Public Health
The only attempts to protect for quality and safety within state regulations was done through the mandate of laboratory testing. While testing is an important part of any Quality Management Program, it is only one part of Quality Control. Testing is a reactive process, that leaves multiple opportunities for unsafe product to reach the market.
This realization, combined with my firsthand experience in the cannabis industry, compelled me to try and change things. My first step was reaching out to trade associations within the industry to assure I wasn't duplicating efforts. Once confirmed, I began my education on standards and certification. I researched existing organizations that provided these services, such as the hospital accreditation program, The Joint Commission. While that name certainly seemed applicable to the cannabis industry, the business model did not fit.
During my research, I learned of the organization Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities or CARF International (CARF). Established in 1966, CARF is an independent, non-profit accreditor of health and human services. The CARF business model piqued my interest because of their role in providing standards, certification, and training to methadone clinics.
During the 90's, as the heroin epidemic swept throughout the US, methadone clinics had popped up all over the country. These clinics were operating under all different state and municipal regulations, without any consistency, and no real protection for health and safety - much like the cannabis industry today.
Federal officials realized something needed to be done to protect consumers and the public. A report was put together suggesting that existing FDA process-oriented
FOCUS is not an advocacy organization or industry trade association, nor do we accept membership dues or fees. FOCUS is not a cannabis company, and has no financial stake in the cannabis industry. To assure the protection of public health and consumer safety always remain the driving factor behind everything FOCUS does, and avoid any ethical dilemmas, I chose to fund FOCUS myself. This autonomy distinguishes FOCUS from all other organizations in the cannabis space, and fosters a principled, objective environment to develop comprehensive standards and third-party certification for the cannabis industry. FOCUS standards are GMP for the cannabis industry that cover Cultivation, Retail, Manufacturing, Laboratory, Security, Sustainability, and Packaging & Labeling. To learn more, or for certification inquiries, please visit www.focusstandards.org.
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