In recent years, there's been growing interest in how cannabis is grown. You've probably seen "organic" labels, but now "regenerative organic" is gaining attention. Both approaches aim for sustainability, but they differ in how deeply they address soil health, ecosystem restoration, and the wellbeing of farmworkers.
Understanding these differences matters if you care about what you're consuming and the impact your choices have on the planet. When you choose cannabis grown regeneratively, you're not just getting a cleaner product—you're actively supporting farming practices that restore the earth, protect workers, and strengthen communities. Let's explore what sets these methods apart and why it matters for cannabis.
What Organic Farming Means
Organic farming has become the baseline many consumers look for. The USDA National Organic Program prohibits synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and genetically modified organisms. These standards represent meaningful progress away from conventional agriculture's most harmful practices.
Organic farmers work with nature rather than against it. This means using crop rotations, natural pest control methods, and approved biological inputs to maintain plant health. The certification process involves stringent guidelines and regular inspections to ensure compliance.
Here's what organic certification requires:
- No synthetic pesticides or fertilizers: Only naturally-derived inputs are permitted, protecting soil biology and human health.
- GMO-free cultivation: Seeds and plants must not be genetically modified.
- Three-year transition period: Land must be free from prohibited substances for at least three years before harvest, a standard found in organic frameworks worldwide including USDA Organic, EU Organic, and Canadian Organic Regime.
- Natural pest management: Farmers rely on beneficial insects, crop diversity, and approved biological controls rather than synthetic chemicals.
But here's where it gets complicated for cannabis. Due to federal prohibition, USDA organic certification isn't available for cannabis, leaving the industry without consistent national standards. And while organic certification addresses what farmers can't use, it doesn't always require practices that actively restore the land or protect farmworkers.
How Regenerative Organic Farming Goes Further
Regenerative organic farming builds on organic principles but doesn't stop at avoiding harm. This approach actively restores degraded land, builds soil fertility, and enhances ecosystem resilience.
Think of it this way: organic farming says "don't hurt the soil." Regenerative farming says "heal the soil and make it better than you found it."
Regenerative Organic Certified standards, developed by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, encompass three core areas: soil health and land management, animal welfare, and farmer and worker fairness. This holistic framework recognizes that truly sustainable agriculture must consider not only environmental health but also the people who work the land and the communities surrounding farms.
Here's what makes regenerative organic different:
- Builds soil health over time: Through composting, cover cropping, and reduced tillage, regenerative farmers increase organic matter and create thriving ecosystems beneath the surface.
- Sequesters carbon: Healthy soil captures atmospheric carbon dioxide, helping combat climate change while supporting plant growth.
- Reduces tillage: Minimizing soil disturbance protects the complex networks of beneficial microorganisms living in the soil.
- Increases biodiversity: Diverse plantings create habitat for beneficial insects and soil organisms, building natural pest resistance.
- Protects workers: Fair labor standards ensure farmworkers receive dignity and fair compensation.
- Strengthens communities: Farms engage with local communities through knowledge sharing and meaningful contribution.
When you see cannabis grown regeneratively, you're looking at farms where cannabis might share space with companion plants like marigolds or vegetables. Cover crops protect soil between growing seasons. Compost teas and plant ferments made from on-farm resources replace purchased synthetic inputs.
The Three Pillars of Regenerative Cannabis: Sun+Earth Certified
For cannabis specifically, Sun+Earth Certified brings regenerative organic principles to life through comprehensive third-party verification. Founded on Earth Day 2019 by cannabis activists and farmers, Sun+Earth verifies that cannabis is grown under the sun, in living soil, without toxic pesticides, by fairly-paid farmers and farmworkers.
The certification is built on three pillars:
Earth Care and Cultivation
Cannabis must be grown outdoors under the sun, rooted in living soil. This foundational requirement excludes energy-intensive indoor cultivation and hydroponic systems. Sun+Earth standards require that crops be planted in soil that's been free of prohibited substances for at least three years, with soil testing required to verify the absence of pesticide residues.
The certification prohibits synthetic fertilizers, toxic pesticides, genetically modified organisms, and nanotechnology. Farmers build soil fertility through natural practices: mulching, crop rotation, reduced tillage, cover cropping, and composting. These techniques don't just avoid harm—they actively sequester atmospheric carbon and improve soil structure over time.
