Name: Cannabis Sustainability
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In 2020, researchers affiliated with Colorado State University took a closer look at energy use across the U.S. from indoor cannabis cultivation.This video was produced in collaboration with NOVA and is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Growing cannabis indoors can generate a lot of greenhouse gases.

Growing cannabis indoors can generate a lot of greenhouse gases.

Growing cannabis indoors can generate a lot of greenhouse gases. In 2020, researchers affiliated with Colorado State University took a closer look at energy use across the U.S. from indoor cannabis cultivation.

As more states legalize marijuana, researchers are looking at environmental impacts.

Cannabis Sustainability

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Cannabis SustainabilityPublished: September 28, 2021NARRATION: Growing cannabis indoors can generate a lot of greenhouse gases. In 2020, Colorado State University affiliated researchers took a closer look at energy use across the U.S. from indoor cannabis cultivation.JASON QUINN: When you look at the total emissions from indoor cannabis cultivation in Colorado, it's pretty much equivalent to the coal mining industry in Colorado.CHRIS BACA: When that study came out and it was an eye-opener. It kind of let us know how bad it actually is and how bad it got and how bad it could get in the future if we don't start taking these steps to help minimize that.JASON QUINN: What we were looking at is more and more states are legalizing every day, and so, should environmental impact be part of the discussion?NARRATION: Quinn and his colleagues evaluated every state starting with Colorado, looking at their cultivation of cannabis through all indoor growth phases.JASON QUINN: It includes everything from lights to HVAC, nutrients, water, everything that would be consumed as a part of the life cycle of that plant.We wanted to model indoor cannabis facilities across the entire United States.NARRATION: This model took each state’s power mix into account. Some states use more renewable energy, and others rely more heavily on coal-fired power plants.The researchers expected to see a lot of energy consumption with the heavy use of lights. JASON QUINN: Some of the unexpected things were twofold. One was the energetics associated with maintaining that comfortable environment. Cannabis plants have a certain window that they are comfortable at. And you're trying to maintain that environment, whether you're in North Dakota or whether you're in Southern California.NARRATION: Colorado is fairly dry with temperatures that swing between hot and cold extremes through the seasons. Which means a lot of energy is required to keep the environment optimal for cannabis. JASON QUINN: And the second thing is the CO2 that's being pumped into the room. To improve productivity of the plant. When you have high air exchanges, which a lot of these facilities do to combat things like mold, you're pushing a lot of CO2 just through the facility.NARRATION: CO2 creation usually involves the burning of natural gas—and the process of bottling, transporting, and then cycling high amounts of it requires a lot of energy.But a pilot program found a unique way to address this CO2 problem the Colorado way: through beer. A machine provided by Earthly Labs captures CO2 from the beer fermentation and brewing processes at Denver Beer Co. and this CO2 is sold to The Clinic, a seed to sale cannabis dispensary.CHRIS BACA: This is one of the CO2 tanks that we have for Denver Beer Company. Works just like a giant propane tank. It actually smells like beer too, which is one of the cooler parts of it.NARRATION: To improve plant productivity, Baca uses a lot of CO2, typically purchased and shipped from an expensive third vendor. The CO2 tanks from Denver Beer Co. are cheaper and delivered from just down the road.CHRIS BACA: It was a 17 week project that we monitored all environmentals, as far as air quality, water quality, the lasting product itself, to make sure that everything was what it was supposed to be. It was wonderful. It was a great product. Right now in Colorado or in the cannabis industry as a whole, we're really on a uphill battle with sustainability.More ways that cultivators can be more environmentally cautious with their growing practices involve using LED lights, making sure your fans are always being on at the right appropriate times to help your environmentals out, making sure you reclaim as much water as you possibly could. Looking at composting.NARRATION: Alternative forms of cultivation like greenhouses and outdoor farms could also reduce the overall greenhouse gas emissions of the industry, especially if combined with renewables. For example, Pot Zero operates outdoors at 8,200 feet in Gypsum, Colorado, relying on one hydro-electric turbine.JASON QUINN: Our preliminary studies have shown that [outdoor cultivation is] at least an 80% reduction. Now that being said, there's some complications.NARRATION: How much CO2 is reduced depends on things like the energy grid, local climate, and farming practices. Plus, there are challenges like security and weather and the fact that outdoor facilities aren’t allowed everywhere. Cannabis is still a Schedule 1 drug and illegal under Federal law.JASON QUINN: You could federally change the regulations and then be able to transport across state lines so that you can grow in low impact areas and then transport to the higher impact areas.CHRIS BACA: As more of this information is brought to light on how we can be more sustainable, this also accounts for not just growers, but for people who make these rules.NARRATION: Policymakers, consumers, and the cannabis industry all have a role in how sustainable the industry is. By pairing revelatory research with innovative stakeholders, perhaps Colorado can push a transformation of the industry.

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