We’re so lucky to live in the Evergreen State! The rugged natural beauty, the pulsing lifeblood of Puget Sound. Oh, and the killer cannabis! But even in Washington, you’re not always guaranteed to get high-grade weed.
When it comes to ensuring that consumers get the cleanest and safest cannabis, Washington is at the cutting edge. We’re lucky to have laws mandating the regular inspection and testing of cannabis producers, their products, and their facilities. That said, to some degree, cannabis quality is truly up to individual growers and retailers.
While the state mandates inspection and certification of marijuana growers, to some extent, this is still a work in process. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) and the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) have partnered to better monitor the use of illegal pesticides on marijuana under the terms of a contract signed in 2016—but quality control doesn’t end there.
Here are some of the steps that we—and our trusted suppliers—take to ensure we provide the very best high-grade weed.
Is Organic Marijuana the Best?
When it comes to our food, the term “organic” has real meaning: It’s legally reserved for use by the USDA to describe agricultural products that meet their strict definition. To maintain organic certification, growers must skip on using certain pesticides, steroids, and other chemicals and additives.
So technically, marijuana can’t be certified organic by the USDA. But we can take all the same steps to protect your cannabis from chemicals, molds, and other contaminants. And we do.
At Have a Heart, we take the potential for cannabis contamination very seriously. Because we absorb cannabis into our respiratory and digestive systems, it’s crucial that marijuana is free of pesticides and other contaminants. Mold, for example, can expose you to compounds known as mycotoxins and endotoxins. Chronic exposure to these inflammatory molds and mildews can aggravate autoimmune conditions and increase your chances of developing a respiratory or other infection.
High-Grade Weed: Controlling for Quality
While we’re all for the state-mandated inspections, we know it’s up to us to provide the cleanest high-grade weed possible. After all, it isn’t just a wonderful recreational product; thousands of people turn to cannabis as medicine, with applications in treating PTSD, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and many other conditions.
We believe you have a right to expect the cannabis you buy to be just as clean and responsibly handled as any medication. And at Have a Heart, we take the necessary steps to ensure this is so.
In addition to abiding by state regulations, we go to great lengths to ensure that the cannabis we sell is sourced from trusted partners: Responsible growers and producers who guarantee their cannabis is as free of potentially harmful contaminants and additives as possible. On top of that, we do our own regular and rigorous testing to verify the quality and potency of the cannabis we offer.
Why is Cannabis So Expensive, Though?
One of the tradeoffs of legalization is that it mandates cannabis regulation and inspection. In addition, certain dispensaries—such as ourselves—go over and above the legal requirements to supply our clients with safe cannabis.
Of course, there’s a cost associated with these benefits. That said, legalization also ensures much greater access, and the natural competition of the marketplace actually drives prices down. The great news is that this actually means that cannabis has never been cheaper!
If you’re interested in safeguarding your health by using only the best high-grade weed money can buy, we hope you’ll come in and learn a bit more about how—and why—we go the extra mile here at Have a Heart. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
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