Cannabis growers in US want Champagne-like labels

A puff of Tahoe OG could soon be as distinctive as a sip of Champagne or Roquefort cheese.

As any wine lover knows, Champagne is only Champagne when it comes from the French region. For stoners, Cali Kush tastes so sweet because of where it is grown.

Cannabis growers in the US are calling for labels to display where the plant was grown, similar to those used to show where wine and cheese are produced.

A number of growers believe cannabis plants vary according to the environments in which they are grown. If a strain of Orange Bud is grown in different regions, it will have a different taste.

As part of new California regulations introduced this year, cannabis appellation could mean certain strains are grown only in certain regions.

Appellation refers to a legally defined and protected geographical location used to show where something has been grown, such as certain wine varieties, cheeses and other foods. One example is Florida orange juice.

This would afford small growers protection from large cannabis farms. If an area is known for quality plants, it will hold exclusive rights to the name.

“This is how small business competes with big marijuana”, Dale Sky Jones told the Guardian.  “And this is why this is so unbelievably important … Appellation is going to wind up being the first line of defense.”

California has already experienced an influx of businesses and investors aiming to cash in on relaxed cannabis laws. Growers are concerned about the consequences of a corporate cannabis industry.