Because cross-pollination can dilute cannabis potency, some municipalities have enacted isolation ordinances, while some states maintain crop registries. However, cannabis and hemp cultivators and investors must be proactive to avoid losing tens of millions of dollars from ruined crops. In an article for Green Entrepreneur, Gary Smith shines a light on how both can mitigate risk.
After outlining how cross-pollination occurs between hemp and cannabis and ruins crops in the process, Gary directs growers and investors to consider the neighboring farms within tens of miles in each direction. He suggests cultivators have a pollen mitigation plan in place and recommends investors ask to see such a plan before investing.
One of Arizona’s leading cannabis attorneys, Gary served as amici counsel to the former Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services in the Arizona Supreme Court petition State v. Jones, attempting to restore cannabis extracts and concentrates to legal status under the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. He founded and currently serves as president of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, frequently sharing his expertise with professional association and industry groups. Additionally, he has published numerous articles about cannabis law.