CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2018
| Author | Klassen, Mark David |
|---|---|
| Title | The effects of recreational cannabis legalization on forest management and conservation efforts in U.S. national forests in the Pacific Northwest |
| Summary | Cannabis cultivation in US national forests has been identified as a growing environmental issue resulting in the removal of native vegetation, diversion of waterways, agrochemical pollution, dumping of non-biodegradable trash and human waste, and the illegal poaching of wildlife. Those that adopt a rational choice framework often view law enforcement efforts as pushing this illegal activity into remote areas, including public lands, through the process of crime displacement. As such, the legalization of recreational cannabis has been prescribed as a possible solution to this environmental issue. With the liberalization of marijuana policies across numerous states, the opportunity to analyze these claims is now possible. Utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study investigates the effects of recreational cannabis legalization in Washington and Oregon on illicit marijuana cultivation in Pacific Northwest national forests. After gathering data from the US Forest Service, a series of regression analyses were conducted to determine the variables influencing the production of cannabis in national forests, and whether legalization can be identified as a significant factor impacting these trends. Further information was gathered by a consolidated interview process with the US Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations’ Pacific Northwest office. In addition to confirming the relevance of a rational choice framework, this study finds the legalization of recreational cannabis to be a significant factor contributing to a downward trend in illicit marijuana production in national forests in both Washington and Oregon. |
| Supervisor | Anthony, B.P. |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MSc |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2018/klassen_mark.pdf |
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