Carah, Jennifer K; Howard, Jeanette K; Thompson, Sally E; Gianotti, Anne Short G; Bauer, Scott D; Carlson, Stephanie M; Dralle, David N; Gabriel, Mourad W; Hulette, Lisa L; Johnson, Brian J; Knight, Curtis A; Kupferberg, Sarah J; Martin, Stefanie L; Naylor, Rosamond L; Power, Mary E
@article{Carah2015,
title = {High Time for Conservation: Adding the Environment to the Debate on Marijuana Liberalization},
author = {Jennifer K. Carah and Jeanette K. Howard and Sally E. Thompson and Anne G. Short Gianotti and Scott D. Bauer and Stephanie M. Carlson and David N. Dralle and Mourad W. Gabriel and Lisa L. Hulette and Brian J. Johnson and Curtis A. Knight and Sarah J. Kupferberg and Stefanie L. Martin and Rosamond L. Naylor and Mary E. Power},
url = {http://angelo.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/Carah_2015-Biosci.pdf},
doi = {10.1093/biosci/biv083},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-08-01},
journal = {BioScience},
volume = {65},
number = {8},
pages = {822-829},
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.},
keywords = {Environment, Marijuana},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
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.
