HIGH TIMES IN THE U.S.A.: A DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY OF MARIJUANA

Abstract

Marijuana is one of the most famous invasive species to arrive in the United States. Not only has it contributed to the country’s rich social and political history, its ecological impact has also been felt. My study began with a literature review to assess the conditions for optimal marijuana plant growth. I looked at an extensive number of environmental factors like soil, light availability, nutrients, and competition, and their impact on the growth of marijuana plants. Next, I studied the marijuana plant life cycle and evaluated the risks the plant faces at each stage of life, identifying the stage at which the plant is most vulnerable to death. For the statistical aspect of my study, I used government-documented reports of indoor and outdoor marijuana plant cultivation in each state, to assess whether there were any significant variations in marijuana growth based on region of the country, human population density, soil order, precipitation, and temperature. The oneway analyses revealed that there are significantly greater marijuana populations in the Pacific and East South Central regions of the United States. With the continual upward trend of marijuana populations in the United States, these areas will most likely be the greatest pot hot spots and will therefore feel the greatest impact of rising marijuana cultivation in the country.