"Forever" PFAS chemicals are finally being regulated by the EPA... HURRAY! But what took so long...
I think alot about gov't regulation - it's hard to work in Cannabis and NOT do it TBH. When they do it right, it works beautifully - like in MN (for beverages) or MO (for regulated cannabis) - it combines the best of free market forces with consumer protections.
With Woodstock Heritage Strains operating in the regulated cannabis markets of CA & NY - I'd say we're NOT seeing the best of both worlds.
In CA - we have a "free" and competitive market, but over burdensome taxes & regulations make regulated dispensaries mostly non-competitive and are creating an environment where good companies are struggling to survive.
In NY - we have an "immature, but free" market - where well-intentioned regulations were slow & not well thought through or executed poorly... and enforcement mostly non-existent - again leading to good companies struggling to survive.
Capitalism is broadly good - allowing competition to have the "cream rise to the top" benefits consumers & rewards the best operators. But sole focus on shareholder value can hurt human kind (as we're seeing with PFAS with Dow & 3M).
Gov't regulations are broadly good - bc purely capitalist companies may not consider broader implications as they pursue shareholder value. BTW, this DOESN'T mean i'm a socialist - just a realist.
The world isn't binary and we shouldn't want it to be either... honestly, the most progress will come from more people opening up to the fact that capitalism AND sensible regulation is how we continue this amazing progress we're seeing.
This is ESPECIALLY true with AI making such progress right now - if we let the companies run wild, I worry about human kind. If we let US gov't over-regulate, I ALSO worry about human kind (as other's won't).
Back to PFAS - safe drinking water is a HUMAN RIGHT... this should've been one of the most important focus areas for EPA for the past few decades (along w getting rid of microplastics, air quality & sugar / processed foods). I'm sure I'm missing several other areas that are making bigco's alot of $$$$.....
Fractional CMO, Storyteller and Corporate Social Responsibility Leader
7moOh dang! I will be putting this on the calendar!