NATURE Published:
Cannabis, it’s a climate gas
Colorado's legal cannabis farms emit
more carbon than its coal mines
The energy required to yield one
kilogram of dried flower from cannabis
grown indoors generates the equivalent
of 2–5 tonnes of CO2, says Jason Quinn,
who analysed the carbon footprint of
the emerging US cannabis industry.
The greenhouse gas emissions of indoor cannabis production in the United States
Abstract
The legalization of cannabis has caused a substantial increase in commercial production, yet the magnitude of the industry’s environmental impact has not been fully quantified. A considerable amount of legal cannabis is cultivated indoors primarily for quality control and security. In this study we analysed the energy and materials required to grow cannabis indoors and quantified the corresponding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using life cycle assessment methodology for a cradle-to-gate system boundary. The analysis was performed across the United States, accounting for geographic variations in meteorological and electrical grid emissions data. The resulting life cycle GHG emissions range, based on location, from 2,283 to 5,184 kg CO2-equivalent per kg of dried flower. The life cycle GHG emissions are largely attributed to electricity production and natural gas consumption from indoor environmental controls, high-intensity grow lights and the supply of carbon dioxide for accelerated plant growth. The discussion focuses on the technological solutions and policy adaptation that can improve the environmental impact of commercial indoor cannabis production.
References
Córdova, L., Humphreys, H., Amend, C., Burack, J. & Lambert, K. Marijuana Enforcement Division - 2018 Annual Update (Colorado Department of Revenue, 2019).
Anderson, B., Policzer, J., Loughney, E. & Rodriguez, K. Energy Use in theColorado Cannabis Industry - Fall 2018 Report (The Cannabis Conservancy, 2018).
Office of Atmospheric Programs Clean Air Markets Division The Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID 2018) (US EPA, 2020).
Carah, J. K. et al. High time for conservation: adding the environment to the debate on marijuana liberalization. BioScience 65, 822–829 (2015).
