In brief
As the cannabis industry grows, so does its environmental footprint. Cannabis production uses a lot of energy, particularly when plants are grown indoors. It also consumes large amounts of water, emits stinky gases, and generates waste. Federal prohibition of cannabis in the US has prevented nearly all research on the cannabis industry’s environmental impact. It has also hindered researchers from developing solutions to minimize those effects. State regulators and companies are stepping in to fill some of the data gaps, but more research is needed.
Cannabis growers in the US are under increased scrutiny for straining the electric grid. They have been blamed for water shortages in California and Oregon. They face complaints about the plant’s strong skunk-like odor and potential to lower air quality. The industry also generates a growing amount of waste, including paper and plastic consumer packaging and electronic waste from vaping devices.
Thirsty crops
Source: New Frontier Data.
But data on energy and water use, air emissions, and waste from the cannabis industry are limited. A small fraction of the US industry is embracing the opportunity to fill those data gaps and address problem areas. A few state regulators are also stepping in to address concerns about air quality and energy use. And academics are relying on bootstrapped funding to conduct energy-efficiency research.
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