Growing Marijuana Industry in the U.S.: Sustainability Challenges and Solutions

Marijuana growers in the US are facing increased scrutiny due to their impact on the power grid, water resources, and air quality in California and Oregon. They have been accused of causing shortages in water resources, emitting strong skunk odors, and contributing to air pollution. Moreover, the industry is generating more waste, including paper and plastic packaging, as well as electronic waste from vaping devices.

However, data on the energy and water resource usage, air emissions, and waste from the marijuana industry is limited. A small portion of American industry is taking the opportunity to fill these data gaps and tackle problem areas. Some state regulatory agencies are also intervening to address concerns about air quality and energy use. Scholars are relying on self-funded research to study energy efficiency.

Marijuana is illegal at the federal level in the United States, but 19 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized it for recreational use by adults. Dozens of states have also legalized marijuana for medical purposes.

The federal ban prohibits the Department of Energy and other federal organizations from funding research to determine how to improve energy efficiency and minimize carbon dioxide emissions from cannabis cultivation facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency is also prohibited from studying marijuana production.

Furthermore, marijuana cultivators are unable to receive federal tax exemptions for installing new technology to reduce energy usage, like other industries. They also lack decades of agricultural research on how to optimize growing conditions for marijuana in greenhouse and indoor facilities.

Since the 1970s, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been funding research for other agricultural products. According to co-founder of the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition, Shawn Cooney, the coalition consists of experts in cannabis cultivation and manufacturing from North America. Established in early 2021, the organization is committed to promoting best practices related to environmental sustainability in cannabis cultivation and manufacturing.

Due to the legalization of marijuana in the United States by Congress in 2018, the Department of Agriculture is now able to fund research on marijuana. However, the department still lacks the power to fund research that does not meet the definition of marijuana.

The US Sustainable Cannabis Alliance aims to change the perception of the cannabis industry by supporting academic research, collaborating with international standard-setting bodies, and promoting software solutions, allowing for easier monitoring of energy usage, waste, and other environmental impacts in the cannabis industry.

They have convinced the standard-setting organization ASTM International to establish a cannabis sustainability committee. Kuny is the chair of the committee, which was established in March. Its goal is to determine "what to measure, how to measure and report it in a consistent way across the global cannabis industry, with a focus on energy, water, waste and social responsibility," Kuny said. "Our business isn't to establish what the end goal should be for standards," he added. He said the committee aims to vote on standards early next year.

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