How Green is your Grass?

It takes a LOT of energy to grow weed. That’s because most U.S. cannabis is grown indoors using artificial lights and climate control. But a new study shows the environmental impacts of indoor growth vary significantly by state.

Coastal states like California and New York have greater access to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, so they produce fewer emissions while generating electricity. Plus, coastal climates are often milder and require less heating and air conditioning to maintain the proper temperature.

Growing cannabis in the Mountain West, Midwest, Alaska, and Hawaii leads to higher GHG emissions. These regions have more extreme temperatures and fewer renewable energy sources.

1 gram ≈ 1 large joint

Source: The greenhouse gas emissions of indoor cannabis production in the United States, published March 2021 by researchers at Colorado State University.