PROFILE
Publications
2023
Dillis, C., Butsic, V., Martin, J., Reiman, A., Starrs, G., Grantham, T.
Environmental Research Letters
California supports the largest legal cannabis market in the world and cannabis crops across the state face increasing risk from wildfire.
2023
Dillis, C., Butsic, V., Georgakakos, P., Portugal, E., Grantham, T.
Environmental Research Communications
Water use on unpermitted farms varies by watershed. With scenario modeling, we project the impacts of compliance with water extraction and off-stream storage.
2023
Polson, M., Bodwitch, H., Biber, E., Butsic, V., Grantham, T.
Land Use Policy
There are many barriers to participation in California's regulated cannabis industry. Is there a way to achieve environmental objectives, farmer compliance, and an equitable transition away from illegal markets?
2022
Polson, M., Butsic, V., Dillis, C., de Genova, H., Grantham, T., Herrera, L.R., Hossack, J., Laudati, A., Martin, J.V., Parker-Shames, P., Petersen-Rockney, M., Sorgen, J., Starrs, G.
This report presents multiple pathways for consideration by state and local governments in their efforts to improve cannabis cultivation policy.
2022
Dillis, C., Butsic, V., Moanga, D., Parker-Shames, P., Wartenberg, A., Grantham, T.
Agroecosytems
Where should we grow? Explore the vulnerability of California's cannabis agriculture to wildfire.
2021
Wartenberg, A. C., Holden, P. A., Bodwitch, H., Parker-Shames, P., Novotny, T., Harmon, T. C., & Butsic, V.
Environmental Science & Technology Letters
Explore environmental impacts of cannabis production and how evidence-based policy can reduce harms.
2021
Dillis, C., Butsic, V., Carah, J., Zipper, S.C. and Grantham, T.
Environmental Research Communications
Well water irrigates California’s top-producing cannabis farming regions. Why? What are the impacts?
2021
Bodwitch, H., Polson , M., Biber, E., Hickey, G. M., Butsic, V.
Journal of Rural Studies
Despite legalization, illicit cannabis production continues in California. Surveys reveal that small farmers face outsized burdens to compliance.
2021
Parker-Shames, P., Choi, C., Butsic, V. , Green, D., Barry, B., Moriarty, K. , Levi, T., Brashares, J. S.
The Society for Conservation Biology
What are ecological impacts of cannabis legalization? To find out, we mapped the first season of legal cannabis farms in Josephine County, southern Oregon.
2021
Dillis, C., Biber, E., Bodwitch, H., Butsic, V., Carah, J., Parker-Shames, P., Polson, M. and Grantham, T.
Land Use Policy
How has legalization shaped patterns of farm location, size, land ownership, and regulatory compliance in California?
2020
Dillis, C., McIntee, C., Butsic, V., Le, L. Grady, K., & Grantham, T.
Journal of Environmental Management
What cultivation practices help cannabis farmers store enough water to eliminate surface water diversions during California’s dry growing season?
2019
Schwab, B., Wartenberg, A. & Butsic, V.
California Agriculture
Are California’s cannabis regulations leading to industry consolidation and larger farms?
2019
Valachovic, Y., Quinn-Davidson, L., Stackhouse, J. and Butsic, V.
California Agriculture
What are the impacts of cannabis legalization on traditional rural livelihoods?
2019
Wilson, H., Bodwitch, H., Carah, J., Daane, K., Getz C., Grantham, T. E., & Butsic, V.
California Agriculture
Cannabis legalization opens opportunities to study and share best practices. Our survey of growers reveals starting points.
2018
Butsic, V., Carah, J., Baumann, M., Stephens, C. & Brenner, J.C.
Environmental Research Letters
How does California’s rapid expansion of cannabis agriculture into "frontiers" of sensitive habitat compare to regulatory investments? What does this portend for global cannabis frontiers?
2017
Wang, I.J., Brenner, J.C. and Butsic, V.
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
A booming cannabis industry expands agriculture into forest habitat. Science offers methods to understand impacts and shape policy.
2017
Butsic, V., Schwab, B., Baumann, M. & Brenner, J.C.
Ecological Economics
What factors influence the location and size of cannabis cultivation sites?
2016
Butsic, V. & Brenner, J.C.
Environmental Research Letters
Spatial patterns of cannabis grow sites reveal environmental impacts of an expanding industry.