About CDES
The Cannabis Data Exchange Standard (CDES) is an open, community-driven specification for exchanging cannabis-related data between systems, applications, and organizations.
Our Mission
CDES aims to create a unified language for cannabis data that enables:
- Interoperability - Systems can exchange data without custom integrations
- Data Quality - Standardized formats reduce errors and inconsistencies
- Industry Growth - Lower barriers to building cannabis technology
- Research Advancement - Consistent data enables better scientific analysis
Why CDES?
The cannabis industry lacks standardized data formats. Every dispensary, lab, and software vendor uses different schemas, field names, and identifiers. This fragmentation causes:
- Integration headaches when connecting systems
- Data quality issues from inconsistent formats
- Duplicated effort across the industry
- Barriers to research and analytics
CDES solves these problems by providing a shared vocabulary and schema that anyone can adopt.
Specification Components
JSON Schemas
Formal schema definitions for strains, COAs, terpene profiles, and cannabinoid profiles.
Reference Data
Canonical lists of terpenes, cannabinoids, and other reference entities with standard IDs.
Python SDK
Validation library and utilities for working with CDES data in Python applications.
Documentation
Comprehensive guides, examples, and best practices for implementation.
Governance
CDES is developed openly on GitHub. We welcome contributions from:
- Cannabis technology companies
- Testing laboratories
- Dispensaries and cultivators
- Researchers and data scientists
- Regulatory bodies
Maintained By
CDES is maintained by Acidni LLC, a software company specializing in cannabis data analytics and AI solutions.
Our goal is to establish CDES as the industry standard, governed by a consortium of stakeholders representing all segments of the cannabis industry.