Eco Alert: Cannabis Cultivation's Unseen Toll On Fragile Ecosystems, Here's What We Can Do

Growing cannabis, especially in indoor environments, poses a hefty environmental burden, consuming significant electricity and water while damaging local ecosystems. These challenges, highlighted in a recent article by New Scientist, reveal how the industry's clandestine past has shaped its environmentally damaging present.

The root of the environmental issues plaguing cannabis cultivation can be traced back to prohibitionist drug policies that forced cultivators into secrecy, leading to covert, unsustainable practices. These include energy-intensive indoor farming and unregulated pesticide use, with long-term environmental consequences that continue to impact the industry.

Indoor farms, often deployed to evade law enforcement, relied heavily on artificial lighting and climate control systems, consuming considerable electricity. A 2012 study by Evan Mills at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that indoor marijuana production accounted for approximately 1% of the electricity the country consumed at the time.

Outdoor cultivation, especially by unlicensed growers, is also not exempt from criticism. Competing for already scarce water resources, some growers resort to using potent pesticides, harming local wildlife and disrupting sensitive ecosystems. 

"I think with legalization [in California], there was an expectation that the [environmental] issue would subside quickly, and I think it did the opposite," says Greta Wengert from the Integral Ecology Research Center in California.

However, Houston Wilson from UC Riverside earmarks his research toward guiding cannabis growers to use environmentally benign pest management. He says cannabis farming should not necessarily be an environmental villain. "Cannabis is not inherently more detrimental to the environment than almonds or grapes or lettuce," he said. 

Legalization, while perceived as a solution, reveals complexities. A 2022 investigation by the Los Angeles Times revealed a vast illegal market in California where unlicensed cannabis growers outnumber licensed ones by ten times. This surge in unlicensed farms, which made up 80% of 30,000 farms in 2021, intensifies water theft and results in pesticide use that threatens local wildlife, including endangered species.

Mourad Gabriel from the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station notes that there could be in excess of 8,000 illegal cannabis grow sites on public lands. Although the issue is vast, technological advancements are aiding efforts to locate and shut down illegal farms, with satellite imagery and artificial intelligence being harnessed to pinpoint illicit operations.

Experts like Van Butsic at UC Berkeley suggest that consumers can play a pivotal role by opting for products from licensed, outdoor growers who adhere to environmental regulations. This shift in consumer preference could incentivize the industry to embrace greener practices, mitigating the hidden environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation.

Image courtesy of ACS