The Environmental and Social Impacts of The Green Rush in VT
Max Hope Pomroy
Since Vermont passed legislation in 2017 which legalized recreational cannabis possession, use, and sales in the state, there has been a “green rush” of individuals and companies (mainly head shops and CBD retail companies) investing in the industry. Vermonters are quick to declare the emerging cannabis sector in the United States as environmentally friendly, yet there are very few studies and fewer operations focusing on the ecological impact of this rapidly growing industry. Current growing methods vary vastly in resource use as well as yield quantity and factors of control. Analyzing environmental benefits of a growing method is dependent upon electricity use, water use, nutrient/fertilizer ingredients, and risks of soil nutrient depletion.
Policies
Under current federal criminal law, cannabis is classified as a schedule I narcotic, which means the drug’s manufacturing, possession and distribution is prohibited. This nationwide prohibition on cannabis began in 1906, and became a national issue in 1970 when the controlled substance act was introduced- this sparked what is known as the war on drugs. When it comes to cannabis, federal law and state law began to differ in 1978, when the first medical use exception was approved in court (for a patient with glaucoma). As of 2019, thirty two states, Washington DC, Guam and Puerto Rico have comprehensive medical marijuana programs, and ten states and Washington D.C. have recreational use programs in place. Although recreational cannabis use is legal across many states, the federal government maintains the right to seize assets of a cannabis operation, and confiscate merchandise.
An interactive map by Cannabis Times- expresses legal status of Cannabis in the United States: https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/page/marijuana-legislative-map-cbt/
As this industry gains momentum, various bills have been proposed to legally protect cannabis operations, address environmental impacts, and address social inequity involved in current legislation. Vermont’s proposed bill to senate- known as S54- authorizes the sale and regulation of Cannabis within the state. This bill establishes labeling requirements, recreational taxation, public use regulations, and requirements for the licensing of the five sectors within cannabis production, evaluation, and sales (VT S54 2019). The war on drugs has historically oppressed minority groups. Law enforcement and judicial bodies across America give disproportionately harsher sentences to people of color and LGBTQ people. Within states which have legalized recreational use and sales of cannabis, those who have been incarcerated for cannabis related crimes, remain in prison for what is no longer a crime. In February 2019, senator Cory Booker proposed a “Marijuana Justice Bill,” which would not only federally legalize cannabis in the United States, but would also clear all criminal convictions related to cannabis (Shoot, 2019). A socially just industry does not exist without prison justice.
Cultural and ethical issues
Legalizing recreational cannabis will open doors to ending an era of racially charged systemic discrimination. In October of 2019, The Vermont ACLU proposed a significantly wide ranging justice reform blueprint which would release roughly 500 inmates from state prisons. The suggestion recommended the decriminalizing drug possession and sex work. James Duff Lyall, the executive director of ACLU Vermont stated that Vermont still has “some of the worst prison racial disparities of any state in the country.” While black people make up about 1% of the state’s population, they made up 8% of admissions to Vermont correctional facilities in 2017 (Landen 2019). Cannabis prohibition in America has always disproportionately affected people of color, even though white people and people of color are equally as likely to use cannabis recreationally. Many scholars question the very root of criminalizing the plant-theorizing racially discriminatory intent behind the “war on drugs.”
The very origin of the use of the word “marijuana” is believed to hold racist origins. Although the time of origin is unknown, the term originated from the misunderstanding or deliberate misuse of the slang term “brothel” - maria y juana. The word was popularized in the United States by Harry Anslinger, the first commissioner of the U.S. Treasury Department's Federal Bureau of Narcotics. He pushed racist ideas such as jazz being demonic music, and marijuana was closely involved in this evil. The use of this term played a large part in stigmatizing cannabis use- it caused xenophobic Amercians to relate the use of the plant with negative connotations of anyone foreign (particularly black or hispanic folx). Many supporters cannabis justice actively condemn the use of the word marijuana and the historic rhetoric surrounding it.
Vermont is known for its culture’s support for the local economy. Vermonter’s tend to make decisions which will support the wellbeing of the overall community. In 2015, the Vermont Cannabis Collaboration (VTCC)- a group of Vermonters from a range of backgrounds such as business, agriculture, education, and politics- published a comprehensive report on their vision for an environmentally and socially responsible cannabis industry which caters the lifestyles of Vermonters. The report pushes for increased research and development of regulation which outlines user safety as well as increase variety in the market, and funneling tax revenue to improve the social services (ie education, healthcare, and resources for all) within the communities of Vermont.
