What’s all this GACP talk?

[SamuiGrower]

I thought I would help to clarify what GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) means and what it does not mean, having worked (my company) under its guidance several times.

 

I will address several posters concerns as to PGRs (Plant Growth Regulators) and pesticides.

 

GACP is a set of guidelines and standards for medicinal plants (cannabis) to ensure quality and safety. The guidelines were initially developed in the infancy of medical cannabis legalization by the WHO (World Health Organization) in 2003, although guidelines for botanical derived medicines have been around for quite some time before that. The USA and the EU each have a different set of standards. I suspect Thailand will adopt the EU guidance.

 

The guidelines differ from country to country, state by state (USA). Depending on how products will be used, I.e flower, edible, extract or pharmaceutical. Different production standards can apply and in different jurisdictions. Confusing? Yes. Let me explain. GW Pharmaceuticals produces Epidiolex and Sativex, both cannabis (botanical) derived drugs. Their adherence to GACP and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) differs greatly than producing flower in a medical cannabis dispensary. Consistency and repeatability is paramount with pharmaceuticals. Flower, not so much unless a single strain (chemotype) is grown for specific cannabinoids. It is understood that no two cultivators will get the same reported results form multiple strains grown by varying models, conditions and inputs.

 

For the most part, it is self-regulating and self-reporting, as to logs, SOPs and procedural guidelines relating to: cultivation and post-harvest, up to downstream processing (extracts) where GMP guidelines take over. The guidelines were set up for export and sale to pharmaceutical companies. The emphasis is on export, hence the quality control. Inspections and verification of consistency only relate to the downstream products. In the US, there are third party companies authorized to consult and certify GACP (GMP) facilities.

 

Yes, GACP is a certification, but it does NOT assure against the use of pesticides or PGRs. When GACP is applied to medical flower production, there is no stipulation to the cultivation model: indoor (CEA), greenhouse or outdoor. There is no stipulation as to nutrient regiment: organic or non-organic or additional inputs like kelp, humic/fulvic, silicon, etc. The guidance for pesticides is suggestive: “….minimal use”, “…..should be avoided”, with biological pesticides preferred over chemical. PGRs are a contentious subject for sure. We experimented with them many years ago and stopped when they were banned on food crops in the USA. Chitosan and kelp are two PGRs (albeit natural) that are used in cultivation and are not banned. Ethylene, auxins, and cytokinins are also PGR’s that are not banned, as long as they are plant derived. PGRs that are being used in cannabis cultivation by bad actors come from the ornamental horticulture space. Many are known carcinogens. GACP “emphasizes” a strong preference for minimizing chemical interventions to ensure consumer safety and product quality.

 

GACP as it relates to flower, is all about the assurance of contaminant free product.

 

Testing and verification is paramount to GACP, which leads me to Thailand. We have  all lived through a grossly unregulated market. A clumsily rolled out legalization, no tax structure/remittance to municipality or state, no microbial or heavy metal testing, no THC % testing and blatant lies as to the term, ‘organically grown’.  GACP is ALL about the consumer. I have “harped” about the lack of testing on this forum for quite some time. As “concerned” as some of you might be, the overwhelming topics are about THC%, names of strains (another HUGE lie) and where to buy the perceived best at the lowest price. Some of you are human THC% meters, able to look at a photo on this forum, and tell what the THC amount is. Quite the skill! You should all be concerned about contamination, pre and post-harvest. The most obvious problem I see throughout Thailand is post-harvest handling and degradation of quality in the shops.

 

So, I ask you, how well will a ‘certified’ GACP medical cannabis program fare, here in Thailand? Will there be inspections? Audits? Testing? Stringent record keeping? Training? Will growers make workers wear hair nets? LOL. How will present growers come up to speed? The process is NOT self directed. It requires external evaluation and, from what I have experienced, infrastructure purchases, as well as a top down commitment to training and onerous record keeping. I foresee one hairy, hot mess replaced with another, and as well executed and deficient as the present status quo.

 

It would make for good conversation to hear what smokers and growers (so few on this forum, if any?) feel about GACP and testing. In fact, in well developed legal markets, like the USA and Canada, it is the consumer that dictates quality standards as to what excellence is. THAT drives the market! A bunch of whining expats will never move the needle. GACP is not the needed criteria for assuring safety and purity to the consumer, mandatory batch testing for contaminants (pesticides, microbial and heavy metals) and seed-to-sale compliance is.

 

Please chime in.

[SamuiGrower]

As per the latest circulated information….
 

Thai Cannabis Future Writing Network has proposed some urgent amendments to current ministerial announcement as follows:

 

1. Protect target groups including children, youth & pregnant women to pave the way for people outside these groups to obtain cannabis without prescription.  No smoking in public places. 

 

2. GACP to be required for export products only.  All products to be tested prior to distribution. 

 

3. Request to delay enforcement of the Ministry's announcement.

——————————————————————————————————————————-

2. Cancellation of GACP certification for farmers

The network proposes to remove the requirement for farmers to have GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) certification in order to sell cannabis flowers, as it is not directly related to consumer safety. Instead, it proposes an alternative that focuses on testing for contaminants in the end product before it enters the distribution system. If a high standard such as GACP is to be used, it should only be used for production for export.

