Green Daily

Vending machines in LA are being stocked with a new hot product this week. It's not single-serving espresso, granola bars, or anything like that -- it's bright green envelopes full of pot. Now, I must clarify, these are not your standard vending machines, they are equipped with cameras, fingerprint scanners and they only accept prepaid cards -- no bills or change. Even while federal laws still prohibit the possession and distribution of medical marijuana, it continues to be sold at dispensaries in many parts of California.

While I'm just assuming that medical marijuana is probably greener than most conventional pharmaceutical drugs -- since tons of the medications we take end up in our water supply -- that's not extent of the plant's potential impact on the environment. As medical marijuana becomes more and more accepted -- already legalized in 11 states -- it may eventually open the door for a crop that many environmentalist hail as a miracle of sustainability, i.e. industrial hemp.

Industrial hemp plants have very little THC -- the psychoactive ingredient that produces the "high" effect -- yet drug legislation prevents it from being cultivated here in the US. With only moderate maintenance, hemp can be used to make cloth, plastics, food, and especially paper -- which can cut down on deforestation (sorry for the pun). Plus, hemp grows successfully without harmful pesticides and chemical fertilizers like cotton.