Q&A Of The Day – Florida’s Toxic Algae Problems & Reporting Failures by Nikki Fried - Part 2
Bottom Line: Somehow, Florida’s Clean Waterways Act became about the state’s unemployment system and COVID-19 reporting to Nikki Fried. Suddenly, policy approved with the vote of every Democrat in Florida’s legislature was part of a “partisan power grab”. And for some reason Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner would rather have the feds have more control of Florida’s waterways than Floridians? Especially odd given that federal interference has been a common cause of issues such as toxic algae releases from Lake O’.
What’s hard to know is how much of Nikki’s dereliction of duty under the Clean Waterways Act comes from indignance vs. indifference – regardless – it's wrong and it’s in violation of Florida law. And now we’re on the precipice of Florida’s worst toxic algal bloom on her watch when she’s withholding information that might be helpful to combating the environmental catastrophe. There’s one other wildcard in this conversation that I can’t currently quantify. Is she conflicted?
According to the California Department of Public Health and the country’s first and largest licensed Cannabis Waste Management Company, Gaia – the cannabis industry can have an extensive environmental impact. Citing Gaia: Cannabis waste falls into two categories: hazardous and non-hazardous. Non-hazardous waste includes discarded plant material and cannabis products. Hazardous waste includes extraction solvents, contaminated lab debris, vape pens with batteries, and cannabis lighting equipment.
Hazardous waste is especially problematic, as it can negatively impact the environment by infecting landfills, releasing harmful VOCs into the air, and polluting water supplies.
Isn’t that interesting. Growing cannabis has been associated with creating hazardous waste which can pollute water supplies. Is it a coincidence that Florida’s marijuana industry is exploding, and we currently have our worst toxic algae issue? Is it a coincidence that Fried’s partner, Jake Bergmann, is the former CEO of Suterra and recently founded a new cannabis company in Florida? Could Nikki’s diversion from Florida’s Clean Waterways Act with discussions of the state’s unemployment site and COVID-19 reporting and her non-compliance with law be related to a potential conflict of interest? I have no evidence to this effect – though there’s plenty worth looking into here.
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