FOCUS

The Cannabis Health & Safety Organization. Protecting public health, consumer safety, and safeguarding the environment. Independent. Unbiased. Impartial.

FOCUS is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that develops international, cannabis-specific standards and third-party certification for the cannabis industry to protect public health, consumer safety, and safeguard the environment. FOCUS is the first organization to create voluntary-consensus standards suitable for accreditation and adoption into regulations by assuring impartiality, balance and transparency in the development process. Unlike most standards-setting organizations, FOCUS does not accept dues or fees for standards development. FOCUS is not a regulatory agency, advocacy organization or industry trade association. This autonomy fosters a principled, objective environment in which comprehensive standards can be developed. FOCUS Standards provide current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) guidelines for all key areas of the cannabis industry including Cultivation, Retail, Extraction, Infused Products, Laboratory, Security, Sustainability, and Packaging & Labeling.

12/25/2023

Wishing everyone connected to the cannabis industry a holiday break full of rest and reflection…and a much better year ahead!

11/11/2023

Missouri is a mess!

An exciting show today on KWTO 93.3 FM - 560 AM Radio:

•4:05 A look at the corruption of Senator Bob Menendez
•4:20 Ingrid Jacques of USA TODAY on the ballooning debt crisis
•5:05 Lezli Engelking of FOCUS questions Missouri cannabis regulators
•5:30 Garett Bowles and I draft the greatest G.O.A.T.’s of all time

04/07/2023

Let us not forget, all policy impacts health.

07/21/2022

Some actually exciting cannabis news related to Congress this morning…

An updated version of the Cannabis Advancement and Opportunity Act, , has been released, this time as a formal bill, around the and of in the US.

The bill isn’t quite there yet, but it is terrific to see the Senators actually listening to and incorporating important feedback from the people who live and breathe this every day.

For those of you not super familiar with the original draft, and overall process, I’m going to load you up with the following links

* Link to today’s Ma*****na Moment article about the updated bill.
https://www.ma*****namoment.net/senate-bill-to-federally-legalize-ma*****na-and-promote-social-equity-finally-filed-by-schumer-booker-and-wyden/

** Link to full text of updated bill.
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/22094029/caoa-final-introduction-bill-text.pdf

*** Link to initial CAOA draft bill
https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/CAOA%20Detailed%20Summary%20-.pdf

**** Link to the formal CAOA response submitted last fall in partnership by Association of Food and Drug Officials and Foundation Of Cannabis Unified Standards.
https://www.focusstandards.org/caoa-response-letter/

***** Link to press release announcing a new Workgroup formed by FOCUS & AFDO a few months back assembled to build the or (FRF)for cannabis in the US.

For those interested in learning more or getting involved with the framework project, please stay tuned…The FRF website and LinkedIn Groups should be up in the next week or two and we will be seeking as much input and feedback as possible from all stakeholders groups.

https://www.afdo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/AFDO.FOCUS-Framework-Media-Release-Final.pdf

02/17/2022

If you are curious about what happens inside cannabis facilities, these videos are for you. FOCUS, along with our cannabis regulatory partner, Association of Food and Drug Officials, together developed a virtual deep dive into the cannabis industry — a side many have not seen before.

The tours cover four facets of the cannabis , each with differing regulations across the country. More than two hours of video narrated by those who work in , analytical , and , provide viewers an inside look in to the day-to-day of the .

Lezli Douglas Engelking and the rest of the team are so grateful to our incredible volunteers in Michigan, who so willingly opened their doors in an effort to help educate and eradicate around .

We also want to extend our thanks to everyone involved who made this project possible. made As a , FOCUS relies heavily on the generous donations by those who support building a better cannabis industry. We could not do what we do without you!!

AFDO and its partner, FOCUS, developed a virtual deep look into the cannabis industry — a side many have not seen before. Virtual video tours covered four facets of the industry that is in different stages of regulation across the country. More than two hours of video narrated by those who work in...

12/23/2021

As we wind down 2021, FOCUS would like to thank all those who have made our continued progress possible. Wishing you and yours health and safety during the holidays and throughout the new year.

07/24/2021

This post is for: cannabis enthusiasts, history buffs, and Beatles’ fans. Enjoy.

A full-page advertisement appeared in The Times newspaper on this day, signed by 64 of the most prominent members of British society, which called for the legalisation of ma*****na. Among the signatories were The Beatles and Brian Epstein. The advertisement was instigated as a response to the nine-m...

02/11/2021

To all of the amazing female scientists, and all of the little girls who will one day take up this important work, happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! FOCUS appreciates you!

01/25/2021

Pretty powerful website covering the recently fumbled social equity cannabis licensing process in Illinois.

From Governor Pritzker to the Madigans, on down to a former Republican director, there's insider connections and corruption at every level of Illinois government.

01/21/2021

Mold is a normal challenge that occurs when growing cannabis. When mold is present it can produce toxins, called Aflatoxins. At high levels, aflatoxins can cause illness (aflatoxicosis), liver damage, and death in pets.
The toxins can be present even if there is no visible mold on the pet food.
Given the amount of pet products now being manufactured with cannabis and h**p, this information from the FDA on Aflatoxins and Pets is worth a read.

https://lnkd.in/egq2y5W

**p

12/31/2020

Adios, 2020. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Time to on the future. Happy New Year!

Address

4400 N Scottsdale Road, Ste 269
Scottsdale, AZ
85251

Website

http://www.FOCUSstandards.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when FOCUS posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to FOCUS:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Scottsdale?

Our Story

Established in 2014 as The Cannabis Health and Safety Organization, FOCUS is a federal, 501c3 non-profit that addresses the many shortcomings in quality, safety, and consistency that have become evident with the explosive growth of the global cannabis industry. FOCUS is not a cannabis company, an industry trade association, nor an advocacy organization. FOCUS is an unbiased, third-party with no financial stake in – or funding from – the cannabis industry. FOCUS does not advocate on behalf of or push cannabis policy. FOCUS exists to help assure the rapidly growing global cannabis industry has the necessary protections in place for the health, safety, success, and welfare of everyone. This autonomy fosters a principled, objective organization that protects end users, and acts as the much-needed neutral, nonpartisan bridge between industry and regulatory. FOCUS offers services to regulatory bodies and cannabis operators including: Consulting, Gap Analysis, SOP Development, Application Writing, Risk Mitigation, Records Audits, and Certification. FOCUS standards provide current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) guidelines for all key areas of the cannabis industry. FOCUS Certification is currently available for Cultivation, Manufacturing, Laboratory, and Retail operations worldwide.