Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/724773
THE NEXT FEW YEARS ARE SET for unprecedented change in how cannabis is perceived, regulated and enjoyed. Heritage farmers and innovative produc- ers are eager to come out of the shadows to proudly share their hard-won craft, and patients who have found solutions that worked for their ailments are sharing their innovations with the market. California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada all have adult-use legalization on the November ballot, and another five states are considering medical regulations. Many more states have provisions working their way through their respective legislatures. Small farmers and artisanal producers are increasingly able to step into the light to share their passion for cannabis with the wider world. The underground cannabis community has oper- ated for decades under Prohibition, and the industry is in a period of rebirth. What kind of industry will be shaped? That remains to be seen. Cannabis is not an easy product to regulate—there's nothing else quite like it (part of why we love it). Every state has approached the task in a unique way, making each a life-size laboratory to experiment with how to best get cannabis from farm to table. Revisions are frequently made in legalized states like Colorado, Oregon and Washington to address the new ideas and concerns that arise. LETTER FROM THE CANNABIS EDITOR As we move forward, what kind of legislation can aid artisan producers and heritage farmers as they navigate from a black or gray market to a white, regulated one? A few key factors can make a big dif- ference in preserving heritage farmers sustainable methods and allowing for the small-batch produc- tion of the finest hashish and once-in-a-lifetime flower varietals. As we move forward in these grand experiments of regulation, here are a few consid- erations to cultivate a diverse, thriving market that allows the best and the unique to be recognized: ■ Measuring the size of a farm using canopy space via square footage, rather than measuring a farm size by plant count. ■ Farmers in some areas are experimenting with local seed banks to preserve and cultivate high- quality genetics. ■ Establishing appellation zones where appropri- ate, so products can proudly display an official seal of origin. ■ A tiered taxation plan so smaller producers pay less in taxes or a tax plan that is implemented over time, so as not to burden these producers in the start-up years. ■ Access to banking resources. Most banks won't work with cannabis businesses due to federal prohibition, though some credit unions offer basic services. Some states are considering state- run financing options in order to help producers pay for the infrastructure required to become compliant. ■ Tiers of cultivation licenses that encourage small-scale producers to join the newly regulated markets. Autumn is not only a time for casting votes for the cannabis community; it's also a time of harvest and celebration. Cannabis competitions and festi- vals across California are celebrating as farmers fin- ish their greenhouse and full-sun cannabis harvest and begin the curing process. The minds behind the delicious cannabis-infused cuisine, the heritage farmers who have cultivated flowers for generations and the hashish makers who are fueled by passion, quality and scientific precision—you can meet these people and hear their stories in person at the fall cannabis cultural events, as well as in the pages of the Winter issue of The Clever Root. Allison Edrington cannabiseditor@thecleverroot.com ■cr JEREMY BALL 2 6 | t h e c l e v e r r o o t Moving toward Regulation 2 6 | t h e c l e v e r r o o t