9 ms·

> on illegal farms on private property There's been a lot of media hand-wringing recently about ecological damage caused by illegal cannabis grows. I'm not exa

by TillE 9y ago

> on illegal farms on private property There's been a lot of media hand-wringing recently about ecological damage caused by illegal cannabis grows. I'm not exactly sure why, as it's not relevant to any policy debates. Marijuana can and should be grown organically and sustainably, there's nothing about the plant which complicates that beyond perhaps the need to prevent pollination.

lmm 9y ago
> There's been a lot of media hand-wringing recently about ecological damage caused by illegal cannabis grows. I'm not exactly sure why, as it's not relevant to any policy debates. If policy is about harm reduction then harms done under current policy are absolutely relevant.
- code_duck 9y ago
  That’s what should be focused on. The primary reason that there are illegal grows causing harm is that there is a mismatch between government cannabis policy and cultural and market reality.
  - sdenton4 9y ago
    So laws and regulations should only ever reinforce current 'cultural and market reality?' Good to know that bans on slavery, child labor, and littering were illegitimate.
    - kakarot 9y ago
      Yes, and marijuana laws are just like slavery, child labor, and littering. It's ironic because you mention slavery while not understanding the war on drugs is crucial to the health of modern slavery, and drug laws are just as much a human rights issue as slavery laws.
      - sdenton4 9y ago
        On the contrary, I absolutely oppose marijuana prohibition, and agree that the way on drugs is responsible for a broad variety of social ills, including a hyper inflated incarceration rate. I think it's a mistake, however, to oppose regulation of legalized marijuana grows by default. Like any other industry, it's going to have potential for negative impacts, and regulation can help check those impacts.
        kakarot 9y ago
        I don't mean to chastise, but there are definitely better ways of expressing that sentiment than seemingly equating slavery with marijuana legalization.
2III7 9y ago
The main environmental impact comes from the plants high water consumption which for a grown up plant is a bit over 20 litres per day. Thats when growing in soil. Hydro weed needs much less water but doesn't taste so good.
- brianwawok 9y ago
  How much water do almonds need? How much water in the US is used to grow almonds? How much water would be needed to grow weed for every man, woman, and child in the US?
  - nothrabannosir 9y ago
    If this is rhetorical, and you know the answers, do share. Because I have no idea. It sounds like you do? Additionally: why are those numbers relevant? Just for context?
    - ceejayoz 9y ago
      Almonds are brought up because they take up 10% of California's water (https://newrepublic.com/article/125450/heres-real-problem-almonds https://newrepublic.com/article/125450/heres-real-problem-al...). A single almond takes 1.1 gallons of water (http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/02/wheres-californias-water-going/ http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/02/wheres-califo...) to produce. Any argument for limiting marijuana growing based on "it takes lots of water!" has to address why we already permit stuff like almonds to be grown in drought-prone areas.
      - nothrabannosir 9y ago
        Ok I can hardly compare “x litres per plant per day” vs “n gallons per almond”. How long does a plant live and how many “portions” does it have? I can guess almonds would be, say, a handful for a “portion”? So that’s.. how much in litres? See this is why I’m not super stoked about that original comment. Instead of making a clear point, I just get thrown some random hints and a “you go figure it out”. It’s like I’m supposed to make ones argument for them, and it might turn out to be completely irrelevant (maybe almonds are orders of magnitude more [e:less!] thirsty!) and then I can’t even reply because the actual argument was never made! Just give me the numbers. Do your own homework :) (well, not you, but op) (Edit: as someone else mentioned, this is assuming op was being rhetorical. If it’s a genuine q: I completely second it)
danjoc 9y ago
>Marijuana can and should be grown This is illegal in the US, which includes California. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._Raich https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._Raich
- spraak 9y ago
  Like, are you sincere? California, among many other states, has legalized cannabis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_Use_of_Marijuana_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_Use_of_Marijuana_Act
tomc1985 9y ago
Except many of the illegal growers diverting water to their crops illicitly. Not as big an issue now but during our drought...
- rangibaby 9y ago
  I don’t think weed is that high on the list of “agricultural uses of water”. Try almonds or meat

by TillE 9y ago

lmm 9y ago

> There's been a lot of media hand-wringing recently about ecological damage caused by illegal cannabis grows. I'm not exactly sure why, as it's not relevant to any policy debates. If policy is about harm reduction then harms done under current policy are absolutely relevant.

