Cannabis Safety Standards: The Spock of Cannabis on Why CGMP Certification Beats Final Product Testing

From MJ Biz Con Week: A conversation with Darwin Millard, "The Spock of Cannabis," on preventing recalls, fair trade, and why 70% of consumers prefer certified products

There are two types of cannabis companies in the world: those that have had a recall, and those that will. But according to Darwin Millard—affectionately known as "The Spock of Cannabis" for his logical, science-driven approach to industry challenges—implementing proper cannabis safety standards dramatically reduces the probability of recalls. And when they do happen, certified companies are prepared to address issues before products harm consumers.

As Technical Director at Cannabis Safety and Quality (CSQ), Darwin brings the same systematic thinking that made Spock legendary to the chaotic world of cannabis manufacturing. His sign-off? "Live long and prosper"—or as he adapts it for the industry: "Live long and process."

CSQ is the first and only accredited CGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) certification program specifically designed for cannabinoid product manufacturers. Whether you grow, extract, manufacture, distribute, or retail cannabis products, CSQ offers a multi-level certification system that helps mitigate brand risk through preventive measures rather than relying solely on final product testing.

The Insurance Policy You Didn't Know You Needed

Final product testing has become the default quality assurance method in cannabis, but Darwin sees it as a risky and expensive insurance policy. When a batch fails testing, operators face limited options: remediation, selling at reduced value, or complete loss. Either way, the product has already lost significant value before the problem is discovered.

"If you invested into GMPs early, you are mitigating your risks ahead of time rather than banking on final product testing only. If that batch goes bad and you're only doing final product testing, then you have to remediate it or do something else. Maybe you can't sell it at the high value you were expecting. In either case, you've lost value for that product."

Good Manufacturing Practices work differently. Instead of catching problems after production, GMPs implement preventive measures and controls throughout the process to stop issues before they occur. This approach has been standard in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries for decades—but cannabis is still catching up.

Cannabis Safety Standards Beyond Pharma Thinking

When people hear "GMP," they automatically think pharmaceutical-grade requirements—expensive, complex, and potentially overkill for cannabis operators. Darwin challenges this assumption with trademark Spock-like precision.

"GMPs really are what you make them," he explains. "That's where a CSQ certification is really unique because we have it split into a multi-level system that really allows licensed operators to attack it or approach GMPs based on their business need and their actual regulatory requirements, versus a one size fits all type of cookie cutter approach."

This flexibility is crucial for an industry with operators ranging from small craft cultivators to multi-state operators. CSQ's multi-level certification system allows businesses to implement cannabis safety standards appropriate to their scale and regulatory environment, rather than forcing everyone into pharmaceutical-grade protocols they may not need.

Learning From Food Industry Best Practices

The food industry offers a compelling model for cannabis safety standards. For decades, food companies have focused on process controls throughout production rather than relying primarily on final product testing. Many food manufacturers don't even conduct final product testing—their confidence comes from rigorous process controls that prevent contamination.

Darwin visited Raw Garden in California earlier this year, witnessing firsthand how serious operators approach quality. Raw Garden tests flower before it's made into concentrates, maintaining tight control over inputs rather than hoping outputs meet specifications. The facility exemplifies what "clean operations" look like when cannabis safety standards are prioritized.

The challenge? Many cannabis entrepreneurs excel at making products but lack business operations expertise. This knowledge gap has contributed to significant industry turnover over the past five years. Operations excellence—the unglamorous backend work—determines which companies survive and thrive.

The ROI of Prevention vs. Detection

Darwin's Spock-like logic shines when discussing the financial case for cannabis safety standards. Everyone focuses on sales, but few calculate the money lost through operational inefficiencies, failed batches, and recalls.

"A CSQ certification gives you more visibility over your processes, which allows you to hone in and gain those efficiencies and reduce your margins, which is really the key to having a good operating business."

The documentation requirements for CSQ certification aren't additional burden—they're requirements cannabis operators already face. Marijuana and hemp markets legally require documented practices. GMPs formalize and optimize those requirements, meaning many operators are probably already fully conformant with CSQ's program without realizing it.

The investment in cannabis safety standards pays dividends through:

• Reduced batch failures and remediation costs

• Increased operational efficiency and margin improvement

• Better preparedness for regulatory inspections

• Enhanced brand reputation and consumer trust

• Lower insurance and liability exposure

Fair Trade Cannabis: The One Plant Solution

Beyond safety certification, Darwin is passionate about fair trade principles in cannabis—an issue that reveals how artificial regulatory distinctions harm the industry and environment.

