Cal Poly Humboldt to host cannabis symposium
Next month, Cal Poly Humboldt will host a free symposium about the relationship between cannabis cultivation and environmental stewardship.
The symposium — held on April 5 in the Native Forum and BSS 166 — will discuss cannabis cultivation, its environmental impacts and ways growers can enact regenerative practices.
Cannabis cultivation, a resource-intensive process, can lead to environmental degradation if done irresponsibly. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors recently revoked the permits for a grow site that had allegedly diverted water from a nearby river — cannabis has a high water and power demand.
A narrative review on the environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation, published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, noted that, “Indoor cannabis cultivation is energyconsuming, mainly due to heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting. Energy consumption leads to greenhouse gas emissions. Cannabis cultivation could directly contribute to soil erosion. Meanwhile, cannabis plants have the ability to absorb and store heavy metals. It is envisioned that technologies such as precision irrigation could reduce water use, and application of tools such as life cycle analysis would advance understanding of the environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation.”
The event will feature discussions between regulators, advocates, growers, academics and cannabis industry professionals.
“We bring together policymakers, nonprofits, cultivators, and academics to map out the landscape of bottom-up approaches to environmental stewardship and explore opportunities to support the successful implementation of Proposition 64 while also upholding the environmental provisions,” a release for the symposium said.
Cal Poly Humboldt is the only university to offer a BA in cannabis studies.