Growing practices and the use of potentially harmful chemical additives among a sample of small-scale cannabis growers in three countries

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. Background: With the growth of legal cannabis markets there has been recognition of the adverse impacts of certain cannabis growing practices, notably, use of harmful chemicals. A major concern has been the use of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) which limit plant size and stimula...

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Main Authors: Lenton, Simon, Frank, V., Barratt, Monica, Potter, G., Decorte, T.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier Ireland Ltd 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/71138
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author Lenton, Simon
Frank, V.
Barratt, Monica
Potter, G.
Decorte, T.
author_facet Lenton, Simon
Frank, V.
Barratt, Monica
Potter, G.
Decorte, T.
author_sort Lenton, Simon
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2018 Elsevier B.V. Background: With the growth of legal cannabis markets there has been recognition of the adverse impacts of certain cannabis growing practices, notably, use of harmful chemicals. A major concern has been the use of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) which limit plant size and stimulate bud production. These chemicals, many of which have been banned from food crops, have been found unlisted in cannabis growing nutrients sold online or in hydroponic stores. This study describes the cannabis growing practices used by small-scale recreational cannabis growers and specifically their self-reported use of chemicals. Methods: Web survey data from 1722 current and recent cannabis growers in Australia, Denmark, and the UK, who were asked about their cannabis growing practices, including the use of fertilizers and supplements. Results: Overall 44% of the sample reported using any chemical fertilizers, supplements or insecticides. Logistic regression indicated that the unique predictor of the use of chemicals was growing hydroponically. Conclusion: Problems associated with product labeling and uncertainty regarding product constituents made it difficult for growers and the researchers to determine which products likely contained PGRs or other harmful chemicals. There is a need for further research to analyze constituents of chemical products marketed to cannabis growers.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-711382018-12-13T09:33:09Z Growing practices and the use of potentially harmful chemical additives among a sample of small-scale cannabis growers in three countries Lenton, Simon Frank, V. Barratt, Monica Potter, G. Decorte, T. © 2018 Elsevier B.V. Background: With the growth of legal cannabis markets there has been recognition of the adverse impacts of certain cannabis growing practices, notably, use of harmful chemicals. A major concern has been the use of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) which limit plant size and stimulate bud production. These chemicals, many of which have been banned from food crops, have been found unlisted in cannabis growing nutrients sold online or in hydroponic stores. This study describes the cannabis growing practices used by small-scale recreational cannabis growers and specifically their self-reported use of chemicals. Methods: Web survey data from 1722 current and recent cannabis growers in Australia, Denmark, and the UK, who were asked about their cannabis growing practices, including the use of fertilizers and supplements. Results: Overall 44% of the sample reported using any chemical fertilizers, supplements or insecticides. Logistic regression indicated that the unique predictor of the use of chemicals was growing hydroponically. Conclusion: Problems associated with product labeling and uncertainty regarding product constituents made it difficult for growers and the researchers to determine which products likely contained PGRs or other harmful chemicals. There is a need for further research to analyze constituents of chemical products marketed to cannabis growers. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/71138 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.07.040 Elsevier Ireland Ltd restricted
spellingShingle Lenton, Simon
Frank, V.
Barratt, Monica
Potter, G.
Decorte, T.
Growing practices and the use of potentially harmful chemical additives among a sample of small-scale cannabis growers in three countries
title Growing practices and the use of potentially harmful chemical additives among a sample of small-scale cannabis growers in three countries
title_full Growing practices and the use of potentially harmful chemical additives among a sample of small-scale cannabis growers in three countries
title_fullStr Growing practices and the use of potentially harmful chemical additives among a sample of small-scale cannabis growers in three countries
title_full_unstemmed Growing practices and the use of potentially harmful chemical additives among a sample of small-scale cannabis growers in three countries
title_short Growing practices and the use of potentially harmful chemical additives among a sample of small-scale cannabis growers in three countries
title_sort growing practices and the use of potentially harmful chemical additives among a sample of small-scale cannabis growers in three countries
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/71138