When you think of growing cannabis, your brain most automatically jumps to its benefits for relaxation, health, or perhaps the thriving cannabis company. But have you ever stopped to consider how growing cannabis changes your environment?

From water consumption to electricity and even eco-diversity, growing cannabis significantly affects the world around us. 

This article will demonstrate the relationship between cannabis and the environment and the justifications for why farmers should apply sustainable practices.

Key Takeaways 

• Cannabis cultivation, especially on a large scale, can be water-intensive, particularly during peak growing seasons.
• Indoor cannabis growing, relying heavily on artificial lighting and HVAC systems, can lead to substantial energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
• Continuous cannabis cultivation in the same area can deplete soil nutrients and degrade soil quality over time.
• The use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers can harm local ecosystems, contaminate water sources, and degrade soil health.
• Cannabis cultivation generates significant waste and pollution, including plant material and packaging.

Water Consumption for Cannabis Cultivation

First, let’s take water, something you wouldn’t immediately think of in connection to cannabis. Did know that cannabis plants are quite thirsty? To flourish they require plenty of water, often much more than your usual crop.

During the peak growing season, cannabis plants may require up to 6 gallons of water per plant every day!  

Meanwhile, Not all irrigation methods are equal. A few methods cause a lot of water to be lost by runoff or evaporation. Other techniques make better use of water.

For example, many growers now use drip irrigation systems, which enable direct water distribution to the roots of the plant, therefore lowering waste.

The objective is to select the most effective option to fit the requirements of your cannabis plants without draining the nearby water sources. 

This leads us to a serious problem—depleting the local water supply. Particularly in areas already water-stressed, cannabis farming can seriously deplete the local water supplies.

Should too much water be taken out for cannabis cultivation, rivers may dry out, wildlife may suffer, and other agricultural uses would have less water available. Thus, water use monitoring is absolutely vital, not only for farmers but also for the whole ecosystem, 

Energy Consumption in the Cannabis Industry

According to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC), indoor commercial cannabis production (also known as a cannabis grow room) can consume 2,000 to 3,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per pound of product. This is equivalent to running 4 to 6 refrigerators for an entire year.

Growing cannabis indoors means you are mostly depending on synthetic lighting, which consumes a lot of energy. Also, these are not your typical light bulbs. These lights are high-intensity and have heavy electrical consumption.  

Advanced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are also needed to maintain the right temperature and humidity. Energy-intensive technology like this can greatly increase the carbon footprint of your cannabis-growing company.

Thus, indoor cannabis cultivation comes at a significant environmental cost even if it gives you more control over growing conditions. 

The bright news is, there are strategies to reduce energy usage. Many farmers are resorting to renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines to power their enterprises.

Not only are renewable better for the environment, but they may actually save costs in the long run.

Environmental Impacts of Cannabis on Soil Quality

Regarding growing cannabis outdoors, its impact on the soil is just as important as water. Thriving cannabis plants need nutrient-dense soil.

Unfortunately, constant farming can degrade the land, deplete its nutrients, and cause erosion. This makes it difficult for anything else to flourish there. Also, these effects can last for years and are hard to reverse.

The use of pesticides and fertilizers presents even another problem. To increase their yields, many cannabis growers use synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. However, these substances can have disastrous effects on the surroundings.

They can leak into nearby water supplies, lakes and rivers, therefore affecting aquatic life as well as public health. Furthermore, synthetic fertilizers can over time degrade soil quality, which will make it challenging for subsequent generations of plants to grow. 

So what is the solution? Organic agriculture. Going organic is a great place to start if you’re committed to lessening the environmental effects of cannabis growing.

Instead of synthetic chemicals, organic farming methods rely on natural fertilizers like compost, which not only feeds the soil but also over time strengthens its structure. Organic cultivation facilities and practices produce premium cannabis plants while helping to preserve the soil.

Waste Management

A lot of plant waste results from growing cannabis. Where, though, does all that garbage go?

Sometimes it finds its way into landfills, which adds to the rising waste management problem and air quality impacts of the cannabis sector. 

Plastic packaging is used extensively in the cannabis sector, mostly non-recyclable and single-use. As sales of cannabis soar, so also does the volume of plastic garbage generated. In 2020 alone, the U.S. cannabis industry used almost one billion pieces of single-use plastic, most of which ended up in local landfills. 

Reducing your environmental impact in the cannabis industry depends on seeking out biodegradable or recyclable packaging solutions. 

Fortunately, many producers are looking at composting and recycling as options for more effectively handling their waste. Plant waste may be turned into useful resources by composting, therefore enhancing the soil for the next generation of crops. Furthermore, recycling initiatives can assist in lowering the cannabis sector’s plastic waste load.

Looking at Carbon Emission Data from Cannabis Activities

Between the lighting, HVAC systems, and other equipment, the greenhouse gas emissions from indoor growers are also significant.

Research from the University of Colorado shows that U.S. indoor cannabis cultivation results in greenhouse gas emissions of between 2,283 and 5,184 kilograms of CO2 per kilogram of dried plant.

These emissions fuel climate change, hence producers must look for ways to lower their carbon footprint. 

Also, the environment suffers not just from farming itself but also from other activities associated with the cannabis industry. This means the carbon footprint from moving cannabis goods from farms to stores or consumers. 

This involves trucks, aircraft and other vehicles spewing more greenhouse gasses into the environment. If you wish to reduce your impact, think about local procurement or more energy-efficient delivery methods.

Carbon offset schemes provide one way to help cannabis enterprises have less of a carbon footprint. Cannabis farmers may offset their own emissions by funding programs that lower greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere, including reforestation or renewable energy projects. 

Biodiversity and Growing Cannabis

A healthy environment depends on maintaining biodiversity, hence cannabis farmers must pay  great attention to how they operate 

Growing cannabis can have an impact on nearby ecosystems, particularly with large-scale operations. While the use of pesticides and fertilizers could damage plant and animal species, clearing land for development might drive out natural fauna.

Monoculture—the technique of growing a single crop over a large area—is a major issue in cannabis production. Monoculture depletes soil nutrients and reduces biodiversity, therefore reducing the land’s tolerance to pests and diseases.

Conversely, polyculture is cultivating several crops together to increase soil health and foster diversity. If you are a cannabis farmer, think about including polyculture techniques in your growing plan. 

Environmental Cannabis Regulation

Cannabis environmental regulation is under strict control, and many of these rules center on lessening the environmental impacts of cannabis.

Though they vary depending on the area, environmental rules usually incorporate standards for waste disposal, water usage, and energy economy.

Though they might be expensive and cumbersome in the short term, these rules are necessary for the cannabis sector to be environmentally sustainable. 

These methods not only assist in saving the environment but also improve the appeal and reputation of cannabis businesses among consumers who are passionate about the environment. Over time, environmental sustainability makes sense economically.

Bottom Line

From significant water and energy use to trash and biodiversity issues, cannabis farming clearly affects the environment. Still, the sector may greatly lower its environmental impact by adopting sustainable methods.

Whether you grow, sell or use cannabis, you can help to promote environmental sustainability. Every action counts; let’s strive towards building a sustainable cannabis sector that is better for the environment as well as for us.