Weed Like Change to Support Regenerative Organic Craft Cannabis
Do you support healthful use and careful stewardship of our ecosystems? Reducing waste? Combating climate change?
Of course you do! And so do we.
That’s why East Fork is proud to be part of the Weed Like Change campaign, which launched in March 2022.
#WeedLikeChange seeks to draw awareness and inspire heartfelt action to support regenerative cannabis farming.
The campaign asks folks to pledge their support for:
Cannabis grown under the sun, in the soil of Mother Earth, without chemicals, by fairly paid farmers; and
Choosing Sun+Earth Certified cannabis products whenever possible, and asking for them at dispensaries where not yet available.
Weed Like Change highlights the true significance and impact of consumers’ cannabis choices. This increased understanding motivates support of regenerative organic farms.
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
But in practical terms, what does regenerative actually mean?
East Fork CEO Mason Walker explains to Cannabis Business Times,
“At East Fork, we define regenerative practices in two ways.
One is just resource use reduction, so reducing our use of water, pesticides, fertilizer, energy – limiting the use at the top.
And then the second one that’s actually truly more synonymous with regeneration is creating value beyond our own local use.
The vision of regenerative agriculture is that you are using fewer resources and actually generating new resources that can benefit yourself in future seasons, or benefit natural habitats or other creatures, or benefit communities – [whether] your local community or the global community.”
The article continues with detailed, specific descriptions of regenerative practices that East Fork uses across its two Sun+Earth Certified farms (federally-licensed hemp and state-licensed adult-use cannabis).
The Critical Need for Change
Regenerative practices are undoubtedly the future of agriculture, including for cannabis. But our laws and regulations have not kept up.
The enormous effects of cannabis cultivation on our climate, water, soil, and air, with potential to either harm or heal, must be incorporated into policymaking.
But the unfortunate state of agriculture in the U.S. right now is that doing things the right way costs more.
Responsible cannabis farmers are bearing the burden and paying the actual expenses of ethical production, rather than cutting costs by shifting liabilities (and harms) to their surrounding communities.
The Weed Like Change campaign represents a coalition of more than fifty regenerative organic cannabis farmers and brands, partner dispensaries, allied businesses, and nonprofit advocacy organizations working to shift the industry toward environmentally-responsible and ethically-produced cannabis products.
How You Can Help
This is where consumers can make a real difference by voting with your dollars!
Supporting farmers who choose to do things the right way makes a real difference, and looking for Sun+Earth Certified products is an easy shortcut.
This voluntary certification process evaluates cannabis companies extensively based upon three required factors:
Earth Care & Cultivation – sungrown cannabis that is grown using regenerative practices to standards beyond Organic, protecting and enriching our ecosystems
Human Empowerment – workers receive fair pay and are treated well in the workplace
Community Engagement – companies connect with their local community with greater focus and intention
The Weed Like Change campaign can also help galvanize our overlapping communities – cannabis, agricultural, climate-conscious – to push for better action from our lawmakers.
So add your name in support and sign the pledge.
Help spread awareness on your social media with your reasons for #WeedLikeChange.
Consider donating to support the Sun+Earth Certification program.
And tell your lawmakers that YOU’D like change, and Weed Like Change!
