@article{jpe 1824, author = {Julian Bloomer}, title = {Using a political ecology framework to examine extra-legal livelihood strategies: a Lesotho-based case study of cultivation of and trade in cannabis}, volume = {16}, year = {2009}, url = {http://journals.librarypublishing.arizona.edu/jpe/article/id/1824/}, issue = {1}, doi = {10.2458/v16i1.21691}, abstract = {<p>Rural livelihood strategies that engage in criminalised activities and hidden economies are an important, yet understudied, aspect of achieving economic diversification. This paper discusses findings from a project that examined the role and importance of cannabis cultivation, as a criminalised cash crop, in Lesotho. The research employed a multi-strategy approach that combined qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Cannabis income was found to play a very important role in economic and livelihood diversification in the study area. The paper concludes that cannabis production, as an extra-legal livelihood strategy, should be viewed by policy makers using a livelihoods focus, rather than a criminal one, if rural smallholders are not to be further marginalised by drug control policies.</p>}, month = {12}, pages = {49-69}, keywords = {cannabis,Lesotho,political ecology,extra-legal livelihood}, issn = {1073-0451}, publisher={University of Arizona Libraries}, journal = {Journal of Political Ecology} }