ABSTRACT
For several decades, industrial varieties of Cannabis sativa have been touted as phenomenally beneficial for the environment and biodiversity, admittedly particularly by individuals sometimes considered to be “Fringe Greenies” by those with limited sympathy for environmental issues. Nevertheless, hemp has become the world’s leading crop symbol of sustainable agriculture. Although the benefits of growing hemp have been greatly exaggerated in the popular press and by hemp entrepreneurs, C. sativa is nevertheless exceptionally suitable for organic agriculture and is remarkably less “ecotoxic” in comparison to most other crops. There are considerable ecological and sustainable advantages, as presented in this chapter, but there are also some disadvantages, particularly with respect to the illicit cultivation of marijuana.
