The Environmental Impact on the Illegal Growing of Marijuana by Hannah Speer

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In recent years, the country has been faced with a push to legalize the infamous herb, cannabis.  At the moment, marijuana is only legal in 2 states for recreational use.  Other states have legalized the herb for medical use, and those suppliers grow their cannabis legally.  While marijuana is legal in some states under certain circumstances, it isn't legal everywhere.  This in turn provides obstacles for individuals who wish to obtain the herb.  As a result, marijuana is grown illegally and it has negative effects on the environment.  Growing marijuana is not an easy task because of the specific requirements the plant needs to thrive, and the legality of the growing process.  Growers need to keep in mind that their location needs to be hidden to avoid thieves that may want to steal their product, and law enforcement.  The actions that growers take to protect their herb has detrimental effects on the environment in which cannabis is being grown.  For example, environmental conservationists find that growers need to clear areas of land were their plants can thrive. This often requires cutting down vegetation and trees to fit the needs of the plant.  Environmental conservationists also find that growers in remote areas often destroy water sources such as streams and creeks because of the toxic chemicals used in the growing process.   This destruction of water sources kills fish and other wildlife living in them. Also, to keep their product healthy, growers often use pesticides such as rat poison that effect the plant in a positive way, but the environment in a negative way. In 2013 a study showed that that rat poison used as pesticides in illegal growing operations was making its way through the ecosystem in the Sierra Nevada and had detrimental effects on its wildlife. 

                Areas where marijuana is grown illegally are suffering because of the plant’s production.  However, places were marijuana is grown legally are suffering as well.  This is because of amount of energy that is required to grow this plant.  In order for marijuana to thrive, it requires lots of direct sunlight.  This means that when grown indoors this plant eats up a lot of energy and in turn has a large carbon footprint.  Since the demand for marijuana is high, production is also high, the carbon footprint is only getting bigger.

                There is however a light at the end of the tunnel.  These ecological problems can be solved if cannabis was legalized at the federal level.  When this occurs, the government can enforce strict laws that both benefit the environment, and benefit the growers. They can prohibit cannabis to be grown indoors which consumes a large amount of energy.  These laws can also enforce rules that protect the environment while this plant is being grown.  If marijuana is legalized, then growers no longer need to hide their product in remote places which hurts the environment.  This means less destruction to the environment.  Since cannabis is found in nature, it deserves to be grown there. 

http://www.ibtimes.com/how-marijuana-farms-impact-environment-1729921