California Prescription Pot Industry Looks to Self-Regulate for Orgainc Production

By Donna Jones
WATSONVILLE -- Want to buy organic carrots? No problem. Organic strawberries? Widely available. Organic honey? Try your local grocery store. But organic medicinal marijuana? Doesn't exist - at least not in any official sense.

Organic crops and products are certified by private agencies through the United States Department of Agriculture - a program developed after decades of advocacy by organic farmers and their allies. Pot - medicinal or otherwise - need not apply.

"What the USDA doesn't recognize as a legal crop we can't certify because we're certifying to their standards," said Jane Wade, development specialist at Santa Cruz-based California Certified Organic Farmers, the largest organic certification agency in the country. "That leaves medical marijuana out in the cold." It also leaves consumers interested in making sure they're not ingesting pesticides or other toxins along with their chosen pain reliever in a quandary.

Wade, who gets calls about organic marijuana certification "a few times a month," said people are frustrated by her response.

"They ask 'why can't you fix this,'" she said.

Wade said California Certified Organic Farmers worked for nearly three decades to get the USDA program in place. She suggested the medical marijuana community can take action as well.

"The path is already trodden," Wade said. "As long as they don't call it organic, there's no reason they can't adopt the rules already in place." 

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Natural and Organic Products Industry Sales Hit $81 Billion

BOULDER, Colo.-- Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine's 2010 Market Overview reports healthy growth for the natural and organic products industry. With more than $81 billion in total revenue last year, the industry grew 7 percent over 2009, showing that consumers are spending again and that the natural products industry is healthy and growing.

Natural Foods Merchandiser's 2010 Market Overview is a comprehensive report detailing sales results for the natural and organic products industry. In addition to overall spending figures, the Market Overview also reports product segment sales, average sales per store and overall business statistics for natural products retailers.

Market research found that certain categories experienced double-digit growth. Dairy and produce, for example, grew 12 percent and 13 percent, respectively, over the previous year. "Double digit growth in 2010 is impressive," said Carlotta Mast, Editor-in-Chief of Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine. "These numbers demonstrate that shoppers are returning to natural products stores for everyday groceries," she said. The pet products category boasted 10 percent growth last year, as Americans continue to feed their furry friends food fit for a king. In the supplements aisle, sports nutrition products grew a whopping 22.2 percent, a reflection of new and innovative products on the market and the improving economy. Digestive aids and vitamin D continued on their upward trajectories in 2010.

Also included in the Market Overview is the Gourmet Guide, which shows that specialty natural products sales grew 15.6 percent in natural products stores last year. "The lines between natural and gourmet are blurring, as more  natural retailers stock specialty products that meet their stringent ingredient and packaging standards," Mast said. 

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