Cannabis Safety & Quality (CSQ) is an accredited certification program designed to bring established safety and quality-management principles into cannabis and hemp operations. Its framework combines cGMP and cGACP expectations with ASTM- and ISO-aligned standards, adapting them to market-specific regulatory requirements from seed to sale.
Since launching in 2020, CSQ has grown to more than 200 certified sites. Its modular, level-based structure is intended to let operators strengthen systems over time rather than treat certification as a one-time inspection. The program gives businesses a roadmap for preventive controls, documentation, process improvement, and quality management.
CSQ’s nomination also points to a broader industry gap: only a limited number of legal cannabis markets require third-party GMP certification. In jurisdictions without that requirement, operators may have little regulatory incentive to adopt manufacturing practices long used in food, pharmaceuticals, and other industries where product consistency and contamination control are fundamental.
To address the education side of that gap, CSQ has developed free, market-specific workshops explaining hazards, preventive controls, and the business case for quality systems. That helps move professional standards from abstract certification language into day-to-day operating practice.
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“GMPs should always be top of mind, not just when your product gets recalled. These awards raise awareness of common safety battles many operators face, but in a positive way that spotlights the industry’s good actors. We’re thrilled to be nominated for this award, and we hope this overall campaign inspires everyone to advocate for safe and quality products, not just because your state requires it, but because you know it’s what consumers and patients deserve.” |
Cannabis Safety & Quality reflects the Professional Standard Award by giving cannabis operators a verifiable safety management framework and making established quality practices more accessible across a fragmented regulatory landscape.
Website: Cannabis Safety & Quality
Support Cannabis Safety & Quality for the 2026 Professional Standard Award.
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