FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2026
Colorado Springs, Colo. – The S3 Collective, a national nonprofit organization advancing the cannabis industry through collaboration, education and standardization, announced today its inclusion in the Global Cannabis Regulatory Summit 2026 White Paper, which identifies S3 Collective as one of three organizations offering opportunities to support the development of standards, accountability and regulatory coordination across cannabis markets.
The publication draws on discussions at the 2nd annual summit, held this past April in London where participants representing nearly 30 countries and 20 regulatory jurisdictions were in attendance. The summit examined how scientific evidence, shared standards and responsible business practices can support product quality, patient care and more consistent regulatory systems.
David Vaillencourt, S3 Collective’s Board Chair and Co-Founder, led the summit’s standards workshop. He also co-authored the publication’s opening paper, “Building Trust Across Global Cannabis Markets: Standards, Responsibility, and Regulatory Alignment,” with Hilary Black of Artemis Growth Partners.
“The movement from fragmented to aligned runs through one mechanism: participation,” Vaillencourt writes in his workshop report, “Tension by Design: Building the Foundation for a Global Cannabis Standards Framework.”
For businesses operating across markets, differences in testing, labeling and product requirements complicate planning and operations. For regulators and healthcare professionals, inconsistent definitions and quality expectations make products and evidence harder to assess. The white paper describes how coordinated standards work can help establish a common technical basis for addressing these challenges.
S3 Collective’s contribution centers on the research and expertise needed to develop and apply those standards. The publication describes its work commissioning research, convening independent experts, supporting technical drafting and developing educational resources that help businesses, regulators and healthcare professionals understand and use standards. Standards are reviewed and approved through ASTM International’s consensus process.
A dedicated S3 Collective funding proposal outlines opportunities to support defined projects, broader research and standards initiatives, and the organization’s ongoing scientific capacity. Proposed outputs include testing protocols, white papers, educational materials and resources that help translate scientific findings into standards and regulatory use.
The proposal also reinforces the importance of S3 Collective’s safeguards for scientific independence: funders may not direct research design, methodology or findings; alter conclusions; or delay publication.
The Global Cannabis Regulatory Summit 2026 White Paper is available through the summit’s website. Organizations and individuals interested in supporting S3 Collective’s independent research, standards and educational work should contact [email protected].
About S3 Collective
The S3 Collective is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing the cannabis, hemp and botanical industries through collaboration, education and standardization. By assisting in the development of robust standards, fostering open communication channels and providing scientifically validated resources, S3 Collective empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions that promote public health and safety. S3 Collective is the first cannabis-related nonprofit to participate in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Network of Experts program.
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S3 Collective
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