “a system of maintaining standards in manufactured products by testing a sample of the output against the specification.” (Oxford.) In short, quality control is the metric tasked with asserting products charged to comply with government and company regulations before being listed for retail. These are the agencies embedded in companies that are charged with ensuring cannabis products are safe and consistent. For instance, the quality control department for PepsiCo would be tasked with ensuring all Pepsi and sister beverages taste and are packaged as defined by regulation and compliance. This includes making sure the soda and recipe are identical, labels are consistent and legible, etc. Quality control gives companies a sense of consistency and protection for both the company and consumers. Imagine drinking Pepsi for 25 years; one day, that blue can doesn’t taste what you’ve grown accustomed to. Immediately, you reconsider ditching the lifelong brand. This scenario is a fear of companies and why quality control exists. If the company hasn’t announced a change in the product, then it is probably a unit that should’ve failed quality control. There is no difference for businesses operating in the cannabis space.
More on quality control in the cannabis space
In the cannabis industry, there are entities tasked with maintaining the quality of merchandise. Originally, quality control starts with the grower. Cannabis cultivators recognize that quality control transpires from germination all the way to harvest. During the life of the cannabis plant, growers ought to ensure the excellence of their product with precise nutrients, great lighting, and a consistent diet. When it is time to harvest, the quality control recapitulates. Accredited laboratories examine cannabis buds in many cannabis markets. The labs, as mentioned earlier, test the product’s cannabinoid profile, potency, and ability to resist molds and microbes.
Additionally, buds are lab-tested to ensure pesticides are not present in the harvest. Not only is this part of the business acumen, but it is also necessary for most legalization markets by law. From seedling to the top shelf, the hands that interact with the flowers during their lifetime are all tasked with quality control in their unique way.
Signs of effective quality control
Patients frequently spot when quality control has been efficient in a slew of ways. Despite this, one of the simplest ways of assessing quality control in cannabis is ensuring patients are getting what they demand. Top-shelf and craft cannabis are actual examples of efficient quality control. These forms of cannabis cultivate with quality control in mind from day 1. This begets desirable and heavy-hitting buds that are worth every pull for the patient’s money. Top-shelf and craft cannabis are evidence of positive quality control due to the fine-tuning and love, and care given to the bud.