This was done without causing massive environmental damage, and they continue to be used in traditional rituals and practices as local medicines.
These practices and traditions are often considered economically inefficient and therefore ecologically inferior by mainstream development thinking.
This ignores the fact that the solutions proposed in terms of “alternative development” – the creation of alternative legitimate livelihoods – are proving to be unreasonable environments.
Glyphosate
In Myanmar, for example, ethnic groups that practice rotational farming in remote highland areas, including growing opium alongside food crops, have been blamed for deforestation.
However, crop-substitution programmes implemented to tackle the “drug problem” have resulted in land grabbing from large-scale rubber plantations and other industrial monocrops – multiplying social and environmental harm.
To the negative environmental impact of the development of extractive industries must be added the harmful effects of the so-called war on drugs. These include aerial fumigation activities using toxic agrochemicals such as glyphosate, which is the case in Colombia, where lockdown measures only encourage the transfer of cultivation to more remote areas, often in protected areas such as national parks .
These measures are highly ineffective, as global cocaine production and consumption have only increased over the years, despite the harmful environmental practices used to eradicate them. Thus, ending the global war on drugs could have important environmental benefits.
high score
Many shifts are taking place in the global drug regime, especially when it comes to cannabis. More and more countries around the world are moving towards regulated medical and/or adult use markets. These regulated markets will not necessarily improve environmental sustainability.
The current standard system for medical marijuana is largely based on the high-end pharmaceutical model, with many countries in the global north preferring the import alternative method, which encourages indoor cultivation.
This is associated with a very high carbon footprint, mainly due to the advanced heating and cooling systems and the high intensity grow lights used.
A recent study For example, in the United States it was found that producing one ounce (28 grams) of hay in an indoor environment produces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to burning 7 – 16 gallons (26 – 60 liters) of gasoline.
From an environmental and developmental standpoint, it is best to source cannabis from small and traditional growers in the Global South – where the climate conditions are suitable for outdoor cultivation.
sovereignty
Drug policy urgently needs environmental justice and puts the issue of drug cultivation on the radar of environmental and climate groups. This must be done with the active participation of those who make a living from illicit crops.
From Bolivia’s Coca Tea Organic Coca Leaf Production Experiment to Proposal Fair Trade Cannabis Model To be developed in the Caribbean – sustainable pathways can be established to link medicines to the global agro-ecological movement, food sovereignty, rural workers and indigenous peoples’ rights.
By examining the political, legal, economic, social, and environmental systems that integrate medicinal crops, we can move debates beyond those centered on plant use or consumers’ personal lifestyle choices. This will truly bring environmental justice to people, banned plants and the planet.
this author
Sylvia Kay is Transnational Academy There she worked on issues related to agriculture and environmental justice.
