Marijuana standardization proposals in the works as local, federal administrators join forces

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Refining cannabis operations will help the industry mature

Although the past few years have seen state governments working on their own to carry out various plans involving marijuana, it appears that they are now joining forces with federal leaders on marijuana standardization proposals. Actions such as these could be seen as an indication that the federal government is increasingly adopting a more open stance when it comes to marijuana-related projects, suggesting that 2022 could be a year full of surprises for the industry.

A conference was recently held between federal and state regulators. Everyone involved in the meeting discussed the plan to pass a bill that seeks to establish standards for marijuana products. If all goes as many plan, this could later be used as part of a formal and official federal handbook.

Two committees of the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) had cannabis-related items on the agenda. Either way, both have a chance of getting the green light at a meeting later this summer. Should this become a reality, the legislation would be incorporated into federal guidance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NCWM’s Law and Regulation Committee wanted to delve deeper into the issue related to the proposals needed to establish a definition for cannabis and products that feature its components.

These laws would develop policies such as standardizing packaging and labeling conditions. Those first two things were able to move forward and reached the status of a vote. As a result, NCWM members will have the opportunity to adopt them into the NIST manual.

“As states legalize sales of cannabis in its various forms, the need has arisen for uniform standards for scale suitability,” the justification section of that proposal says. “Uniform requirements from one state to the next will strengthen each jurisdiction’s ability to effectively regulate the industry in a fair and equitable manner. Uniform standards also provide the industry with expectations regardless of the jurisdiction, reducing potential conflict or confusion.”