Is Marijuana Even Green?

Does marijuana create a big carbon footprint? Is it even close to green? We all know that the answer is usually no.

The carbon footprint of the marijuana industry huge. Anyone who’s seen it can tell you that. You can’t have a room that is normally lit by two 100 watt bulbs illuminated by ten 1000 watt bulbs without increasing carbon release.

It’s not going to stay under the radar. In some states medical marijuana dispensaries are required to pay carbon offset fees. And let’s face it: your typical weed smoker is likely concerned about the environment and has already put two and two together.

In the hippy days pot was imported from Mexico or Colombia, or Asia. It was grown outdoors the old fashioned way. When people in North America and Europe started growing it they started small and outdoors.

But, greed is a terrible thing. Indoor growing under lights was developed. Wattage and chemical use was increased to maximize yield. Off grid indoor gardens, in barns or in buried containers, required fuel to be trucked in for generators.

As the laws prohibiting marijuana relax the suppliers have gone to work. Growing has become an industry, and it has support industries. And whether the electricity comes from an off grid diesel generator or a coal fired plant, the fact is that grow ops use tons of electricity.

High intensity lights, pumps, fans, dehumidifiers, heating and irrigation systems, plus the electric gadgets that control them have an energy impact. It’s been estimated that indoor cultivation costs billions a year in energy consumption alone. That’s like millions of cars and homes. How much diesel does an off grid generator use to run lights? How much carbon does one joint produce? Some say pounds!

Growing outside clearly would reduce the impact. But, being outside is not low profile. While county and state laws may permit marijuana cultivation, in the US federal law still doesn’t. Theft of crop is also a danger.

Some people distinguish between patients who grow inside on a small scale and big commercial growers. Small scale medicinal grows often have few options. They are also lower impact in absolute terms and aren’t in it just for the money. That doesn’t hold true for black market commercial cultivation.

Legalization would help. Cultivation for personal use could become widespread, depressing prices and allowing outdoor growing. That would be good for everyone, from users to law enforcement to environmentalists.

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