Human Empowerment
Cannabis agriculture has historically operated outside legal frameworks, leaving farmworkers vulnerable to exploitation. Sun+Earth Certified addresses worker rights directly. The certification requires written contracts between farms and farmworkers, ensures the right to collective bargaining, and mandates that workers receive fair compensation and respectful treatment free from harassment.
For an industry emerging from decades in the shadows, these protections carry particular significance. Legacy farmers who risked everything to cultivate this plant can now operate transparently, with dignity extended to everyone who contributes to the harvest.
Community Engagement
Certified farms must maintain written policies documenting how they contribute to their local communities and share knowledge about regenerative farming techniques. This requirement recognizes that farms don't exist in isolation—they're part of living ecosystems and local economies.
Building community is as essential as building soil.
Regenerative Organic vs Organic: The Key Differences
Let's break down how these approaches differ in practice:
What they prohibit:
- Organic: No synthetic pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, no GMOs
- Regenerative Organic: All organic prohibitions PLUS stricter limits on naturally-derived pesticides and a focus on prevention through biodiversity
How they build soil:
- Organic: Permits purchased organic fertilizers and may allow heavy tillage
- Regenerative Organic: Requires building fertility from on-farm and local resources through composting, cover crops, and reduced tillage
Who they protect:
- Organic: Focuses on consumer safety and environmental protection
- Regenerative Organic: Adds mandatory protections for farmworkers and requirements for community engagement
What they measure:
- Organic: Input restrictions and compliance with prohibited substance lists
- Regenerative Organic: Positive outcomes including improved soil health, increased biodiversity, carbon sequestration, worker welfare, and community benefit
The practical impact:An organic cannabis farm might use purchased organic fertilizers, practice heavy tillage, and operate without regard for workers or local communities while maintaining certification. A regenerative organic farm cannot. By definition, regenerative farming requires actively restoring land, treating workers fairly, and contributing to community wellbeing.
Why This Matters for Cannabis and Climate
The environmental footprint of cannabis varies dramatically by growing method. Indoor cultivation consumes enormous amounts of electricity for lighting, climate control, and dehumidification. A single indoor cannabis plant can generate greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to driving a car thousands of miles.
Outdoor, sungrown cannabis eliminates this energy consumption entirely. When combined with regenerative soil management, outdoor cultivation actually removes carbon from the atmosphere. Research from the Rodale Institute demonstrates that regenerative organic farming can sequester significant amounts of atmospheric carbon in healthy, biologically active soil.
The benefits extend beyond climate. Regenerative farms support pollinators, beneficial insects, and soil organisms. They protect water quality by eliminating synthetic chemical runoff. They preserve biodiversity through diverse plantings rather than monocultures. They strengthen rural communities by ensuring farmworkers receive fair treatment.
How to Find Regenerative Organic Cannabis
You have the power to shape the cannabis industry through your purchasing choices.
Ask your dispensary whether they carry Sun+Earth Certified cannabis. Look for the Sun+Earth seal on flower or products with the "Made With Sun+Earth Flower" seal on manufactured goods like vapes and edibles. This direct request signals market demand for regenerative practices, encouraging retailers to stock certified options and farmers to pursue certification.
When you choose Sun+Earth Certified cannabis, you're supporting:
- Small-scale, legacy farmers who steward the land with care
- Farmworkers who receive dignity and fair compensation
- Farming practices that build soil health rather than deplete it
- Cannabis cultivation that sequesters carbon rather than emitting it
- Communities that benefit from agricultural knowledge sharing
The distinction between organic and regenerative organic isn't just semantic. It reflects fundamentally different visions for agriculture's role in addressing climate change, supporting biodiversity, and advancing social justice.
It's just a better high. You don't have to believe us—try it for yourself. Demand more from your cannabis. Ask your dispensary for Sun+Earth Certified cannabis and experience the difference.
Learn more about Sun+Earth Certified standards and find certified farms near you at sunandearth.org.
Sources:
- USDA National Organic Program
- Regenerative Organic Alliance
- Sun+Earth Certified Standards
- Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial
- IFOAM Organics International
- The Guardian: Cannabis Industry Energy Consumption
