NOT A RAT

 

Grand Daddy Says

“In the valley where I live, half of the population are cannabis growers like me.  Two of our new upstream neighbors are not organic growers, and do not observe good management practices.  They use rat poison around their gardens, pesticides on their plants, and have diverted the public watershed for their irrigation pond.  Others of us in the know have discussed this situation and we find ourselves conflicted about how to intervene.  We don’t want to snitch to authorities, but we want the environment respected and the resources shared.  We agree we need to do something, but what?   Any guidance or suggestions your wisdom can offer would be appreciated.”
— Not a Rat

Greetings and Blessings, Not a Rat,
Your problems and concerns are well founded, and, unfortunately, all too common.  These issues:  neighbors with conflicting management practices, the sharing/caring of natural resources, and effective community conflict resolution, are all tainted by the legal status of cannabis.  Our entire process would be immensely facilitated were cannabis farming legal.

First, let me reassure you that I do not think this situation is one in which the term “snitch” applies.  A snitch is the intolerable lowest life form in the cannabis community, characterizing a human being of such low self-esteem and personal integrity that they cooperate with law enforcement to shift legal liability onto others.  Snitches balance the legal consequences to themselves against those of the person and relationship they choose to betray, and compromise their ethics to serve their self-interest.  The primary motivation is reduced charges for themselves.  Not infrequently there are rivalries and personal offenses to settle.  The most cowardly snitches resort to “dropping the dime” with the anonymous tip call.

You are not a snitch for many reasons, most important of which is that you speak for other stakeholders than just yourself.  You speak for your other neighbors, the environment, and natural resources as well.  Although I heartily endorse and share your righteous concerns, I applaud that you have chosen to show restraint in considering your intervention options and have not resorted to torches and pitchforks.  Your community’s conflict “about how to intervene” are absolutely spot on.  Even the best intentioned interventions frequently go awry, usually when threatening confrontations are mutually escalated.  The responsible application of peer pressure always seems the best initial strategy.  Choosing the appropriate tactic that is both effective and non-punitive is the biggest challenge.  The best case scenario would involve a low key small group discussion that was experienced as both cooperative and empowering by all parties.  Perhaps two neighboring couples host a dinner for the newcomers.  Discussion focuses on areas of mutual consensus while rapport is established prior to moving into areas of concern and conflict which are presented as opportunities for community education and cooperative improvement.

“Others of us” reassures me that you have initially discussed this with your peers and that you are cautious about being identified as the spokesperson of the support group you are forming.  There is indeed safety in numbers so a unified group broaches this subject with the offender(s).  Perhaps a few delegates can invite a sit down with the larger group and an intervention can be effected.  Each of you can speak your individual peace while affirming your intention to stop these practices immediately before government agencies or law enforcement personnel become involved in resolving the dispute within your community.  Occasionally the offender is simply under educated and overwhelmed with the scope of work involved in a successful growing operation.  We once organized a community volunteer clean up party and were welcomed to help with the restoration.  Information and volunteer labor in the spirit of cooperation is all that was necessary.

Sometimes an escalating series of consequences becomes necessary.  Under no circumstances should any of you trespass on the offender’s property or participate in any violence.  Social and neighborly isolation of the offender and withdrawal of affiliation will result as the larger community becomes aware of the ongoing problems.  Increasing exposure of the offender’s bad deeds will result in their legal risks exceeding their monetary rewards.  Increasingly assertive tactics may include postings on adjacent property lines or along public waterways warning of the contaminants.   Continuing unwillingness to stop the environmental degradation and share the resources will inevitably result in someone seeking consequences from outside your immediate community.

The work of groups like The Emerald Growers Association and the adoption of cannabis industry Best Management Practices are essential to the policy reform movement. The overwhelming majority of responsible farmers continue to be vilified as we are unjustly painted with the broad brush of justifiable condemnation for the few. Knowing my neighbor is poisoning (or stealing) my watershed warrants an intervention, whether they grow cannabis or not.  Although I agree that calling in the authorities is a last resort, I would be less hesitant to complain about their practices to authorities if we were all growing tomatoes or grapes.

Sometime in the future there will exist an EGA with licensed members all committed to observing best practices while both protecting, monitoring, and disciplining members. Those of us who know how the successful industry currently works can help implement realistic regulations allowing all our best practices to be legal.  Help legalize now.

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