Southern California based dispensary group, Catalyst, has been at the forefront of adult use cannabis for more than five years, building a statewide footprint that now spans over 30 unique dispensary locations. In 2025, Catalyst took a more deliberate step toward defining clean medicine within its own ecosystem by raising the standards for its in house Catalyst branded products to include ECCO certification and CAT4 level testing.
That move signaled a deeper alignment between Catalyst and ECCO, the Environmental and Consumer Compliance Organization, a nonprofit third party certification body focused specifically on clean cannabis standards.
Rather than relying solely on baseline state compliance, this organization independently tests products for more than 144 contaminants, including pesticides, bacteria, heavy metals, solvents, mycotoxins, synthetic cannabinoids, unapproved flavorants, and additives such as Vitamin E acetate and MCT oil.
California state testing currently covers 66 analytes. ECCO expands that to what it refers to as the ECCO 144 standard, significantly widening the safety net around what consumers inhale or ingest.
By integrating both ECCO certification and CAT4 internal testing thresholds into its own house brand, Catalyst raised the bar inside its supply chain while also setting expectations for partner brands seeking premium placement across its retail and lounge environments.
What Is ECCO And Why Is CAT4 Important For Consumers?
ECCO, short for Environmental and Consumer Compliance Organization, is a nonprofit certification body offering independent third party testing and quarterly blind audits of member brands. Certification is not tied to a single SKU or promotional campaign. It evaluates how a company operates across its entire production and compliance system.
Certified brands undergo:
• Independent testing for 144 plus analytes
• Quarterly blind off the shelf audits
• Public posting of independent testing results
• Operational transparency and documented standard operating procedures
The program is built around three pillars, Trust and Safety, Quality and Integrity, and Transparency.
Trust and Safety focuses on personal health and stricter contaminant thresholds than standard state compliance. Quality and Integrity ensures brands are consistently meeting those standards rather than passing a single batch. Transparency requires ongoing audits and publication of test results to maintain consumer confidence.
CAT4 refers to a stricter internal testing threshold used by ECCO and adopted by Catalyst. It applies tighter microbial and contaminant limits than baseline state compliance, effectively narrowing acceptable variance and reducing the risk of borderline passing products reaching shelves.
For consumers, the difference is not branding, it is margin of safety.
Retail Integration And Staff Education
The organization’s retailer program is not passive. It includes structured onboarding and education to ensure that certification is communicated clearly at the store level.
Retail partners receive:
• Live or virtual budtender training sessions focused on CAT4 standards
• Q and A sessions to help staff confidently explain ECCO to customers
• Breakroom posters summarizing organization standards
• Window decals and storefront signage
• Display case stickers identifying certified products
• Customer facing posters explaining the ECCO 144 testing framework
The goal is simple, give budtenders the tools to explain what clean cannabis actually means beyond marketing language.
Inside Catalyst stores, this creates a layered approach. Certified products are visibly identified. Staff are trained to speak on testing standards. Customers encounter messaging at multiple touchpoints, from the sidewalk to the display case.
Brands Stepping Up To Meet The Standard Inside The Catalyst Ecosystem
On January 31st, the first ever ECCO THC Marketplace was held at the Catalyst Hawthorne Lounge. The 21 plus event ran from 3pm to 7pm and featured only certified brands currently available on Catalyst shelves.
The event reflected the operational alignment between the organization and Catalyst in a live retail and consumption setting. Rather than being framed as a promotional pop up, the focus centered on testing rigor, operational discipline, and accountability.
Brands participating included:
Raw Garden
Jetty Extracts
Bloom
Coastal Sun
Claybourne Co
Murphy’s Ridge
PAX
West Coast Cure
Catalyst CAT4 joints
MJuice vapes
Many of these brands are listed within ECCO’s certified member roster as of October 2025. For West Coast Cure, participation coincided with the brand’s return to Catalyst dispensary shelves. That return required operational alignment behind the scenes, reinforcing that shelf access within this ecosystem increasingly reflects compliance depth, not just demand.
ECCO’s 2026 testing standard makes clear the distinction between DCC 66 state analytes and ECCO’s expanded contaminant framework. The inclusion of additional pesticides, synthetic cannabinoids, and additive restrictions creates a more aggressive screening model for inhalable products.
Catalyst’s decision to embed that framework into its house brand and retail programming signals a shift from reactive compliance to proactive quality control.
For consumers walking into a Catalyst location, that alignment translates into clearer labeling, trained staff, visible signage, and products that meet expanded testing standards beyond minimum state requirements.
Visit the official dispensary for more information and to explore ECCO certified offerings currently available across Catalyst locations.
