March 26, 2025
One of the main benefits of buying regulated cannabis is the assurance that products are tested. Most consumers trust that shopping at a licensed dispensary means their weed is clean and fit for consumption. However, reports of banned pesticides in legal pot products sent shockwaves through the California cannabis community, leading many to question if “regulated” really does mean “safer.” In response, some cannabis brands are taking steps to raise the bar and prove to customers that their products are legit.
The Environmental & Consumer Compliance Organization (ECCO) is a California-based nonprofit education and certification program for cannabis products “dedicated to safeguarding consumer health, educating consumers, and elevating industry standards.” Founded in late 2024, the group offers voluntary independent, third-party testing for 138 harmful contaminants, going far above and beyond the 21 pesticides the state of California requires.
Here’s how it works: cannabis companies enroll with ECCO, paying dues for compliance and marketing. Any products they want to be considered for certification are then tested. Moving forward, two random SKUs are selected at the retail level and sent through the rigorous testing panel, a process that’s repeated monthly to ensure compliance.
If they pass, the brands are then eligible to add an ECCO-certified logo to their packaging, demonstrating a commitment to higher testing standards. If there’s a fail at any point, the certification is revoked, and the brand cannot re-apply for 12 months. The price of membership varies depending on revenue and product category, starting around $700 per month.
“A concerning reality…”
This week, ECCO announced its first cohort of member brands and the findings of an audit that saw both member and non-member brands subject to the nonprofit’s testing panel. The results for the non-member brands were alarming, to say the least.
According to a release sent to GreenState, at least one non-member brand tested positive for a pesticide banned by the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). Jennifer Lujan, executive director of ECCO, told GreenState that her organization notified the brand, retailer, and lab of the findings.
“Our initial audit findings revealed a concerning reality about California’s cannabis market: dangerous contaminants like Chlorfenapyr, a category one pesticide associated with severe health risks including fever, rhabdomyolysis, and neurological issues, are still present in products from some well-known legal, non-ECCO certified brands,” Lujan said via email.
When asked about the findings, a DCC spokesperson said via email, “The Department takes product safety seriously and will investigate these allegations.”
All nine of the initial ECCO members passed their certification. The cohort includes Raw Garden, Noble Pacific, Jetty Extracts, Coastal Sun, LEEF, Conception Nurseries, Bloom, Soma Rosa Farms, and Howie Roll.
Nate Ferguson, co-founder and chief product officer at Jetty, told GreenState that being part of the first ECCO cohort is a natural next step for the brand.
“Since its founding in 2013, Jetty has been committed to providing cannabis consumers with the safest, cleanest, and most flavorful products,” Ferguson said. “In 2023, we were the first to become OCal certified, a comparable-to-organic program for cannabis grown and manufactured in California. In helping to create the ECCO Certification, we are continuing to set the standard for clean and effective cannabis products.
Elliot Lewis, founder and CEO of cannabis retail chain Catalyst, also serves as a co-founder of ECCO. He told GreenState the company is “elated” to offer consumers products they can trust—and had harsh words for brands using harmful pesticides in the supply chain.
“Standardization and random testing is the necessary element of what I believe is the most critical issue in cannabis: clean product,” Lewis said. “In my opinion, if you don’t meet the ECCO standard, you ain’t medicine. And if you’re selling poison, you ain’t selling medicine.”
Raising the bar
Concerns over contaminated cannabis are not unique to California; product recalls from Maine to Washington happen regularly. The issue has become so severe in the Golden State that the DCC allegedly brought in another state agency to help combat the problem.
Organizations like ECCO give brands the chance to show consumers they care about quality and are willing to do what it takes to earn their trust. While it may be an added expense, many operators feel the investment will pay dividends at the dispensary—and that it’s simply the right thing to do.
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