Back in May, we urge Cannabis companies should be aware that the United States prohibits the import of products produced by forced labor. Our concern stems from the growing interest of our cannabis customers to do business in countries where they can take advantage of suitable climate conditions and low labor costs.

Unfortunately, there is no need to cross the US border to find examples of forced labor. An example of this despicable practice discovered recently involves the cannabis industry.

Earlier this month, the authorities Oregon A marijuana farm was raided, where human trafficking and forced labor were suspected.For those who follow And make suggestions With regard to forced labor issues around the world, the language in news reports has a familiar feeling. Phrases such as “threat of harm to family members”, “unpaid” and “living in a dirty environment” sound like withdrawal from exposure of human rights violations on a remote land, but rather describe Something is happening miles away from the Oregon-California border.

To be sure, forced labor in the United States is not just an agricultural issue, just like the state of Oregon before. case Involving restaurant presentations. In other words, agricultural work may be labor-intensive and carried out in remote areas. In addition, many agricultural workers do not have documents, which makes them particularly vulnerable to abuse.

As an ethical and legal priority, cannabis companies should ensure that their supply chains are not contaminated by forced labor. For companies that rely on imports, compliance can be daunting, and supplier audits are almost impossible. Although not without challenges, it is much easier to audit the domestic supply chain. When they do things right, the company can be fairly certain that their supply chain is clean.