Water pollution is a global epidemic that poses a serious threat not only to mankind but to all living things on Earth.
Currently, an outrageous number of ecosystems are affected as a consequence of toxic aquatic environments, and experts agree that this issue will only worsen unless we implement novel and drastic solutions.
One of the proposed solutions is the global legalization of medical cannabis. It might sound like a stoner’s hazy dream, but the truth is that if medically legalized, cannabis could potentially:
- Reduce plastic residues in oceans
- Reduce pharmaceutical residues in oceans
- Prevent aquatic environmental stress from soil erosion
Hemp-Based Bioplastics Trump Popular Bioplastics
One of the main sources of water pollution comes from plastic and microplastic debris. Since its invention, plastic has been one of the most used materials in society, given its convenience and versatility.
As a consequence, we now live in a world where our food, drinking water, and even our “fresh” air are heavily polluted with microscopic pieces of plastic.
Some people might take this issue lightly and choose to ignore it since it’s not “affecting” them in their everyday lives. However, ingesting microplastics may lead to severe health issues including:
- Cancer development
- Reproductive abnormalities
- Respiratory issues
- Obesity development
- Cardiovascular disease
Fortunately, environmental scientists have taken the task upon themselves to make the ocean plastic-free. One of the most promising solutions was the introduction of bioplastics.
Most people agree that bioplastics are one of the best approaches to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans. Sadly, this is far from the truth. While bioplastics have the ability to degrade in some environments, only a few of them has been proven to be biodegradable in several aquatic environments.
As a result, some scientists have turned to hemp as a promising alternative to this issue. Hemp has been proven to be a sturdy candidate to replace popular bioplastics given its innate strength, easy production, and overall versatility.
Although more research is needed to study the biodegradability of hemp bioplastics in marine environments, a good general rule often paraphrased by researchers is:
“If nature makes it, nature will degrade it.”
Solving the Frightening Problem of Pharmaceutical Residues in The Ocean
Pharmaceutical residues in water are a growing problem that even some professionals are unaware of.
They come from various sources, including patients taking too many prescriptions, pharmaceutical companies dumping their waste inadequately, and preclinical/clinical trials performed in laboratories.
But why should we care if drugs end up in the ocean? The issue is that these residues can be toxic to aquatic life. In many cases, these drugs kill the organisms that live in freshwater, which affects the entire ecosystem.
Further, pharmaceutical runoff in the ocean can enhance the production of Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB). HABs are a form of phytoplankton that feed on organic nutrients in the water and decompose into their basic components once they die. When these phytoplankton decompose, they release toxins that have been shown to cause harmful effects in humans, such as breathing problems, paralysis, and even death.
Luckily, cannabis may hold the key to this problem. Nowadays, more patients are opting to choose cannabis as their therapeutic treatment against several diseases instead of other medications such as opioid-based drugs. Several patients prefer cannabis given its low costs, effectiveness in treating their symptoms/disorders, and considerable decrement in side effects.
Cannabis Can Help Cure the Ocean Through Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation is the process of using plants to remove toxins from the soil. Cannabis has been shown to be one of the best plants for phytoremediation due to being a fast-growing plant able to flourish in many different types of environments.
Cannabis helps the soil by removing:
- Heavy metals like Lead, Mercury, and Selenium
- Radioactive chemicals like Uranium
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
If this is not convincing enough, just remember that back in the 1980s, hemp was used as a phytoremediation agent for a big chunk of the radioactive soils in Chornobyl.
If healthy soils surround us we can prevent the runoff of harmful chemicals into our oceans which will result in a healthier aquatic ecosystem.
Can Cannabis Destroy the Oceans?
Ironically, there is also growing concern that the legalization of cannabis will increase the levels of pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment. It is commonly known that cannabis is full of cannabinoids that affect humans physiologically and psychologically, but could they affect marine ecosystems?
The short answer is yes. Most vertebrates and invertebrates have an endocannabinoid system that is triggered in the presence of cannabinoids. This means that fish and mammals in the oceans can be affected by cannabis residues, thus affecting the aquatic ecosystem.
Scientists are still figuring out if the introduction of cannabinoids into the oceans could result in catastrophic scenarios. This is quite problematic given the current popularization of cannabis worldwide. More people are consuming cannabis as their medical and recreational drug of choice; therefore, scientists need to pay close attention to the plausible consequences that cannabinoid residues may have in aquatic ecosystems.
On the other hand, inadequate cannabis cultivation practices may also lead to toxic residues in the ocean. Most cannabis cultivation operations are grown outdoors, making it hard to control the waste of harmful chemicals into the soil and eventually into aquatic environments. Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are likely to end up in the ocean if cannabis cultivars are not properly regulated.
Conclusion: The Future Of The Oceans May Depend On Cannabis
Cannabis is a natural way to target water, soil, and air pollution. This plant can be used as an alternative for threatening pharmaceuticals, water-degradable bioplastics, phytoremediation agents, and more!
Although science hasn’t caught up to the potential of cannabis, humankind can rest assured that this plant will help us clean our oceans. In the end, a cleaner and safer environment is the ultimate goal of any society. With the help of cannabis, we can achieve this goal.
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