Latest news with #weed
CBS News
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
California State Fair exhibit gives out cannabis seeds for a penny
Getting freebies is a California State Fair tradition, but this year, there's a new type of sample sparking up interest. Adults entering the California Cannabis Experience exhibit can now get a packet of pot seeds to take home and start their own grow. "We've already given away thousands of seeds," said Embarc co-founder Dustin Moore. "Under California law, we have to sell them for a penny to be compliant." Organizers hope many people will turn this into a budding backyard hobby. "It's important, as we normalize cannabis in a responsible way, to encourage folks to grow at home," Moore said. "We would love nothing more than to have as many people as possible popping these seeds in their backyard and getting some experience with this beautiful plant," said Scott Vasterling, founder of Humboldt Family Farms. Experts say it doesn't take much effort to grow your own ganja. "It's a weed, literally. That's why they call it weed, so growing cannabis is about as simple as keeping a weed alive in your backyard. Sun, water, and fertilizer, and a little bit of love. That's all it takes," Moore said. Cannabis cultivation is still illegal under federal law, but in California, up to six plants are permitted for personal use, although some places don't allow them to be grown outdoors. The state fair already presents Golden Bear awards for California's best cannabis, and people picking up seeds this year could be next year's winners in a new category for home growers. "We'll have the same opportunity to grow their cannabis at home and compete alongside the best farmers in the state of California," Moore said. Organizers expect to hand out 15,000 seeds at the fair this year, which come from the Humboldt Seed Company in Northern California.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Aussies urged to dig up common invasive plant the become 'very difficult to remove'
Conservationists are sounding the alarm over a notorious weed polluting Australia's fragile ecosystems, warning that despite its popularity as a houseplant, it's actually a "serious environmental threat". This week, the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, in Far North Queensland, warned that mother-in-law's tongue continues to "invade" the area's rainforests, creek lines and coastal reserves. It reminded the public that it must not be "introduced, propagated or allowed to spread" within the region, due to its highly invasive nature, having been introduced to the country from South Africa decades ago. "It forms dense mats that smother native groundcovers and prevent natural regeneration," the council said online, adding that it had been declared a pest locally since 2022. "It thrives in disturbed areas, spreads through underground rhizomes (horizontal plant stems, like a hidden network of roots) and discarded garden waste. "It is very difficult to remove once established." Imogen Ebsworth, the Invasive Species Council Engagement Director, is all too familiar with the pest. Talking to Yahoo, she said the weed is "frustratingly" just another "example of a garden plant that's become highly invasive" and "yet is still legally sold". "We don't let pet shops sell cane toads, so why are we allowing nurseries to sell invasive plants? It fails the common-sense test," she said. "Queensland local councils are on the front line of tackling new invasive garden plants like mother-in-law's tongue, and say it's primarily being spread by the dumping of garden waste." Though people may think they've minimised the risk by ripping it up, Imogen said the weed can still propagate itself — so to fully stop its impact, it must be disposed of responsibly. "Carefully dig up as much of the roots as you can and collect up all fragments," she said. "Dispose of it in your general waste bin securely bagged up." Importantly, Imogen added, do not put it into green waste bins. "We are calling on Australia's governments to prioritise action on stronger national coordinated regulation to prevent garden plants from being sold and escaping into the bush," she said. "We've seen this story unfold far too many times. Ornamental plants that turn into unstoppable weeds, costing us billions in control efforts and wiping out native species in the process." In Australia, escaped garden plants are the primary source of new weeds, and a staggering three-quarters of all listed weeds started out as ornamentals. Some of the nation's most popular nurseries and retailers stock mother-in-law's tongue, including heavyweights like Ikea, Bunnings, Flower Power, Woolworths and countless boutique florists. But, they're doing so entirely in accordance with the law. Imogen said this is not a "rogue nursery or Bunnings" problem — it's a regulatory failure. "To date, self-regulation has failed," she said. "We are relying on everyday Australians to either have a botany degree or realise they need to research legally sold plants to find out if they are a weed. That's a system designed to fail. "More than 30,000 plant species have been imported into Australia for gardening, but fewer than a quarter have