 

 

edit: A confusing word salad, as GACP IS directly related to consumer safety. “Testing for contaminants” would be major progress but does not limit a growers practices, pre-harvest, to pesticides or PGR’s. Negating GACP domestically in lieu of testing is a complete contradiction.

 

The statement, GACP is limited to export products, poses the question, where will Thai cannabis flower be exported to? What is the value added benefit to the importer for buying Thai cannabis flower? Does anyone see this happening? 
 

All very preliminary and may not be borne out before the ink dries. It sounds dubious at best.

 

 

[Steve Mee]

11 hours ago, SamuiGrower said:

As per the latest circulated information….
 

Thai Cannabis Future Writing Network has proposed some urgent amendments to current ministerial announcement as follows:

 

1. Protect target groups including children, youth & pregnant women to pave the way for people outside these groups to obtain cannabis without prescription.  No smoking in public places. 

 

2. GACP to be required for export products only.  All products to be tested prior to distribution. 

 

3. Request to delay enforcement of the Ministry's announcement.

——————————————————————————————————————————-

2. Cancellation of GACP certification for farmers

The network proposes to remove the requirement for farmers to have GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) certification in order to sell cannabis flowers, as it is not directly related to consumer safety. Instead, it proposes an alternative that focuses on testing for contaminants in the end product before it enters the distribution system. If a high standard such as GACP is to be used, it should only be used for production for export.

 

 

edit: A confusing word salad, as GACP IS directly related to consumer safety. “Testing for contaminants” would be major progress but does not limit a growers practices, pre-harvest, to pesticides or PGR’s. Negating GACP domestically in lieu of testing is a complete contradiction.

 

The statement, GACP is limited to export products, poses the question, where will Thai cannabis flower be exported to? What is the value added benefit to the importer for buying Thai cannabis flower? Does anyone see this happening? 
 

All very preliminary and may not be borne out before the ink dries. It sounds dubious at best.

 

 

 

The large cannabis growing companies overseas employ Quality Control staff & have stringent QC systems in place.  Raw materials & finished products are all tested & documented as part of the QC systems. 

 

Pure Sunfarms in Canada is one of the largest growers in the world with capacity to produce 112,500kg per year of dried flower.  They have a digital platform for all their QC as the paper trail was becoming too big.  

https://insights.elevatedsignals.com/case-study-partnering-with-pure-sunfarms-to-support/

 

Here are some examples of Pure Sunfarms staff recruitment for QC.

https://puresunfarms.com/careers/quality-control-technician/

https://puresunfarms.com/app/uploads/2019/09/QualityControl_Microbiologist_JD.pdf

 

Cannabis export market is huge & growing rapidly every year.  Markets include UK, Germany, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, US etc.  Thai growers should focus on the huge export market, however, they require stringent QC systems.  

 

Lowest price medical cannabis in US is in Oregon at USD $210 per ounce = $7.50/gram = 240 THB & USD $350 per ounce in Illinois = $12.50/gram = 401 THB.   In Australia, lowest price is AUD $7.50/gram = 159 THB & highest is about AUD $15/gram = 318 THB. 

 

Canada is selling cannabis flowers to Israel ranging from USD $1-3 per gram range = 32-96 THB per gram.  

 

The UK imports & exports significant quantities of cannabis due to GW Pharmaceuticals producing Sativex.     

 

The global medical cannabis market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing legalization, rising awareness of its therapeutic benefits, and the aging population seeking natural remedies. The market is projected to expand from USD 22.27 billion in 2024 to over USD 100 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 21.7%. 

 

Key Trends and Drivers:

• Increasing Legalization:

  Many countries and regions are legalizing medical cannabis, expanding access and driving market growth. 

   
• Rising Awareness:

  Growing awareness of cannabis's therapeutic applications, including pain management, anxiety relief, and treatment of specific conditions like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, is fuelling demand. 

   
• Aging Population:

  The aging population is increasingly seeking natural alternatives for pain and symptom management, boosting the medical cannabis market. 

   
• Government Support:

  Regulations in some regions, like Thailand, are being established to ensure the quality and safety of medical cannabis products. 

   
• Product Innovation:

  Research and development efforts are leading to new cannabis-based products and therapeutic applications, further driving market expansion. 

   

Market Size and Growth:

• The global medical cannabis market was valued at USD 18.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 107.17 billion by 2032. 
   
• The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 21.7% between 2025 and 2032. 
   
• The Asia-Pacific region, particularly countries like Thailand, is seeing substantial growth in the medical cannabis market due to legalization and supportive government policies. 
   

Thailand's Market:

• Thailand is experiencing growth in its medical cannabis market due to regulatory support and the liberalization of cannabis for medicinal purposes. 
   
• The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating medical cannabis products, ensuring their safety and quality. 
   
• The market is expected to reach USD 7.10 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 33.0% from 2025 to 2030, according to Grand View Research. 

[zzzzz]

Quote

Lowest price medical cannabis in US is in Oregon at USD $210 per ounce = $7.50/gram = 240 THB & USD $350 per ounce in Illinois = $12.50/gram = 401 THB.   In Australia, lowest price is AUD $7.50/gram = 159 THB & highest is about AUD $15/gram = 318 THB. 

WAY OFF:
My daughter in northern Ca pays $50-60/oz  ( photo was $60)_ for very good buds. No idea where u got the above prices but thats dam expensive!!!
Md, where my sister is, is $75/oz