Canadian licensed marijuana producers are tossing out thousands of kilograms of plant waste each year – in what some say is a missed opportunity – to find other uses for the byproduct.

Terry Lake, vice-president of corporate social responsibility at Hydropothecary – says Health Canada’s destruction policy for producers makes it impossible to benefit or learn from – the potentially valuable waste product.

Lake says the stems of the marijuana plant could be used as fibre for many products – such as T-shirts, animal feed and even siding for houses.