Cross-pollination will be a polarizing issue again this year as new hemp producers establish crops in areas with existing cannabis production.  Colorado MJ producers have been impacted by pollen drift. Hemp pollen fertilizes their all-female plants, producing undesirable seeds that reduce the marketability of their flower.  In response, Pueblo County instituted a 4-mile buffer to be observed between hemp and MJ grows.  Washington State followed this approach, creating buffer requirements statewide.  This was impractical, and part of Washington legalizing hemp cultivation following the 2018 Farm Bill included removing the buffer requirements. 

Pollen issues aren’t unique to cannabis.  The most public of these issues relates to GMO crops, particularly pollen drift from GMO corn.  Producers growing for seed, Identity Preserved (IP) markets, or certified organic have all experienced economic injury from accidental…