Our History and Purpose

United by a shared vision, leading organic agriculture experts and cannabis advocates founded Sun+Earth Certified on Earth Day 2019, as a much-needed alternative to industrial cannabis operations. Sun+Earth aims to set a new regenerative organic farming standard for the whole cannabis industry – to shift cannabis production away from large-scale, industrialized indoor facilities that consume high amounts of energy and rely on chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides.

The vast majority of cannabis products currently sold in the U.S. present no on-package labeling that explains how products were grown, what pesticides or chemical fertilizers were used in their production, or the impact those products have on communities and the environment. Sun+Earth Certified offers consumers confidence that the cannabis they are purchasing was grown in natural sunlight under the sun, on regenerative and ecologically-resilient farms by fairly paid farmers and farm-workers. Just as organic cannabis can be healing to the body, mind and soul, so too does cannabis play a healing role on regenerative farms – sequestering carbon, contributing to nutrient exchange in the soil alongside other organic crops, and supporting healthy ecosystems for pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects.

These values make Sun+Earth a pioneer in the cannabis industry, as the certification offers an alternative to industrial indoor cannabis operations, which consume high volumes of electricity, undermining efforts to mitigate the current climate crisis. According to a 2012 academic report, cannabis grown indoors in the U.S. generates greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 3 million cars. More recently, the 2018 Cannabis Energy Report from New Frontier Data found that growing indoors uses 18 times more electricity and has a carbon footprint nearly 25 times larger than outdoor farms.

As Sun+Earth works to build a strong community of small-scale family farms, the Sun+Earth seal supports a localized cannabis economy independent from Big Agriculture and the environmental impacts that come with it. Sun+Earth Certified products consume minimal electricity, are grown without chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides, and offer flavors and qualities unique to their environment and ecosystem.

In less than two years, Sun+Earth Certified has built a network of 42 farms and manufacturers in 6 states, whose products are sold at hundreds of retail outlets. But with your support, Sun+Earth can further diversify and expand its network of regenerative organic farms. Funds will be used to subsidize the direct costs of the certification process, as well as provide technical assistance and mentorship to farms that are implementing these rigorous cultivation practices. With your support, Sun+Earth can bring high-quality, regenerative organic products to every legal cannabis market in the U.S. Please donate today to make healthy, ecologically-grown cannabis available to all!