26. Cannabis & sustainability: Jeff Chen (UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative)

Nature N8 sits down with Dr. Jeff Chen, a doctor and entrepreneur who specializes in cannabis research and commercialization. We’ve heard that hemp can strengthen concrete, be used in automotive manufacturing, or even make super batteries—but are these just pipes dreams?Dr. Jeff Chen was the founding director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative. Today, he helps separate fact from fiction and gives a framework to understand the potential environmental impact of fully legalized cannabis. After decades of criminalization, what does the blooming cannabis industry mean for sustainability?
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