Marijuana and the limits of knowledge: implications for economic vulnerability and resilience in Northern California

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AbstractThis paper explores how subjective meanings of well-being condition the realm of options in defining, assessing and responding to economic vulnerabilities in a region of Northern California I call ‘Claytown’. Economic restructuring has left many Claytown residents with inadequate employment opportunities. Marijuana production, in this context, has filled an important economic gap, bolstering livelihoods and local businesses. However, despite its economic significance, public officials have adamantly avoided public discussion, assessment and planning around the industry. I argue that this construction of marijuana production as a ‘public secret’ not only has implications for socio-economic security in Claytown, but also provides critical insights into the potentials and pitfalls of resilience thinking. To this end, I call for greater attention to the ways in which subjective meanings and discourses condition understandings of socio-economic vulnerability and resilience, treating both terms not as p...