been assessed nationally for their weed risk. Some of our worst invasives — like lantana and blackberry — were once common garden plants. "We've spent decades relying mainly on self-regulation, which just doesn't work. You can still legally buy plants that are banned in neighbouring states or overseas." Unless governments act, Imogen warned, we'll keep selling the next lantana, the next gazania, "straight into our backyards and bushland". Aussies warned over garden pest that can 'never be fully removed' Property owners warned over harmful weed 'having a bumper season' Gardeners warned over beautiful plant that is 'extremely toxic' to pets Last year, former environment minister Tanya Plibersek secured national agreement to develop a Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) to tackle invasive garden plants. Now stepping into the role, Murray Watt has a "golden opportunity to show real leadership" to get on with the job and fix this broken system, she said. Cam Rist, Bunnings Director of Merchandise, previously told Yahoo the retailer closely follows all "relevant local biosecurity regulations" and "the advice of regulators about the plants we sell." "Like many nurseries and retailers, we sell a wide range of locally sourced plants across our stores, and we work hard to create an assortment that caters to customer preferences and demand," he said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Australians urged to check their yards NOW as 'dangerous' plant rapidly spreads: 'Remove immediately'
An ornamental plant that was once purposefully added and grown in Aussie gardens has now been declared a weed that should be urgently removed. Spanish moss, a hanging plant native to tropical and subtropical America, has recently spread uncontrollably in parts of Australia, including Sydney. Local Sydney councils and land care groups are now actively requesting that residents inspect their yards and remove any Spanish moss from their gardens. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), known colloquially as 'old man's beard' is a blue-grey slender plant that's instantly recognisable for its chain-like stems and leaves, which hang and grow over live or dead plants. The plant doesn't have any roots, but its fluffy seeds and fragments are easily moved by wind, birds or even deliberately by people, which is how it spreads and grows in new areas. Spanish moss particularly thrives in warm, humid environments. Recent prolonged periods of heavy rainfall in Sydney has seen the decorative plant now rapidly spreading. This sudden growth of Spanish moss has been deemed to be detrimental to native greenery as it overwhelms native plants. The NSW WeedWise website, run by the Department of Primary Industries, now lists Spanish moss as a plant of concern. The listing explains that Spanish moss poses a problem to the native 'host plant' that it hangs off. The problem arises when the Spanish moss becomes so 'thick' that it 'shades the leaves of the host tree' - and potentially even 'smothers' it. The proliferation of Spanish moss can also 'damage' the host tree by causing 'branches [to] snap off'. Accordingly, several local Sydney councils like Willoughby City Council and Lane Cove Council have recently advised residents to remove any existing Spanish moss from their gardens and refrain from purchasing or sharing the plant. Spanish moss is already established in other parts of NSW, including the Lismore area and Lord Howe Island. It has also cropped up in parts of Queensland. Despite being officially recognised as an environmental weed, Spanish moss is not yet regulated under Australian law. According to the NSW WeedWise website listing, the simplest way to remove Spanish moss is 'by hand'. 'Spanish moss is easy to remove from the host plant though accessing plants may be difficult if they are growing in tall trees,' the listing reads. 'Plant material should be disposed of appropriately.' For advice regarding using herbicides to remove the plant, the WeedWise site suggests contacting the local council. The fast-spreading plant has already caught the attention of Aussie gardeners, with some even taking to Reddit to express their concerns. A r ecent post shared under the 'Gardening Australia' thread noted that Spanish moss had been 'invading bushland here in Sydney'. The original poster worried that if i he plant were 'not controlled now [it] will eventually smother our forests, cutting off light and extirpating shrubs and groundcovers'. Many of the responses to the Reddit thread urged any Aussies that see Spanish moss growing in public parks or nature reserves to report it to their local council and request for it to be removed. Community based north shore environment group STEP INC are among those actively working with local councils to raise awareness of the environmental issues posed by Spanish moss. A r ecent report posted on STEP INC's website in April read: 'The current regional strategic weed management plan for Greater Sydney is due for renewal in 2027'. 'Unfortunately, Spanish Moss has a low priority in our local council areas.' 'We hope that evidence and consideration of the impacts of Spanish Moss will lead to its banning from sale under the new plan.'
