Two-thirds of home growers say cultivating cannabis has inspired them to start producing other fruits and vegetables, according to the results of a survey.
The poll of 1,327 home cannabis cultivators across the United States – in both legal and non-legal states –found that 66% of green-fingered growers went on to plant tomatoes after cultivating cannabis.
Respondents also reported growing other crops at home. After tomatoes, the most popular crops were basil, strawberries, chilli peppers, cucumbers and lettuce. Some respondents even reported growing giant pumpkins after developing an affinity for growing thanks to their homegrown weed.
The findings of the poll suggest cannabis is a gateway crop, according to the company that conducted the survey.
“We’ve been saying it for years, once people experience the joy of growing their own cannabis, they can’t stop,” said Jessica Hanson, co-founder of Homegrown Cannabis Co. “Cannabis isn’t a gateway drug, it’s a gateway crop. Before you know it, you’ve got a backyard full of tomatoes, and maybe even a few zucchinis.”
Survey participants cited several motivations for expanding their growing repertoire. Many mentioned that learning to grow cannabis gave them the skills and confidence to grow other crops, and even made it easy. Others said they were motivated by rising food costs in the shops and found home-growing food a good way to cut costs at the tills. Some said that they simply enjoyed watching their garden thrive.
“Cannabis teaches patience, attention to detail, and care, the same skills you need to grow healthy tomatoes,” Hanson added. “Plus, they pair perfectly in the garden. One for your salad, one for your soul.”
The poll also found that millennials, those born between 1981 and 1996, were much more likely to start growing cannabis before moving on to tomatoes and other crops, compared to baby boomers, those born in the years following WWII: 62% of millennials said they grew cannabis first, compared to 29% of boomers. This signifies a marked difference between generations in attitudes to growing food at home, and also shows how the cultivation of cannabis can change these attitudes.
