CULTURE
New Study Suggests Growing Tomatoes is a Natural Consequence of Growing Marijuana
A recent poll of 1,327 home cannabis cultivators has revealed a surprising trend: two-thirds of respondents reported that growing their own marijuana inspired them to start growing tomatoes in their backyard gardens. In fact, almost a quarter of respondents said they never grew tomatoes until years after cultivating their first cannabis plant.
The survey, conducted by Homegrown Cannabis Co., suggests that growing marijuana is a “gateway crop” to other types of gardening, rather than a gateway to more dangerous substances. The company’s co-founder, Jessica Hanson, noted that once people experience the joy of growing their own cannabis, they often can’t stop at just one type of plant. “Cannabis isn’t a gateway drug, it’s a gateway crop,” she said. “Before you know it, you’ve got a backyard full of tomatoes, and maybe even a few zucchinis.”
The poll also found that millennials were more likely to grow marijuana before growing tomatoes, with 62% of respondents in this age group reporting this trend. This “generational shift” in gardening culture was also observed in states that have legalized cannabis, as well as in areas where cannabis is still prohibited.
Gardening, including growing marijuana, has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including increased physical activity and mental well-being. In fact, a federally funded study released earlier this year found that adults are more physically active on days they use marijuana, contradicting the common stereotype of the “lazy stoner.”
Other recent studies have also challenged common misconceptions about marijuana use, including findings that frequent users are more likely to engage in physical activity and experience more pleasure than non-users.
