As Chief Science Officer at GenCanna, I’ve grappled with the ethics around making unproven health claims about cannabis products. Early on, investors pressured us to market CBD as a cure-all to drive sales. I refused, arguing that misleading customers damages the industry’s credibility. Though it was an unpopular stance, we stuck to the science. We’ve also faced dilemmas around proprietary data. Some clients want access to our cultivation techniques and test results. While transparency is ideal, disclosing trade secrets could enable imitation and unfair competition. We negotiate tight non-disclosure agreements and only share certain information, protecting intellectual property while building trust. Researching cannabis is challenging given its Schedule I status. We follow strict compliance protocols, but many companies take shortcuts, producing products with inaccurate labeling, contaminants or false medical claims. My role is providing education on safe, high-quality goods and responsible use. It’s not easy turning away businesses focused on fast profits, but GenCanna is in it for the long haul. Our mission is paving the way for cannabis as a safe, mainstream wellness option.
As the CEO of Business Builders, I have encountered several ethical dilemmas in my 25 years of experience. One that comes to mind involved a pharmaceutical client that wanted to misleadingly market a new drug. They asked us to create advertising that exaggerated the benefits and downplayed the risks. We refused, as that would be unethical and dangerous. Instead, we worked with them to develop marketing that was transparent and highlighted the actual effects of the drug, backed by scientific research. It took some convincing, but they eventually agreed this approach would build more trust in the long run. In another case, we had to drop a client who insisted on using predatory marketing tactics, like targeting vulnerable populations and making empty promises. It was a difficult decision, but protecting people's health and well-being is more important than any single account. Overall, I've found the keys to navigating ethical issues are: listen to your conscience, consider how it will impact others, get input from your team, and be willing to stand up for what's right even if it's not the easy choice.