609. What Does It Take to Run a Cannabis Farm?

2024/10/31

Freakonomics Radio

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Chris Bennett

Chris Weld

Luca Boldrini

Stephen Dubner

以《怪诞经济学》系列著名的美国作家、记者和广播电视人物。

Yasmin Hurd

Topics

Chris Weld：作为一名经验丰富的大麻种植者，我分享了大麻种植的实际操作，包括不同种植方式的优缺点（室内、温室、室外），以及大麻产品的不同形式（花、浓缩物、食用产品等）及其市场需求。我还谈到了大麻合法化后市场面临的挑战，例如供应过剩导致价格下降，以及严格的监管措施带来的额外成本和复杂性。此外，我还比较了大麻和酒精的成瘾性和毒性，并强调了大麻产品中THC含量信息的不准确性以及对年轻人的潜在危害。 Luca Boldrini：作为大麻种植主管，我详细介绍了室内种植大麻的优势，包括更高的质量控制和一致性，以及更精细的管理方式（例如手工浇水）。我还解释了为什么我们只种植雌性大麻植株以避免授粉，以及温室种植的成本和天气因素的影响。 Yasmin Hurd：作为一位神经科学家和成瘾专家，我强调了目前市场上大多数大麻产品缺乏研究，高浓度THC对人体的影响未知。我还指出大麻合法化进程过快，对大麻产品的长期危害评估不足，以及大麻中重金属含量的检测和控制的重要性，并批评了一些第三方检测公司的可靠性问题。 Chris Bennett：作为运营经理，我分享了我对大麻耐受性的看法，以及不同剂量的大麻对人体的影响。 Stephen Dubner：作为主持人，我引导讨论，并提出了关于大麻产业经济状况、监管政策、社会接受度等方面的问题。我还介绍了大麻产业的自给自足模式（autarky）对经济增长的负面影响，以及大麻作为生物富集剂的特性及其对人体健康的影响。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did Chris Weld transition from emergency medicine to running a cannabis farm?

He was tired of working in the ER and found a derelict orchard with a historic spring, leading him to start a distillery and later a cannabis farm.

Why is Chris Weld's cannabis farm called The Pass?

The name reflects the farm's location in the mountains and the idea of passing from one state of mind to another with legal cannabis.

Why is indoor cannabis cultivation more expensive than outdoor or greenhouse cultivation?

Indoor cultivation requires precise control of temperature, light, and moisture, using more technology and energy.

Why are some cannabis plants not as developed as others in Chris Weld's outdoor grow field?

Different cultivars have varying growth rates and some may not finish developing in time for harvest.

Why is there a glut in the cannabis market in Massachusetts?

There's too much canopy, leading to overproduction and people selling cannabis at cost or below cost.

Why do some public health officials express concern about highly concentrated THC products?

There's limited research on long-term harms, and the potency of these products can be manipulated without consumer awareness.

Why does Chris Weld believe cannabis is less harmful than alcohol?

He cites his experience in ERs where alcohol-related incidents were common, but he rarely saw cannabis-related violence or accidents.

Why is cannabis testing in Massachusetts more stringent than in New York?

Massachusetts has a more controlled and regulated approach to cannabis legalization, with extensive testing for quality and safety.

Why does Chris Weld think the cannabis industry in Massachusetts is struggling?

There's been over-licensing and overproduction, leading to a race to the bottom and an unstable market environment.

Why doesn't Chris Weld use cannabis despite running a cannabis farm?

He enjoys growing and working with the plant but isn't a heavy consumer himself.

Chapters

Chris Weld, a former emergency room worker, transitions from running a successful distillery to entering the cannabis industry. He discusses the initial excitement and challenges of navigating the chaotic cannabis economy.

Chris Weld's background in emergency medicine and his transition to the cannabis industry.
The initial excitement and challenges of the cannabis market.
The cannabis industry's state of chaos and financial instability.

Shownotes Transcript

Chris Weld worked for years in emergency rooms, then ditched that career and bought an old farm in Massachusetts. He set up a distillery and started making prize-winning spirits. When cannabis was legalized, he jumped into that too — and the first few years were lucrative. But now? It turns out that growing, processing, and selling weed is more complicated than it looks. He gave us the grand tour. (Part three of a four-part series).)

SOURCES:
Chris Bennett, operations manager at Berkshire Mountain Distillers.
Luca Boldrini, head of cultivation at The Pass.
Yasmin Hurd), director of the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai.
Chris Weld), founder and owner of Berkshire Mountain Distillers.
RESOURCES:
"As America’s Marijuana Use Grows, So Do the Harms)," by Megan Twohey, Danielle Ivory, and Carson Kessler (*The New York Times, *2024).
"Evaluation of Dispensaries’ Cannabis Flowers for Accuracy of Labeling of Cannabinoids Content)," by Mona M. Geweda, Chandrani G. Majumdar, Mahmoud A. ElSohly, et al. (*Journal of Cannabis Research, *2024).
"The Complicated, Risky — but Potentially Lucrative — Business of Selling Cannabis)," by James R. Hagerty (*The Wall Street Journal, *2023).
"Marijuana Content Labels Can’t Be Trusted)," by Shira Schoenberg (*CommonWealth Beacon, *2022).
"Growing Cannabis Indoors Produces a Lot of Greenhouse Gases — Just How Much Depends on Where It’s Grown)," by Jason Quinn and Hailey Summers (*The Conversation, *2021).
"Blood and Urinary Metal Levels Among Exclusive Marijuana Users in NHANES (2005-2018))," by Katlyn E. McGraw, Anne E, Nigra, Tiffany R. Sanchez, et al. (*Environmental Health Perspectives, *2018).
"The Carbon Footprint of Indoor Cannabis Production)," by Evan Mills (*Energy Policy, *2012).
EXTRAS:
"Cannabis Is Booming, So Why Isn’t Anyone Getting Rich?)" by *Freakonomics Radio *(2024).
"Is America Switching From Booze to Weed?)" by *Freakonomics Radio *(2024).

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