Env impacts
The newest innovations in eco-friendly packaging is bioplastics -fortunately for the cannabis industry- hemp is found to be a highly efficient base material for bioplastic known as hemplyne (NHA 2016) and cardboard (YBY 2019). There is significant plant product waste during cultivation of cannabis- this waste is still useful fiber that can later be utilized as packaging material. Industrial hemp is also used for material manufacturing, as it is very fast growing Bioplastic is projected to control 5% of the plastic market by 2020, and 40% by 2030 (Technician 2016). For companies who aim to apply conscious consumerism initiatives to their business should promote entirely compostable packaging.
Current commonly applied growing strategies differ in light exposure methods, scale, and planting strategies such as polyculture or monoculture. The four mainstream growing methods are all monocultures. Outdoor cultivation is an approach utilized by those who seek out a product with a relationship to natural ecological cycles- these growers typically grow in air plots with unique air/soil conditions, and high sunlight exposure. Some outdoor growers choose to utilize the mixed light 1 strategy, which is outdoor grown with periodic light deprivation. Outdoor cultivation makes it more difficult to predict, manage, and control the quality of the harvest. Indoor cultivation uses high amounts of electricity, mainly due to high energy intensive lighting, cooling and air circulation systems, and dehumidifiers. Some indoor methods are set up within greenhouses to save costs on lighting- this method is called mixed light 2. Indoor growing methods are increasing exponentially, leaving outdoor grow operations to connect more to a niche market known as craft growing- this is because indoor cultivation yields roughly 6 harvests per year at optimal capacity, whereas outdoor cultivation yields two harvests per year at optimal capacity. Commercial growing operations allow the product to be grown under a variety of conditions which increases variety in the market.
Although cannabis can be grown at a large scale, many choose to grow their own personal supply within the comfort of their own home and/or property. This growing option allows consumers to grow what they need for their personal consumption, and develop a connection with the plant. Understanding the time, effort, and resources which go into the growth and cultivation of should be required for anything an individual regularly consumes. Consumers should have the ability to monitor the elements of their growing operations, such as the inputs (food, water, nutrients, soil, energy consumption etc) and outputs (strain, emissions, etc). Since home growing is private, it makes regulation more difficult, and may possibly lead to an increase in small scale illegal growing operations in residential environments.
The legalization of cannabis in the united states would end illegal cannabis growing operations which cause disproportionately more waste than legal cannabis operations (CCLT 2017). When illegal operations are busted, there is no government funding or appointed body to clean the sites, so many of the sites are abandoned and left as litter. Many illegal sites are off the grid, meaning solitary generators, which are highly fuel intensive, are used to power the facilities, pump water, power lighting, heat regulation, and air regulation. These operations also use a high amount of illegal toxins such as rat poisons, intense insecticides, etc.
Vermont must acknowledge the need for researching the impacts of the VT Green Rush on water supply, regulating social equity within communities, and enforcing environmental policies which oversee the impacts upon all aspects of community well-being. The expansion of cannabis operations in state will allow more easily accessible cannabis for those in the community with medical benefits to using cannabis. The Green Rush can support the state economy but also feeding tax revenue into local healthcare, social services, and education.
Citations:
Authorizes the Sale and Regulation of Cannabis, Vermont S54, (2019)
“Environmental Impact of Illegal Cannabis Operations.” Reports from the California Council of Land Trusts- Conservation Frontiers, vol. 6, no. 1, Jan. 2017
Landen, Xander, et al. “ACLU Pitches Sweeping Reforms to Cut Prison Population by Hundreds.” VTDigger, 9 Oct. 2019, vtdigger.org/2019/10/08/aclu-pitches-sweeping-reforms-to-cut-prison-population-by-hundreds/
NHA. “Hemp Plastics: a Biological Alternative for Oil Based Plastics.” National Hemp Association, nationalhempassociation.org/hemp-plastic/
Shoot, Brittany. “Cory Booker Wants to Legalize Marijuana in the United States.” Fortune, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2019, fortune.com/2019/02/28/cory-booker-legalization-marijuana-justice-act-2019/.
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