High Time for Conservation: Adding the Environment to the Debate on Marijuana Liberalization

Jennifer K. Carah; Jeanette K. Howard; Sally E. Thompson; Anne G. Short Gianotti; Scott D. Bauer; Stephanie M. Carlson; David N. Dralle; Mourad W. Gabriel; Lisa L. Hulette; Brian J. Johnson; Curtis A. Knight; Sarah J. Kupferberg; Stefanie L. Martin; Rosamond L. Naylor; Mary E. Power

doi:10.1093/biosci/biv083

High Time for Conservation: Adding the Environment to the Debate on Marijuana Liberalization

Jennifer K. Carah, Jeanette K. Howard, Sally E. Thompson, Anne G. Short Gianotti, Scott D. Bauer, Stephanie M. Carlson, David N. Dralle, Mourad W. Gabriel, Lisa L. Hulette, Brian J. Johnson, Curtis A. Knight, Sarah J. Kupferberg, Stefanie L. Martin, Rosamond L. Naylor, Mary E. Power

Centre for Water and Spatial Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

67 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The liberalization of marijuana policies, including the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana, is sweeping the United States and other countries. Marijuana cultivation can have significant negative collateral effects on the environment that are often unknown or overlooked. Focusing on the state of California, where by some estimates 60%-70% of the marijuana consumed in the United States is grown, we argue that (a) the environmental harm caused by marijuana cultivation merits a direct policy response, (b) current approaches to governing the environmental effects are inadequate, and (c) neglecting discussion of the environmental impacts of cultivation when shaping future marijuana use and possession policies represents a missed opportunity to reduce, regulate, and mitigate environmental harm.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	822-829
Number of pages	8
Journal	Bioscience
Volume	65
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biv083
Publication status	Published - Aug 2015

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Carah, J. K., Howard, J. K., Thompson, S. E., Gianotti, A. G. S., Bauer, S. D., Carlson, S. M., Dralle, D. N., Gabriel, M. W., Hulette, L. L., Johnson, B. J., Knight, C. A., Kupferberg, S. J., Martin, S. L., Naylor, R. L., & Power, M. E. (2015). High Time for Conservation: Adding the Environment to the Debate on Marijuana Liberalization. Bioscience, 65(8), 822-829. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biv083

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abstract = "The liberalization of marijuana policies, including the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana, is sweeping the United States and other countries. Marijuana cultivation can have significant negative collateral effects on the environment that are often unknown or overlooked. Focusing on the state of California, where by some estimates 60%-70% of the marijuana consumed in the United States is grown, we argue that (a) the environmental harm caused by marijuana cultivation merits a direct policy response, (b) current approaches to governing the environmental effects are inadequate, and (c) neglecting discussion of the environmental impacts of cultivation when shaping future marijuana use and possession policies represents a missed opportunity to reduce, regulate, and mitigate environmental harm.",

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author = "Carah, {Jennifer K.} and Howard, {Jeanette K.} and Thompson, {Sally E.} and Gianotti, {Anne G. Short} and Bauer, {Scott D.} and Carlson, {Stephanie M.} and Dralle, {David N.} and Gabriel, {Mourad W.} and Hulette, {Lisa L.} and Johnson, {Brian J.} and Knight, {Curtis A.} and Kupferberg, {Sarah J.} and Martin, {Stefanie L.} and Naylor, {Rosamond L.} and Power, {Mary E.}",

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Carah, JK, Howard, JK, Thompson, SE, Gianotti, AGS, Bauer, SD, Carlson, SM, Dralle, DN, Gabriel, MW, Hulette, LL, Johnson, BJ, Knight, CA, Kupferberg, SJ, Martin, SL, Naylor, RL & Power, ME 2015, 'High Time for Conservation: Adding the Environment to the Debate on Marijuana Liberalization', Bioscience, vol. 65, no. 8, pp. 822-829. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biv083

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High Time for Conservation: Adding the Environment to the Debate on Marijuana Liberalization

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