Cannabis Grows and Water Usage
By Terry Hacienda The Fresh Toast Outdoor cannabis grows are productive strength effective and very popular but how much water do they use As marijuana cultivation expands across the United States and globally concerns are emerging about its environmental footprint particularly about cannabis grows and water usage A commonly raised question is whether cannabis affects water tables as much as notoriously water-intensive crops like avocados almonds or rice The answer depends on several factors including growing methods location and water regulation practices Cannabis is a thirsty crop Outdoor cannabis plants require an estimated to gallons of water per plant per day during peak growing season In comparison an avocado tree typically consumes to gallons per day but it also produces a larger volume of fruit over a longer growing period On a per-acre basis cannabis can use slightly less or more water than avocados depending on planting density and environment However the water impact of cannabis becomes more problematic in regions where it s grown illegally or without proper oversight Photo by Anton Petrus Getty Images In California for example both avocados and cannabis are cultivated in drought-prone areas but cannabis farms especially unpermitted ones are often located in ecologically sensitive headwaters or forested areas These illicit operations may divert streams destroy native vegetation and withdraw water from small creeks that feed local water tables Unlike avocados which are typically grown on large farms with regulated irrigation systems cannabis operations may lack water rights or infrastructure to capture and store water sustainably Legal regulated cannabis farms generally use more efficient water systems such as drip irrigation water recycling and rainwater capture which can significantly reduce environmental strain In fact particular indoor cannabis grow operations use less water per gram of product than outdoor farms due to tighter control of inputs However indoor cultivation shifts the environmental burden to vigor use and carbon emissions rather than water withdrawal The effect of cannabis on water tables also depends on its cultivation scale In California alone illegal grows have been linked to declining streamflows and drying wells in rural areas Conversely avocados almonds and other crops are grown on tens of thousands of acres and in total volume have a much larger water footprint For example almonds in California consume over trillion gallons of water annually a figure far beyond cannabis While cannabis can have a key localized impact on water materials especially when grown without regulation it does not yet rival the large-scale water consumption of avocados or almonds in total volume Still its environmental footprint deserves careful oversight Encouraging legal cultivation sustainable irrigation and environmental compliance will be key to minimizing cannabis effect on water tables as the industry continues to grow The Fresh Toast is a daily lifestyle platform with a side of cannabis For more information visit www thefreshtoast com Copyright The Fresh Toast Distributed by TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY LLC Related Articles DeSantis In Trouble From Congress Over Blocking Marijuana Biological Marijuana And Lupus Cannabis Can Help Wean Off Zyn Ganja Gardening Grow Your Own Herb Veggies What About Cannabis In Turkey
