Prohibition is almost over. The majority of Americans now live in states where they can legally consume medicinal or recreational cannabis. As more ways to lawfully partake become available, the choices can be confusing. Neither the FDA nor the USDA offers clear cannabis guidelines, so consumers are at the mercy of individual suppliers and licensing agencies. The industry is in many ways opaque and in flux, but here are some best practices for consuming safely and sustainably.

Buy Organic-ish

Since cannabis remains federally illegal, organic certification isn't available, even for licensed producers. Look for Clean Green or Sun+Earth certification on cannabis product packaging—the industry's equivalent to an organic label. The Clean Green Certified program was created in 2004 to help farms and producers obtain certification according to the USDA National Organic Program standards. In 2018, a group of Northern California farms, growers, and activists devised the Sun+Earth Certified program, which claims to go "beyond organic" by requiring regenerative farming techniques for certification.

Purchase Outdoor-Grown

Indoor cannabis cultivation has an exceptionally high carbon footprint, and its energy consumption accounts for 1 percent of national electricity use, according to some studies. On average, the production of one kilogram of indoor-grown cannabis results in 4,600 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of driving the United States from coast to coast 11 times. Outdoor cannabis production sometimes requires electricity, but it's significantly less than what indoor operations use. Ask budtenders for sun-grown flowers.

Know Your Producer

The illicit cannabis market remains a major player across the country, even in states that have legalized growing and consumption. Illegal grow operations, which aren't subject to any kind of formal environmental regulation, often rely heavily on synthetic pesticides, which in turn jeopardizes nearby water supplies and wildlife. And since such operations often trespass on public lands, they frequently poison and degrade wild areas. Buying legally not only reduces demand for "dirty" weed but also helps to lower energy usage. In early-legalization states like Colorado and Washington, for instance, legal producers are encouraged to enroll in energy-saving programs.

Buy Products With COAs

Make sure all cannabis purchases bear a Certificate of Analysis or include testing results. (Easy if you live in a legal state, as testing is required for dispensary sales.) COAs mean products have cleared third-party screenings for heavy metals, mold, and other harmful agents that are generally impossible to avoid when buying unlicensed products.

Seek Out Low-Waste Packaging

Because of a multitude of regulations that vary from state to state but most often involve childproofing, packaging waste has become a major environmental hurdle for the cannabis industry. Certain companies, like Ocean Cannabis Co. in California, are finding solutions in harvesting ocean plastic. Also keep an eye out for hemp plastics, glass, and paper packaging.

This article appeared in the January/February edition with the headline "Higher Ground."