With federal legalization of hemp with the 2018 Farm Bill and the expanding legalization of cannabis throughout the country, we’re also met with an increasing number of new brands and companies. It can be overwhelming to figure out which brand meets the quality standards that you can feel good about.
These standards are relevant on many levels ranging from what is good and safe for our bodies, to what is good for the environment, to what is good for the industry and community. One particularly interesting debate is whether sun-grown or indoor-grown cannabis is “better.” And we’re here to share our take on why we prefer sun-grown as a part of our Highest Standards vetting process.
First, a bit of history
Cannabis is a plant and has been growing outdoors for thousands of years. Exceptional flower was cultivated successfully under the sun all over the world. When cannabis was classified as a Schedule 1 substance, growers needed to adapt and move their grows indoors or into hidden areas, such as under trees in the shade, to avoid being discovered. With the support of technology, indoor cultivation is now prevalent, and while the indoor process mimics the sun and nature’s ways, it doesn’t come without a cost.
Nothing can replace the sun
The sun as a source of power is unmatchable and we believe in the healing benefits of sun and soil-grown regenerative cannabis for both human bodies and the earth. The sun’s full spectrum of rays help yield a more complex plant as well as support healthier and more abundant plants. And while sun-grown cannabis might have a longer growth cycle, we know that all good things take time, and that extra time to mature leads to an important role in the development of trichomes, cannabinoids, terpenes, and overall potency.
It’s similar to how we like sun-grown and ripened fruits and vegetables whenever we can. It’s hard to beat nature’s work!
Consider our planet
Industrial agriculture, complete with massive indoor grows that exhaust water and energy resources, and require large inputs of nutrients and pesticides. These sorts of practices are not environmentally-friendly and turn a blind eye to the climate change crisis that is already affecting our planet. According to a study by New Frontier Data, it takes 18 times more electricity to produce a single gram of cannabis inside a warehouse compared to outside on a farm. Further, the study found that the amount of electricity consumed by cannabis warehouses is enough to power 92,500 homes for an entire year.
Plants naturally release carbon, which helps fight climate change. When carbon is trapped underground, it reduces the amount of carbon in the air. Regenerative agriculture practices like using cover crops, compost and mulching “help keep carbon in the soil and out of the atmosphere.
As cannabis legalization continues, there is an opportunity to embrace ecologically responsible ways of doing it and we should promote natural farming and create low impact production systems that can revitalize landscapes and communities.
So how do you support sun-grown and ethical businesses when shopping for your cannabis?
First and foremost, be sure you’re consuming hemp and cannabis that has been grown organically, sustainably, and has been tested to rigorous standards. Hemp products should always come with COAs and every legal cannabis state has implemented testing requirements to ensure that flower and products are tested extensively for microbiological contaminants, solvents, and pesticides before they ever approach dispensary shelves. This wave of demanding transparency has improved the industry’s secretive, often suspect cultivation practices.
Educate yourself on the brand you’re buying flower from and their cultivation and processing practices! There are also more certifications in place now to help guide you.
For hemp, among the newer certifications to hit the market is from the U.S. Hemp Authority. The group established quality standards for hemp farmers, processors, and manufacturers, to ensure quality metrics are built into the product. The kosher certification, originally met for Jewish people to vouchsafe ingredient quality and production processes, has a broad consumer appeal that transcends religious beliefs. That’s because kosher food laws cover cleanliness, purity, and quality. The organic seal has been the top seal for natural and organic brands (though the Non-GMO Project is probably growing faster).
For cannabis containing THC, cultivators, and brands who wish to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable, environmentally-sound organic agriculture practices cannot utilize the federal organic label because that is a federal program operated by the US Department of Agriculture. While the government itself won’t vouch for it yet, due to federal prohibition, organizations like Sun+Earth now offer certification standards on three main pillars: earth care and cultivation, which requires sun-grown cannabis to be cultivated with organic and regenerative practices that build soil quality; human empowerment, which requires farms to treat workers fairly; and community engagement, which requires farms to be involved in and give back to their communities.
If you’re interested in supporting ethical and sustainable businesses, be sure to check out our DISCOVER database, as well as products from brands like Coastal Sun (CA), Kiskanu (hemp CBD), TSO Sonoma (CA), Flow Kana (CA), Barbari (OR), Essential (hemp CBD), and Two Cranes (hemp CBD).