Hemp fibers come from cannabis plant stalks. But entrenched market interests insist fibers can only come from "hemp plants" (those testing below 0.3% THC), not "marijuana plants." This arbitrary distinction forces validation processes and regulatory classification before fiber can be utilized.

The scientific reality? All cannabis plants produce high-quality fiber when grown under the right conditions—tight seed density and controlled growing parameters. A THC-dominant Type I plant grown the same way as a fiber-focused Type IV plant produces excellent fiber.

"If you grew a THC type one the same way that you might grow a fiber type four, it's gonna produce high quality fibers because the plants are constricted to the way that they grow. So there's a lot of available material in the market—whether it's bast or hurd, the woody bits within the stock—that could be sold, but we destroy it because it's a controlled substance."

This waste is absurd from both economic and environmental perspectives. The hemp consortium fights to maintain their niche market control, preventing free access to fiber material from all cannabis plants. CSQ works to create standards and tools that allow operators and regulatory bodies to design programs enabling true free trade—accessing stock from any cannabis plant for fiber production.

Darwin's "one plant solution" philosophy recognizes that artificial distinctions between hemp and marijuana serve political and economic interests, not scientific reality or consumer needs.

Why The Spock of Cannabis Cares About Safety

Darwin's commitment to cannabis safety standards is deeply personal—he's a heavy consumer who dabs all day, every day. He wants other consumers to access safe, quality products and hardware regardless of consumption method.

Whether it's glass pipes, rolling papers without elemental impurities or restricted substances, or quality vape hardware like his beloved Dr. Dabber Boost Evo (which he enthusiastically details with technical precision worthy of his Spock nickname), Darwin applies the same analytical rigor to his own consumption that he brings to CSQ certification work.

His Dr. Dabber enthusiasm reveals his approach: the Boost Evo uses a sapphire-lined atomizer so nothing touches cannabis except sapphire, and the vapor path has no 90-degree turns that create turbulence and oil buildup. This attention to materials science and fluid dynamics in personal consumption devices mirrors the systems-thinking he applies to cannabis safety standards.

Consumer Trust: The 70% Advantage

A Consumer Reports survey in 2023 found that consumers are 70% more likely to buy certified products than uncertified alternatives. In a market where consumers increasingly can't distinguish between legitimate dispensary products and counterfeit packaging, certification becomes a crucial trust signal.

This matters especially as economic pressures push budget-conscious consumers toward cheaper options, whether legacy market or questionable legal products. When stress is high and money is tight, people will find their medicine—the question is whether that medicine is safe.

Darwin notes the horror stories from lab testing: toxins in poorly manufactured products can completely obliterate any therapeutic benefit. You might feel good in the moment, but consuming contaminated cannabis is like eating Reese's all day—it's not a sustainable health strategy.

Immunocompromised patients and medical consumers are particularly vulnerable. As the industry drifts further from its compassionate care roots, cannabis safety standards become more critical for protecting those who can least afford exposure to contaminants.

CSQ Certification: Required in Two States, Adopted by Leaders

CSQ certification is currently required in Florida and New York for licensed operators. Other states require GMP implementation without full certification. But forward-thinking operators across the country have gone above and beyond regulatory minimums.

The publicly available list on CSQ's website includes industry leaders:

• Planet 13

• Trulieve

• Jungle Boys

• Green Thumb Industries

• Verano

• Cookies

• Mint Cannabis

• Cresco Labs

• Ayr Wellness

• Curaleaf

• Proper Cannabis

These brands understand that cannabis safety standards aren't just regulatory compliance—they're competitive advantages. In an industry facing increasing scrutiny and market maturation, certification signals commitment to quality that resonates with consumers, medical practitioners, and regulators alike.

The Path Forward: Process Over Product

Darwin's Spock-like philosophy cuts through cannabis industry chaos with logical clarity: focus on process, not just product. Implement preventive controls rather than relying on detection. Document systematically. Optimize continuously. Think in systems.

The multi-level CSQ certification framework allows operators of all sizes to approach cannabis safety standards appropriately for their business needs and regulatory requirements. There's no one-size-fits-all solution, but there are proven best practices that prevent costly failures.

As Darwin would say: the needs of the many (consumers) outweigh the needs of the few (operators cutting corners). Live long and process.

Want to hear the full conversation? Listen to the complete podcast episode to dive deeper into CSQ certification levels, Darwin's technical breakdown of vape hardware safety, and why the one-plant solution matters for cannabis sustainability.

Want to connect with Darwin? Find him on Linkedin!

https://www.csqcertification.com/

This conversation was recorded at MJ Biz Con Week 2025.