Air pollution is a serious issue around the word and has been for a very long time. Usually throughout human history the way to get that pollution to go away is either to simply move away from where it stinks or stop doing the thing that causes it, such as when Germany moved away from brown coal. According to Truex Collins, who did an assessment of all of the buildings in the district and what they need, they found that LR’s CO2 levels are beyond acceptable levels. Although the solution brought up by Truex would cost around $40,000,000.

One way to fix this that would cost a little less money is to use plants which are known to reduce the amount of CO2 in the air. There are many options—ficas trees, jade plants, climbing vines—but recent changes to VT law has added one interesting possibility:  Cannabis Sativa. Better known as marijuana, or weed, this plant has been in the spotlight ever since VT decriminalized its use and cultivation across the state. Some creative thinkers have proposed that LR’s air quality problem might be able to be solved with a plant that actually generates income for the school.

Although there are legal limits on the number of cannabis plants one can grow, and on how the buds can be used, recent changes to VT law have opened up new lines of possibility for reducing CO2 in LR’s air, while potentially even making money for the school. Putting this recently legalized plant to use could even help solve the budget crisis that has been a point of tension between district administration and the community. LR’s horticulture classes, FBLA, and other groups may have a role to play as LR investigates working with local dispensaries to find a win-win solution to LR’s CO2 problem.