7 Tips for Eco-Friendly Cannabis: How To Cultivate and Sell Sustainably

There's a clean weed revolution bursting through the soil.

The legal weed industry is trailblazing, yet many of its nascent laws ignored the industry's impact on the environment. Weed users are conscious of Earth and don't want to add to excessive plastic waste. How much plastic waste? Data is hard to come by: one statistic that is often reported is that in 2020, the U.S. Cannabis Industry used almost one billion pieces of single-use plastic.

Modern cannabis consumers want to know that their weed is safe. Especially since product recalls have plagued the cannabis industry in 2024. If you want clean weed, the inputs must be clean as well.

There are amazing innovations in the industry that will help both consumers and brands to become more sustainable while appeasing regulations. Here are seven tips on how to consume and grow eco-conscious weed.

Gardening is a godsend. Selling seeds empowers the consumer to grow their own cannabis. Evidence shows that getting one's hands dirty in the garden offers tangible health benefits . There are fewer carbon emissions because it involves zero transportation of cultivated plant to the consumer. Plus, one can control one's own growing conditions by using only clean, organic, living inputs.

Autoflower technology has made home growing more accessible than ever. Opposed to its equally valid yet higher maintenance feminized seed counterparts, autoflower seeds grow fast, flowering in about 4 to 5 weeks after germination. The experience gifts consumers a newfound appreciation and joy for this amazing plant, and the ability to grow in any light condition. Since 2010, the genetic library at Fast Buds has helped to make autoflower cultivars among the most popular type of seed in the world.

2. Seek 'Organic-Adjacent' Cannabis Label There is technically no such thing as "organic" cannabis—yet. That's because while growers may use organic methods, they can't legally use the term "organic," which is certified by national regulatory bodies. The absolute best products to buy as a consumer come as close to "organic" and even " veganic " as possible. Look for the regulatory OCal and EnviroCann stickers in California, which point to clean and green offerings. EnviroGreen and EnvirOganic are two additional organic certifications created by Envirocann that you can find nationwide. Editor's picks

One long-standing regenerative farm based in Canada called Dragonfly Earth Medicine has its own standards for clean growing, called DEM Certification. This is for soil-only cultivators who never use chemicals, among other requirements. You can find DEM-certified regenerative farms across the globe. Third-party certifications like these offer a guiding light for consumers who are looking for clean weed.

Living soil produces less waste than other substrates because you're using the same soil cycle after cycle. Living soil methods also happen to produce some of the most stunning buds I've ever seen. The microbiome of living soil offers beneficial compounds working together to increase the plant's potency and yield. Every grower has their own recipe for living soil, benefiting from worm castings and other rich organic materials. Living soil nutrients can be natural, like a compost tea. These living, breathing soils are so supportive to the cannabis plant. Worms, moss and grass are welcome.

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In lieu of glass, my preferred weed-storing medium, there are clever hemp bioplastic companies on the market today offering a solution to weed's single-use plastic problem . If a brand takes the route to use hemp plastic, I love them for it. It's not the cheapest packaging option for businesses but it is better for the weed and Mother Earth. I'm manifesting a world where hemp plastic replaces plastic for all commercial industries like housing and even plastic bottles. Related

Data shows that shoppers do care about the environmental impact of their weed. A Brightfield study looking at 4,786 U.S. cannabis consumers displays an increase in eco-friendly product sales with 57.1% of respondents favoring them in 2023. It's up a few percentage points over the previous year. The data also found that 69% of cannabis consumers "sometimes" or "often" buy products with sustainable packaging.

Recycling water and purifying it for your cultivation is a great way to be more eco-conscious in your growing. One of the most beautiful cannabis grown on Earth uses purified, lava rock-filtered rainwater, called Big Island Grown, in Hawai'i. It's a smart way to reduce your water bills and give the plants what they desire: nutrient-rich water. Rainwater run-off that is purified, well water, makes cannabis plants very happy. Plus, they help to save our planet's precious water resources.

Tapping into the sun is a smart way to conserve energy when growing cannabis. Grow it in your garden, if laws permit. Growers aren't as limited by time constraints as they were in the past. If you opt for auto-flowering genetics, which requires less time to grow, you can see four outdoor harvests per year.

There are licensed sun-grown farms in many states including California, Michigan, Oregon and New York. Consumers will request and prioritize buying from sun-grown brands in the climate-change future. A recent study found that indoor-grown weed emits 50 times more carbon than outdoor-grown weed.

Every time you throw a joint away, you could be growing flowers. That's the idea behind Bloomer's plantable filter tips, a vegan, organic wax tip with flower seeds embedded in them. The flower species are bee-friendly and non-invasive to North America, the Florida-based company says. Stoners aren't littering a joint roach but flower-bombing the world. It's one innovative smoking accessory on the market that seeks to help the climate. As a bonus, it soothes the flower child within.

There are innovative ways to be an eco-conscious business owner in cannabis. With all eyes on weed, entrepreneurs in the space need to set a sustainable precedent.