Colorado cannabis : soft systems analysis of an emerging industry
Abstract
The objective of this study is to describe ways in which rural producers participate in the cannabis industry in Colorado. With recently changed laws permitting hemp and drug-type cannabis cultivation, cannabis could be considered a valuable cash crop for small farmers. Two case studies of growers in rural areas are presented. The first is a licensed hemp producer with a business oriented towards selling cannabidiol (CBD). The second is an organic farm producing as a “caregiver” for medical patients with a prescription for marijuana. Soft systems methodology is used to analyze the cases and situate them in their context. Access to quality planting material, stress concerning the legal situation and exclusion from the formalized industry are important themes.