With the current rise in marijuana legalization it is finally time to start asking honest questions about a plant that has gotten an undeserved amount of abuse as a shady drug. The fact is that marijuana is a superfood that is being investigated for its application in treating pretty much every condition that comes to mind, including autism, cancer, Parkinson’s, ADHD, insomnia, depression, anxiety, Lumens and more. Aside from all of the wonderful health benefits, legalized cannabis cultivation has other highly beneficial effects for all parties involved. However, all of the benefits do not come without some downsides.
Waste Industry Revenue
Legal cannabis cultivation is all set to boost waste industry revenue. In California, all set to be the state with the largest revenue from cannabis sales, up to 20% of this revenue is going to do to the waste industry and environmental staff and enforcement. Toxic waste from cannabis production is a serious concern not to be taken lightly. Marijuana waste should be composted, however the state of Washing recently reported that there was an unprecedented amount of marijuana found in landfills, which is absolutely detrimental to the environment. As wonderful as marijuana may be in terms of human health, it may not be the most efficient in terms of the wider environment. It is incredibly energy intensive to grow and requireslarge amounts of electricity in the form of light. The production of cannabis also requires major amounts of water as well as valuable nutrient feed, all over a 3-month process in some instances. The pros and the cos must be weighed up instead of blindly insisting that cannabis legalization is amazing and we should all grow as much as possible. This is an immature mindset that seems to have taken off, and it will have consequences.
Cannabis Cultivation and the Economy
It is no secret that cannabis cultivation is a massive boon to the local, state and federal economy. Current cannabis sales are estimated to be in the region of $50 billion, with the vast majority of this figure being attributed to black market sales. That’s bigger than cinema sales, ice cream sales and sales of packaged crisps. Combined. With ongoing cannabis legalization, the majority of this $50 billion is going to go to local businesses and to state coffers, away from the hands of criminals. It stands to reason that legalized cannabis cultivation is going to support the economy.
Cannabis legalization is always followed by an influx of tourists, as demonstrated in every state that has legalized marijuana. The increased tourism will be a massive boost to the economy. In California, where recreational marijuana is set to be put in place in January 2018, the industry is estimated to be worth $5 billion, for a single state. Quite the boost, and the state and federal government are going to get an increase in revenue through the associated taxes. It will also help at the local level as businesses are set up in accordance with county rules and regulations.
In most states where marijuana legalization occurs, the rules and regulations are light meaning that anyone can set up their own legitimate marijuana business. In this way, it helps with the issue of the centralization of power and ensure that regular citizens can make a profit. However, some states have introduced policies with limited and expensive permits, meaning that while the figures will show that the overall economy will be boosted, it will really be corporations and big businesses who are taking in all of this extra revenue. This is the type of economic boost that we do not want to see happening with the legalization of marijuana cultivation.
Environmental Protection
There is also significant evidence to suggest that legalized marijuana cultivation will be a boon to the environment. Because cannabis was historically an illegal substance, there were no rules and regulations surrounding its cultivation. As such, environmental concerns were paid no mind as growers sought to grow as much as possible without getting caught. Local authorities, along with the National Guard and Fish and Wildlife service, have documented the devastation caused by illegal marijuana cultivators. Thousands of acres of public land have been converted into toxic wastelands which are quite dangerous to humans and wildlife alike. The type of toxic waste includes fungicides and pesticides which are banned for commercial use. But because marijuana cultivation was illegal anyway the fact that they were banned was irrelevant.
Some growers actually rerouted the path of streams to irrigate their crops, and the remaining water flow was contaminated. All this is set to change with the recent legalization of marijuana. Cultivators will have to pay attention to numerous environmental policies. Toxicity can be just as much a concern with legally grown crops, and some growers are known to have less than ethical cultivation policies, which could cause harm for human consumers and the wider environment. It is important that policies are strictly enforced and that all produce is lab tested to rigorous standards with reputable testers.
Clever Cannabis Cultivation
Cannabis legalization is wonderful and the substance has innumerable benefits to the human body and represents a massive boost to the economy and the environment. But is important not to look at it in isolation. There are disadvantages in terms of energy consumption, the greenhouse effect and waste material. It is labor intensive and can result in light and smell pollution. It is important that cannabis legalization is implemented intelligently and that the regulations ensure clever cultivation paying heed to environmental concerns.
