Over the past decade, cannabis has crept out of the shadows, fostering an entirely new consumer category. It has taken root in pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetic, food and beverage sectors. The cannabis industry is accelerating in a rapid space. The need for accurate quality testing of cannabis is key to the legitimacy of the industry and consumer safety. Green Leaf Lab is the first cannabis analytical laboratory in the nation to become licensed and accredited by a state agency. The woman-owned laboratory, founded by Rowshan Reordan in 2011, is focused on legitimizing the cannabis industry with state of the art testing. Rowshan Reordan, CEO of Green Leaf Lab met with the CEOViews team to share details about how Green Leaf Lab is ensuring quality testing of cannabis and hemp CBD.
Tale of Inception
After having a very personal experience with a friend living with HIV, Rowshan recognized the lack of safety surrounding cannabis and hemp CBD consumption. She decided to open Green Leaf Labs to establish a standard in testing and help change the world for the better.
Being the first woman-owned independent cannabis analytical testing laboratory furthers gender equality in the professional sphere. The need for social equity is one of many roots to the foundation of Green Leaf Labs. When cannabis and hemp CBD businesses send their sampleto Green Leaf Labs, they are directly supporting progress for an equal and united world. Included in the conversation regarding social equity, Rowshan Reordan strives to transform the narrative surrounding cannabis and hemp CBD products and their positive impact on humankind.
The Journey to Success
The nation’s first accredited independent analytical cannabis and hemp CBD laboratory, Green Leaf Labs, has set the standard for quality testing for over twelve years. To achieve the ISO 17025 certifications requires their staff and scientists to thoroughly understand all rules and regulations that affect the testing process.
The lab’s passion for consumer safety is coupled with their diligent efforts to leave a profound, socially equitable footprint inside and outside of the industry. The highly trained team at Green Leaf Labs strives to educate the greater public by providing informative material to dispel any misinformation surrounding cannabis and hemp CBD and to bring to light the importance of transparency and third-party testing.
Wide Range of Services
Green Leaf Labs is on a mission to test all cannabis and hemp CBD products efficiently and accurately. They have grown to offer research and development testing, compliance testing, product development, Hops Latent Viroid testing, extensive terpene profiles and much more. Serving Oregon, California, and the national hemp market, Green Leaf Lab continues to lead the nation in quality cannabis testing.
Through hard work and an enduring dedication to consumer safety, they eventually pioneered the Green Leaf Lab Certification Program, in which a product receives the official seal that represents it passing a test performed by an ISO 17025-accredited third-party analytical testing laboratory. This seal serves as an unmistakable stamp of transparency to all consumers of products tested by Green Leaf Labs.
Green Leaf Lab is the first woman owned cannabis and hemp CBD laboratory in the nation.
Approach
Speaking about the lab’s approach towards imparting scientific information, CEO Rowshan Reordan said, “We want people to make informed choices about the quality, viability, and effectiveness of cannabis and hemp that they produce, process, or consume. We are continuously pushing the industry forward by providing consultative advice on product development and production practices. Our expertise ensures the successful development of new products and a competitive advantage for the clients.”
Leveraging Technology
Green Leaf Labs uses the same state of the art instrumentation found in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and environmental science testing facilities. This technology includes gas and liquid chromatography, triple quadrupole mass spectroscopy for pesticide residues, high-pressure liquid chromatography for cannabinoid content, inductively coupled mass spectroscopy for heavy metals analysis, and polymerase chain reaction instruments for microbiological contaminants.
Being one of the oldest cannabis testing companies in the country means that Green Leaf Labs has been perfecting its methods to handle all types of samples. They are continuously improving and adapting their technology to keep pace with the rapid developments occurring in cannabis and hemp CBD testing. Their innovative mindset also applies to employee and client safety.
Pandemic Preparedness
During the Coronavirus pandemic, Green Leaf Lab acted swiftly, prioritizing the health and well-being of their team and clients. “It was a privilege to be able to serve the community by making hand sanitizers at the lab during the pandemic. I’m thankful we were in a position to be able to provide a small relief to local health care facilities, our employees, our clients, and everyone’s families.” says CEO Rowshan Reordan. Green Leaf Lab provided air purifiers, masks, gloves, respirators, social distancing guidelines, and expanded on safety processes to adhere to local, state, and federal guidelines before they were required.
Corporate Culture
“We care about our clients, our community, and our team,” says CEO Rowshan Reordan. Successfully operating a multistate state-of-the-art independent analytical testing cannabis laboratory requires in-depth training and quality leadership. Green Leaf Labs is no stranger to fostering employee growth and a teamwork mindset in their facilities. Their diverse, passionate, and dedicated staff are committed to quality and excellence in everything they do. Reordan adds, “Together, our team furthers the mission of establishing Green Leaf Labs as the standard across the United States and beyond for quality cannabis and hemp CBD testing.”
Differentiators
Bold leaders, especially women and minorities, often go unsung. Green Leaf Lab’s CEO and founder Rowshan Reordan is working to change that. She is constantly focused on empowering her team and giving them opportunities to push their professional boundaries forward. Rowshan has mentored many women from entry level positions to management and executive level roles. She strives to foster the most inclusive environment possible at Green Leaf Lab so that each employee has the opportunity to advance in their career, discover their purpose, and receive multiple opportunities to nurture their purpose.
Rowshan is known as the “First Lady of cannabis testing” for a reason. Green Leaf Lab became the starting point for the legitimization and safety of the cannabis industry through quality control testing. When Colorado and Washington legalized, they did not include robust consumer quality control testing. Rowshan, the pioneer behind consumer safety in the cannabis industry, propelled consumer safety into the forefront by being a proponent of quality control testing in Oregon. Accurate and quality testing was the key to ensure consumer safety and legitimize the industry. The rules that Oregon uses for quality control testing have been replicated and expanded upon throughout the nation including states like California.
Green Leaf Lab is the first woman owned cannabis and hemp CBD laboratory in the nation and has received national certification as a woman owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). WBENC’s national standard of certification is a meticulous and complex process. This certification reaffirms Green Leaf Lab’s commitment to social equity and a socially responsible future.
Rowshan has been committed to making a future where the cannabis market is as diverse as the people it serves. Green Leaf Lab is a long time contributor to Girls Inc, STEM, and other non-profits that are committed to diversity, equity, and empowerment.
Differentiation Factor
Utilities One differentiates itself through its unwavering commitment to making a tangible difference, adaptability to evolving industry needs, comprehensive service portfolio, proven track record of delivering projects with excellence and timeliness, and maintaining a customer-centric approach.
They specialize in serving telecommunications, electric and gas utilities, wireless carriers, and renewable energy solutions.
Words of Wisdom
There are many hurtles to jump while navigating success in the cannabis and hemp CBD industry. Green Leaf Lab’s founder and CEO Rowshan shares her top 3 tips that are designed to help women in the cannabis and hemp CBD industry succeed and expand their positioning in the executive space. Be Heard: As a woman, your comments and viewpoints may get pushed aside. Be prepared and concise with your point.
Build your network: Your network is your support system. They help find solutions to issues you are faced with. Do not limit your network to your gender.
Practice self-care: Self-care means something different to everyone. Find out what self-care means to you. Make the time and prioritize yourself. Be committed to your self-care with the same passion you give to your job. Regardless of what happened that day or the day before, stay committed to your self-care.
Closer:
Green Leaf Labs is the first woman-owned independent analytical testing laboratory in the nation, and the first cannabis laboratory to be licensed and accredited by a state agency; a groundbreaking achievement for the advancement in CBD product safety and cannabis compliance testing. Green Leaf Lab is the leader in quality cannabis analytics.
