Steve Garner is the vice president of Cultivation at Ethos Cannabis, a multi-state operator with a presence in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Ethos Cannabis is working with Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University under a Research Agreement to pursue improved health outcomes for patients using medical marijuana.
Anyone involved in cannabis cultivation knows the path from seed to sale is filled with challenges. Environmental factors, plant health, microbial risks and strict regulatory testing create a complex landscape for growers and processors alike. Contaminated flower — whether from mold or bacteria — is an industry reality that must be managed carefully.
As a cultivator, one principle guides my team above all else: we never remediate our flower. This isn’t just a technical decision; it’s a core part of the promise. While remediation — using heat, radiation, ozone or chemicals to kill contaminants — can be an effective safety measure, it comes with significant trade-offs. These processes strip the flower of its natural terpenes, cannabinoids and complex flavors, fundamentally altering the consumer and patient experience.
Put simply, remediation is like microwaving your cannabis just to pass a test. The flower may be safe, but it’s no longer the same premium product that was grown with care — and consumers and patients deserve more than “safe enough.” They deserve authentic, clean and potent flower reflecting the true beauty of the plant.
We don’t own remediation equipment, nor do we intend to. If a batch doesn’t meet our high-quality testing standards, it never makes it into a flower jar. Instead, it is diverted to other uses where remediation isn’t necessary. This approach means that every flower we sell has been cultivated, harvested and handled with an unwavering commitment to quality and the utmost care — sans shortcuts and quick fixes.
Prevention is the best tool. Our strategy to invest heavily in advanced facility design and strict environmental controls, creates linear workflows that minimize contamination risk. From personal protective equipment protocols to rigorous cleaning and sanitation, every detail of the quality control process matters. We also recommend environmental monitoring and diagnostic partnerships as they provide real-time data that help us catch potential issues before they impact the crop.
This focus on prevention and transparency benefits everyone. For consumers and patients, it means enjoying cannabis that delivers full, authentic flavor, aroma, and effects — exactly as nature intended. For business partners, retailers, developers and medical researchers, it means offering a reliable product with consistent quality, reducing risk and enhancing brand trust.
Remediation may have its place in the industry, especially for outdoor grows or unpredictable conditions, but it shouldn’t be the industry standard or go-to. Growing responsibly, testing thoroughly and delivering only flower that meets uncompromised standards should be a rinse and repeat cycle for all cultivators in the space.
When you choose remediation-free weed — whether it’s Natural Selections, Eleven, Meigs County Grown or otherwise — you’re choosing cannabis that’s free of remediation, free of compromise, and full of integrity.
