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Educator ◌ Justice Advocate ◌ Storyteller ◌
Cannabis Sustainability and Justice
A fast-growing industry, the cannabis sector faces unique challenges in sustainability and racial justice challenges due to its complicated history and modern industry dynamics.
The cannabis industry is transforming rapidly. But what does this mean for the environment? From air, water, and nutrients, to packaging, waste, and pesticides, the cannabis sector is fraught with sustainability challenges. In this episode Kaitlin Urso (Cannabis Environmental Consultant at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) and Azi Akpan (Science and Policy Analyst at ELI Innovation Lab) digs into some big sustainability questions, exploring the priorities, challenges, and obstacles to driving sustainability in cannabis.
Unlike other crops grown in the United States, the federal government does not support research, education, and guidelines on growing practices specifically for cannabis crops (including pesticide use) due to its Schedule I illegal status, leaving states to pick up the pieces and establish their own guidance. To help address this gap, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), with support from the International Cannabis Bar Association, James V. Aidala (Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.), Bill Jordan (independent environmental consultant), and Bergeson & Campbell, produced a suite of pamphlets targeted to cannabis growers, entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders at the National Cannabis Policy Summit and National Cannabis Festival to help bridge this information gap and share environmentally-conscious best practices.
Please Note: Pesticide regulation is a complex area. This pamphlet provides an overview of the area and should not replace specific legal advice.
Cannabis and Pesticides
A History of EPA’s Regulation of Pesticide Use on Cannabis
Credit: Environmental Law Institute (April 2019).