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Small-scale cannabis farmers in California are increasingly abandoning their fields as they grapple with the dual threats of destructive wildfires and falling prices, signaling a troubling trend for America’s largest legal cannabis market. Industry experts anticipate this exodus will persist as conditions worsen.
Cannabis cultivators differ from traditional farmers in that they cannot access federal aid, given marijuana's status as a controlled substance. Anthony Coniglio from NewLake Capital Partners, Inc. (OTC:NLCP) emphasized, “These operators don’t have the ability to go to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to get reimbursement for losses in a federal disaster zone because of the federal classification.” With the increasing severity of wildfires, this lack of financial support renders the risks untenable for many, reported by Mrinalika Roy of Reuters.
The economic landscape for cannabis in California has also deteriorated since 2021, with an oversupply driving wholesale flower prices down from over $2,000 per pound during the pandemic peak to around $1,200. “The lower price point of wholesale doesn’t create enough margin for people to take on risk of wildfires,” Coniglio remarked, pointing to a major barrier to maintaining outdoor cannabis farms.
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Furthermore, climate change is inflating insurance premiums, squeezing the already narrow margins of profit. Morgan Paxhia, co-founder of Poseidon Investment Management, noted the rising operational costs like electricity, water and labor, which have not been offset by crop pricing, pushing more farmers out of the market.
The retreat from cultivation is evident in Lake County, a formerly thriving growing region in Northern California. Here, numerous farmers have relinquished their cultivation permits. Data from CRB Monitor shows a stark over 20% drop in active business licenses in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year.
With $5.3 billion in cannabis sales in 2023, California’s market is shrinking compared to its $6 billion peak in 2021, now trailing behind Colorado. “Industry dynamics continue to pose significant challenges for legal cannabis operators in California. As a result, other state markets are seen as more attractive,” George Archos, founder and CEO of Verano Holdings Corp. (OTC:VRNOF), told Reuters.
Meanwhile, the financial struggles of companies like Lowell Farms Inc. (OTC:LOWLF), which reported a 50% revenue drop in Q2 2024 after exiting cultivation, highlight the broader challenges facing California’s cannabis industry amid declining prices and profitability.
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