As the cannabis industry continues to grow and expand, regulations to ensure proper cultivation and consumer safety have become a priority. In many countries where cannabis or hemp is legal, measures have begun to be adopted to protect the end users of cannabis products. Today at Cannactiva we will explain what Good Manufacturing Practices or GMP in cannabis cultivation consist of.
What are GMPs?
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are applied to cannabis cultivation production processes. Although they are not rigid standards, they establish guidelines or protocols that guarantee the quality of the final cannabis products.
Originally implemented in the pharmaceutical industry, GMPs have been adopted by other industries such as food, cosmetics and medicinal products to ensure the production and control of products with consistent quality standards. In the case of cannabis, GMPs have gained relevance due to the legalization of medical cannabis in several countries. * We remind you that Cannactiva's products are not medical cannabis and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease or symptom.
What is GMP Cannabis Cultivation?
GMP cultivation of cannabis refers to cultivation that complies with the regulations for GMP certification. This certification is available in some countries where medical cannabis is legalized for consumption and cultivation. In other countries, GMP is required only for post-growing processes, i.e., for the preparation of medical cannabis by-products.
Key Aspects of GMP in Cannabis Cultivation
GMPs cover all aspects of cannabis cultivation, from raw materials, facility design and equipment, to staff training and personal hygiene.
In cannabis cultivation, GMPs aim to guarantee the production of quality cannabis, ensuring that plants are not exposed to pesticides, heavy metals and dangerous microbial agents. In addition, the concentrations of cannabinoid compounds must be constant to comply with the country's legislation and for the production of standardized cannabis products.
What do GMPs involve in cannabis cultivation?
Traditional agricultural practices are insufficient to guarantee the required standards of cannabis products. For example, in Canada, current GMPs have established different procedures to comply with cannabis GMPs (1), known as SOPs(Standard Operating Procedures) or SOPs (StandardOperating Procedures).
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Cannabis GMP Compliance
Standard Operating Procedures to comply with cannabis GMPs include:
- Sanitation of installations and equipment
- Personnel hygiene
- Transfer, receipt and distribution of cannabis and other raw materials
- Cannabis production and processing, including:
- Cloning or propagation of cannabis seeds
- Additions of nutrients, fertilizers and pest control products
- Harvest
- Drying and curing
- Extraction
- Encapsulation or other forms of processing
- Production of edible cannabis products
- Production of cannabis extracts or topical products
- Cannabis sampling and analysis
- Packaging and labeling
- Storage
In the European Union, GMPs vary according to the type of cannabis product being produced. It is possible to obtain this certification for companies wishing to import their products into European countries where medical cannabis is legal (2). Some of the specific requirements include:
GMP requirements in the European Union:
- Stability or susceptibility to degradation.
- Macroscopic identification of plants.
- Chromatographic determinations of THC, CBD and other cannabinoid concentrations.
- Purity of cannabis flowers, determination of foreign matter, ash, heavy metals, pesticides and other compounds.
- Microbiological quality according to the route of administration of the final product, being the oral route the one of greatest interest.
How could GMP be implemented in cannabis cultivation?
First, the official regional guidelines for obtaining GMP certification must be reviewed. In general terms, it is necessary to evaluate the current conditions of cannabis production in order to establish the improvements to be implemented.
In addition, workflow, cleanliness, training and environmental controls must be established to ensure that contamination risks are minimized while maintaining efficient production.
All these procedures should be detailed as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which will serve as a reference for quality control, calibration and continuous improvement of the different stages of cannabis cultivation.
Importance of GMP in cannabis cultivation
It is essential that products for human consumption meet certain standards to avoid contamination accidents, which can result in serious injury or even death. Although GMP is not mandatory in all countries where cannabis products are marketed, it is likely to become a requirement in the future.
The expansion of the global cannabis market drives producers to obtain GMP certification, as this can translate into better economic benefits by gaining consumer preference. In addition, establishing safe cultivation is crucial to protect the health of both consumers and workers on cannabis farms.
Conclusion
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), already implemented in countries pioneering cannabis legalization, will be essential for cannabis cultivation in many other places. Although not mandatory worldwide, it is crucial to encourage ethical cultivation to ensure safe cannabis products. GMPs not only offer a commercial advantage, but also strengthen consumer loyalty to cannabis companies.
Note: Cannactiva products are derived from industrial hemp and contain less than 0.2% THC. They are not medicines and are intended for external use.
References
- Health Canada, (2019). Guidance document: good production practices guide for cannabis..
- Veit M. (2023). Quality Requirements for Medicinal Cannabis and Respective Products in the European Union - Status Quo. Planta medica, 89(8), 808-823. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1808-9708
- Johnson, E., Kilgore, M., & Babalonis, S. (2022). Label accuracy of unregulated cannabidiol (CBD) products: measured concentration vs. label claim. Journal of cannabis research, 4(1), 28. https://doi. org/10.1186/s42238-022-00140-1
- Brown, C. E., Shore, E., Van Dyke, M. V., Scott, J., & Smith, R. (2020). Evaluation of an Occupational Safety and Health Training for Cannabis Cultivation Workers. Annals of work exposures and health, 64(7), 765-769. https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaa026
- Department of Cannabis Control (2024). Cannabis manufacturer: self-inspection checklist. Retrieved from: https://cannabis.ca.gov/2023/06/cannabis-manufacturer-self-inspection-checklist/
