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Post by Admin on Dec 21, 2023 15:54:36 GMT
Welcome to the Virtual Guest Speaker list. Please post your questions or comments for Professors Warren's lecture as replies to this thread.
Thanks,
Steve Johnson
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Post by Monica Lopez on Apr 2, 2024 15:35:22 GMT
Professor Warren,
Thanks for a very thought-provoking lecture. Environmental justice issues seem to be everywhere in environmental law. As I listened to your talk, I was thinking that there are probably environmental justice issues involving the workers at the indoor cannabis farms, too. It seems like they would be exposed to high levels of agricultural chemicals, mold, VOCs, noise and humidity, as well as high temperatures and very bright lighting. Have state occupational safety and health agencies set workplace safety standards that are tailored to address the conditions at indoor cannabis farms?
Thank you,
Monica Lopez
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Post by Terry Reynolds on Apr 3, 2024 13:01:37 GMT
Professor,
It seems clear that the best approach from an environmental point of view would be to get more cannabis growing outdoors instead of indoors. Is the decision to grow cannabis indoors motivated more by economics (i.e. it's cheaper to grow cannabis indoors?) or by limits placed by state and local governments on outdoor growing of cannabis? Are states or local governments providing tax breaks or subsidies for indoor growing? If so, could those be eliminated to reduce indoor growing, or would that undercut the efforts to diversify the ownership of cannabis farms?
Thanks,
Terry Reynolds and Alexis Wheeler
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Post by Gina Warren on Apr 4, 2024 21:49:10 GMT
Thank you for your questions and interest in my research! It's a privilege to be part of this guest speaker series. @monica, You are completely right - environmental justice issues are pervasive in all energy-related industries. EJ concerns for workers could also be an issue, but one area that is definitely an issue is worker safety and OSHA - given the level of exposure to chemicals, mold, VOCs, etc. It's not an area that I've research a ton, but I know Oregon has state guidance for cannabis growers. osha.oregon.gov/essentials/cannabis/pages/default.aspx. Oregon's OSHA applies to all facilities with one or more employees, so it generally covers any commercial grow. Their website also breaks down how the rules apply to growers, processors, and retailers and it includes multiple topic areas of interest for each. |
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Post by Gina Warren on Apr 5, 2024 3:50:50 GMT
@terry & Alexis. Great questions! There are two main reasons why cannabis is grown indoors. (1) many jurisdictions require it to be grown indoors because of security concerns; and (2) some growers prefer to be indoors because it allows for a year around harvest (and is not weather reliant) and provides greater control over the end product (they can prevent cross-pollination, etc). I’m not aware of any tax breaks or subsidies for growing indoors. The only incentives I’m aware of related to indoor grows are those trying to help provide more environmentally and energy friendly facilities.
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Post by Christain Miles on Apr 5, 2024 19:19:39 GMT
Hello Professor Warren!
Thank you so much for you contribution to the Virtual Guest Speaker Program. Before this program, when I thought of environmental law, I certainly never thought of marijuana farms and how they could be effecting the environment in terms of energy. I have two questions that I hope to seek clarification on.
First, I wonder what your opinion is on incentivizing marijuana growers to use solar panels if growing indoors. In Georgia, there appears to be tax incentive to get solar panels. For an example, my dad got solar panels for our childhood home and he is allegedly supposed to receive a financial bonus because of this. Do you think incentivizing the use of solar panels could help decrease the harms caused by these farms?
Second, you mention that incentivizing outdoor growth could be one of the possible solutions to solving the issues raised by marijuana growth as well as mentioning how this issue overlaps with poverty law in the sense that many growers tend to be individuals of color and of low income status. Do you think that because society has negative opinions about growing marijuana that it has to disincentivized individuals from growing marijuana outdoors.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to answer my questions.
Best,
Christain Miles
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Post by Gina Warren on Apr 6, 2024 15:14:31 GMT
Hi Christian. As to your first question - absolutely we should incentivize solar for marijuana grows. I have written two articles addressing incentives for low carbon energy sources. One issue is that there isn't enough roof space available to power the needs of an indoor grow. Some estimates suggest it can power about 5%. As a result I previously recommended a two-pronged approach that requires indoor growers to pay an ever-increasing carbon fee, which would go into a fund for the development of more efficient technology and climate-friendly electricity facilities, in conjunction with requiring growers to meet an incrementally increasing requirement to incorporate carbon-free electricity sources. Here are the links for my two previous articles: www.bu.edu/bulawreview/files/2021/07/WARREN.pdf and journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/cjel/article/view/3541. As to your second question, yes, I do think that it has to do with stigma and a concern that growing outdoors could result in more crime and security issues. My guess is these concerns are unfounded, but it's not something I've looked into much. |
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