Of course the basic premise of “The Climate-Killers Inside” is correct. It’s silly to grow plants indoors under light bulbs instead of in the sunshine where they belong. However the authors leave out the most important cause of all the environmental degradation: marijuana prohibition. Unfortunately the authors assumption that outdoor pot can provide all the medicine we need depends on it being legal otherwise the market itself would have already ended indoor growing, as it is very expensive.
Although many growers qualify for the care program because their income is not taxable, most do not use it for fear of unwanted attention. In fact, PG&E charges more money the more electricity you use. Growers pay $.47393 per kWh for most of their power while the average resident pays $.11877 per kWh. So the assumption that we all pay more so others can grow pot is also incorrect.
Now consider the environmental cost of marijuana law enforcement. How much fuel is spent each year flying helicopters and airplanes around to bust people growing plants in the sun nationwide? How many resources and tax dollars are used to search out, prosecute and jail pot offenders across this country?
I think the author’s efforts would be better spent trying to legalize marijuana than villainize our neighbors. I for one would gladly give up a piece of our economy to see the end of the costly and futile war on pot.
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Cost of Prohibition
on 03/16/2010 at 7:43 PM
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Re: “The Climate-Killers Inside”
Of course the basic premise of “The Climate-Killers Inside” is correct. It’s silly to grow plants indoors under light bulbs instead of in the sunshine where they belong. However the authors leave out the most important cause of all the environmental degradation: marijuana prohibition. Unfortunately the authors assumption that outdoor pot can provide all the medicine we need depends on it being legal otherwise the market itself would have already ended indoor growing, as it is very expensive. Although many growers qualify for the care program because their income is not taxable, most do not use it for fear of unwanted attention. In fact, PG&E charges more money the more electricity you use. Growers pay $.47393 per kWh for most of their power while the average resident pays $.11877 per kWh. So the assumption that we all pay more so others can grow pot is also incorrect. Now consider the environmental cost of marijuana law enforcement. How much fuel is spent each year flying helicopters and airplanes around to bust people growing plants in the sun nationwide? How many resources and tax dollars are used to search out, prosecute and jail pot offenders across this country? I think the author’s efforts would be better spent trying to legalize marijuana than villainize our neighbors. I for one would gladly give up a piece of our economy to see the end of the costly and futile war on pot.