Settler Cannabis: From Gold Rush to Green Rush in Indigenous Northern California

In Settler Cannabis, Kaitlin Reed explores how the unregulated cannabis production on Indigenous lands in northwest California has resulted in the commodification and control of nature for profit, affecting Indigenous cultures, lands, waters, and bodies. She argues that the cannabis industry is just the latest example of settler colonial resource extraction and wealth accumulation and offers a path toward an alternative future that starts with the return of land to Indigenous stewardship.

Format: Hardback
Length: 308 pages
Publication date: 20 June 2023
Publisher: University of Washington Press

Young countercultural back-to-the-land settlers flocked to northwest California beginning in the 1960s, and by the 1970s, unregulated cannabis production proliferated on Indigenous lands. As of 2021, the California cannabis economy was valued at $3.5 billion. In Settler Cannabis, Kaitlin Reed demonstrates how this green rush is only the most recent example of settler colonial resource extraction and wealth accumulation. Situating the cannabis industry within this broader legacy, the author traces patterns of resource rushing—first gold, then timber, then fish, and now cannabis—to reveal the ongoing impacts on Indigenous cultures, lands, waters, and bodies.

Reed shares this history to inform the path toward an alternative future, one that starts with the return of land to Indigenous stewardship and rejects the commodification and control of nature for profit. Combining archival research with testimonies and interviews with tribal members, tribal employees, and settler-state employees, Settler Cannabis offers a groundbreaking analysis of the environmental consequences of cannabis cultivation that foregrounds Indigenous voices, experiences, and histories.

The cannabis industry in California has experienced significant growth and development over the past few decades. In 2021, the state's cannabis economy was valued at $3.5 billion, making it one of the largest in the country. However, this growth has not come without its challenges, particularly for Indigenous communities that have long been marginalized and affected by the drug war.

One of the most significant impacts of the cannabis industry on Indigenous communities has been the loss of land and resources. Many Indigenous tribes have been forced to relocate or give up their ancestral lands to make way for cannabis cultivation. This has led to a loss of traditional livelihoods, cultural practices, and access to natural resources, such as water and medicinal plants.

In addition to the loss of land, the cannabis industry has also brought with it environmental concerns. The cultivation of cannabis requires large amounts of water, which can be a strain on local water resources. The use of pesticides and fertilizers can also contribute to soil and water pollution, which can have negative impacts on Indigenous communities and the broader environment.

Another issue that has arisen in the cannabis industry is the commodification of Indigenous culture. Many cannabis companies have capitalized on the cultural significance of Indigenous practices and symbols, without seeking to engage with or respect the communities that these practices belong to. This has led to a misappropriation of cultural heritage and a lack of recognition for the contributions of Indigenous people to the cannabis industry.

Despite these challenges, there are also examples of Indigenous communities that have been able to benefit from the cannabis industry. Some tribes have established their own cannabis businesses, which have provided employment opportunities and economic development for their members. Additionally, some tribes have used cannabis cultivation as a way to reclaim their cultural heritage and reconnect with their traditional practices.

In conclusion, the cannabis industry in California has had a significant impact on Indigenous communities, both positive and negative. While the industry has provided economic opportunities for some tribes, it has also led to the loss of land, resources, and cultural heritage. It is essential that the cannabis industry engages with and respects Indigenous communities to ensure that the industry is sustainable and benefits all Californians.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780295751559