What Is cGMP, And What Does It Mean For Consumers?

So, what is cGMP anyway? It’s a set of rules imposed by the FDA regarding how we manufacture consumer goods like food and drugs.

The FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations (cGMP) enforce manufacturing facilities and processes. These rules standardize monitoring, design, and control manufacturing facilities, including cannabis operation.

Following the cGMP regulations ensures the quality and purity of drug products. Cannabis manufacturers face several obligations under the cGMP. Manufacturers must have quality management systems, quality raw materials, sound operating procedures, quality detection abilities, and reliable testing capacities. This formal system of controls prevents contamination and errors.

In short, the cGMP assures that drug and food products meet quality standards.

Why are cGMPs so important?

When we buy our food and drugs, we need to trust that they are for our betterment and do not introduce unnecessary risks to our bodies. It’s impossible for consumers to detect if a drug product is safe and effective by look alone, and a manufacturer’s in-house testing alone is typically not enough. This deficiency is because testing is done on a small batch sample while the remaining product may still be used and sold.

That’s why the cGMP seeks to assure that quality is built into the design and manufacturing process, ensuring finished products are, on the whole, safer. cGMP compliant manufacturers keep the public safe and give consumers the confidence that they are receiving a food or drug product that not only works but that has been quality controlled and rigorously tested for.

What Does cGMP Mean for Consumers?

Consumers should make sure that their manufacturer is cGMP compliant. If you are a cannabis consumer, take the extra step to determine if your brand or manufacturer of choice complies with these rules. It can be a little tricky finding out where a particular strain is made or which brand manufactures it, but once you track it down — contact them and check to see if they comply. Luckily, proud manufacturers like Abundant Labs will display their badges proudly. cGMP compliant manufacturers offer peace of mind and assurance that you’re getting a quality product free of impurities and potentially harmful pesticides. The cannabis industry has come a long way in a short period! We have higher levels and quality, and therefore, better products to offer for all cannabis consumers to enjoy safely.

Do you have more questions about how Abundant Labs exemplifies cGMP standards? Feel free to contact us, and we’ll walk you through what makes our finished product and process a cut above.

Before we discuss the unique interactions between CBD and THC, it is important that we distinguish between the two cannabinoids. 

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the phytocannabinoid that is most commonly associated with the intoxicating and psychoactive properties of cannabis. There is a wide range of robust and unique properties that THC is thought to produce, and if you have ever consumed cannabis and felt a feeling of euphoria or what many people consider “being high”, that effect is most likely a result of THC. THC can be an effective appetite stimulant, used as a muscle relaxant, or as a tool for pain management, and has even been suggested to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.  

THC has a unique effect on the endocannabinoid system in the body, because it has the ability to bind to specific endocannabinoid receptors known as the CB1 and CB2 receptors. THC has an impactful effect on the body as it helps modulate the neurotransmitters, or “chemical messengers” that are produced in both the brain and the nervous system. These chemical messengers play a role in influencing memory, concentration, pleasure, time perception, pain management and more. 

Similar to THC, CBD, known as Cannabidiol, is another chemical compound found in the cannabis sativa plant, known as a cannabinoid. What distinguishes CBD from THC, however, is that CBD does not contain the same psychoactive properties that THC does. Users report feeling clear-headed and calm after consuming CBD, opposed to the “high” sensation that most users report when using THC. CBD has been suggested to have both antimicrobial and antioxidant properties– and that it may be an effective tool in alleviating anxiety, stress, soothing pain and calming the mind. 

Like its counterpart THC, CBD also affects the CB1 and CB2 receptors of the endocannabinoid system, but in a different way. THC is thought to attach to the CB1 and CB2 receptors and “replace” the neurotransmitters, whereas CBD stimulates the receptors, without attaching to them. This suggests that CBD and THC can work together synergistically and produce a desired outcome that is different than if they were working independently. Certain users believe that the psychoactive qualities of THC can actually be subdued with CBD, and that CBD can help get rid of any unwanted side effects of THC.

 At Abundant Labs, we are proud to offer the highest quality CBD isolate, custom CBD distillate, and crude and winterized CBD oils. 

Learn more about our process and how we are able to efficiently and consistently remove the cannabinoids from the hemp flower.