CSQ Invites Public Comments on Improved Cannabis Safety, Quality Standards

St. Louis, Mo. — CSQ, an accredited cannabis safety and quality certification program, published its revised standards, initiating the official public comment period for industry stakeholders to weigh in on the updated program and audit requirements.

Following four years of certifying industry brands, CSQ said its revisions are meant to make the certification process more approachable and streamlined for operators across the supply chain.

The CSQ Certification Program was modified to include a level-based system for more flexibility and to better fit licensed operators’ business and regulatory needs. Audit requirements were updated based on current industry trends, latest research and regulatory changes for cultivation, manufacturing and extraction.  

The CSQ Dietary Supplement Standard was converted into an addendum and expanded to cover the requirements for establishing the botanical identity of dietary supplement materials. The intent of this update is so these additional audit requirements can complement any of CSQ’s standards. 

CSQ’s unaccredited and accredited programs were merged, making all CSQ’s certification offerings accredited. 

“This updated standard is the result of countless hours of dedication, collaboration and expertise,” said Tyler Williams, founder of CSQ. “CSQ 2.0 is more than just an update — it’s a smarter, stronger framework that raises the bar for product safety and quality assurance.”

The major overhaul was put in motion by Technical Director Darwin Millard, who pulls from decades of industry experience and standards development through organizations like ASTM International.  

“It’s crucial for operators and regulators to weigh in on this, because not only does the revised program need to be market relevant, but it also needs to be implementable and enforceable without becoming overburdensome,” said Millard. “Your opinion matters and will help us improve our standards and positively impact the cannabis industries, both marijuana and hemp.”

The CSQ Certification Program is based on ASTM, ISO, cGMP, HACCP and other internationally recognized standards and best practices. These changes are intended to provide a roadmap for organizations to continuously improve their processes and achieve a best-in-class cannabis safety and quality management system, said CSQ.  

Stakeholders, regulators and other industry experts are encouraged to provide feedback from now until May 20 by downloading the CSQ 2.0 Certification Program document and submitting responses through the public comment form at www.csqcertification.com.  

The final standards, including feedback from the public comment period, are set to be released on Oct. 1, allowing industry and currently certified sites three months to prepare for the official launch on Jan. 1, 2026.  

For more information, contact Kim Ring at kring@asifood.com.