Should states require cannabis producers to adhere to certain standards for sustainability or energy consumption?
We believe that it is imperative for regulators to work closely with growers, retailers, and manufacturers to really understand the impacts of their policy decisions. This industry is born from a plant and we all need to be conscious of our carbon footprint as we build our businesses around this plant. Packaging is just one huge issue given its waste due to the childproofing requirements that I think we are evolving to show that we don’t need all this plastic waste in a major CPG industry.
No, as with most good ideas, the devil is in the details. The plant has suffered enough by the manipulation of the government and people pushing social agendas that they believe are connected to it. Pushing toward a free market, ‘free-the-weed economy,’ where the consumers and patients can shape the market with their individual choices, should be the goal of all cannabis plant-loving individuals.
If we’ve learned anything about the adverse impacts that our agricultural practices and food production methods have had on the environment and our climate over the past century, then the answer is yes. If we’re going to stand up this industry with any longevity, we need to do it responsibly.
I don’t think these are areas you can ignore; however, the cannabis industry is still in its infancy. If the standards make it impossible for brands to survive in the marketplace (cost, limited supply or approved partners, etc.), the industry as a whole is suffocated and unable to grow. We need to be realistic about what can be implemented during the early stages of the industry; then, from there, a plan can be built for future advances and reassessed as needed to make sure that the standards align with the state of the industry.
Cannabis has a huge waste problem that should be dealt with now so it is not more burdensome down the line. With the proper guidance and funding, this can be an excellent opportunity to explore the many ways the industry can be more innovative in its use of cannabis byproducts, packaging, engineering, and the like.