code_duck 9y ago
That’s what should be focused on. The primary reason that there are illegal grows causing harm is that there is a mismatch between government cannabis policy and cultural and market reality.
- sdenton4 9y ago
  So laws and regulations should only ever reinforce current 'cultural and market reality?' Good to know that bans on slavery, child labor, and littering were illegitimate.
  - kakarot 9y ago
    Yes, and marijuana laws are just like slavery, child labor, and littering. It's ironic because you mention slavery while not understanding the war on drugs is crucial to the health of modern slavery, and drug laws are just as much a human rights issue as slavery laws.
    - sdenton4 9y ago
      On the contrary, I absolutely oppose marijuana prohibition, and agree that the way on drugs is responsible for a broad variety of social ills, including a hyper inflated incarceration rate. I think it's a mistake, however, to oppose regulation of legalized marijuana grows by default. Like any other industry, it's going to have potential for negative impacts, and regulation can help check those impacts.
      - kakarot 9y ago
        I don't mean to chastise, but there are definitely better ways of expressing that sentiment than seemingly equating slavery with marijuana legalization.

2III7 9y ago

The main environmental impact comes from the plants high water consumption which for a grown up plant is a bit over 20 litres per day. Thats when growing in soil. Hydro weed needs much less water but doesn't taste so good.

brianwawok 9y ago
How much water do almonds need? How much water in the US is used to grow almonds? How much water would be needed to grow weed for every man, woman, and child in the US?
- nothrabannosir 9y ago
  If this is rhetorical, and you know the answers, do share. Because I have no idea. It sounds like you do? Additionally: why are those numbers relevant? Just for context?
  - ceejayoz 9y ago
    Almonds are brought up because they take up 10% of California's water (https://newrepublic.com/article/125450/heres-real-problem-almonds https://newrepublic.com/article/125450/heres-real-problem-al...). A single almond takes 1.1 gallons of water (http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/02/wheres-californias-water-going/ http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/02/wheres-califo...) to produce. Any argument for limiting marijuana growing based on "it takes lots of water!" has to address why we already permit stuff like almonds to be grown in drought-prone areas.
    - nothrabannosir 9y ago
      Ok I can hardly compare “x litres per plant per day” vs “n gallons per almond”. How long does a plant live and how many “portions” does it have? I can guess almonds would be, say, a handful for a “portion”? So that’s.. how much in litres? See this is why I’m not super stoked about that original comment. Instead of making a clear point, I just get thrown some random hints and a “you go figure it out”. It’s like I’m supposed to make ones argument for them, and it might turn out to be completely irrelevant (maybe almonds are orders of magnitude more [e:less!] thirsty!) and then I can’t even reply because the actual argument was never made! Just give me the numbers. Do your own homework :) (well, not you, but op) (Edit: as someone else mentioned, this is assuming op was being rhetorical. If it’s a genuine q: I completely second it)

danjoc 9y ago

>Marijuana can and should be grown This is illegal in the US, which includes California. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._Raich https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._Raich

spraak 9y ago
Like, are you sincere? California, among many other states, has legalized cannabis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_Use_of_Marijuana_Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_Use_of_Marijuana_Act

tomc1985 9y ago

Except many of the illegal growers diverting water to their crops illicitly. Not as big an issue now but during our drought...

rangibaby 9y ago
I don’t think weed is that high on the list of “agricultural uses of water”. Try almonds or meat