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**Spread** · **Spread** More Washboard User ID: 116218 08-28-2012 08:50 AM **Posts: 11,723**

Debate over the War on Drugs and the legality of marijuana persists in the U.S., as thousands recently rallied in Seattle for legalization and millions of dollars have been raised in support of legalization measures in two states. Yet an often overlooked part of the debate is marijuana's environmental impact -- what is the carbon footprint of cannabis?

According to a 2011 report, indoor marijuana growing may account for one percent of the entire country's electricity consumption. The independent report, by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researcher Evan Mills, Ph.D., notes that this energy use costs about $6 billion annually. The report also claims that the carbon dioxide pollution from this electricity use "plus associated transportation fuels equals that of 3 million cars."

The full report details the exact sources of energy consumption during marijuana cultivation. Mills writes:

Specific energy uses include high-intensity lighting, dehumidification to remove water vapor, space heating during non-illuminated periods and drying, irrigation water preheating, generation of CO2 by burning fossil fuel, and ventilation and air-conditioning to remove waste heat. Substantial energy inefficiencies arise from air cleaning, noise and odor suppression, and inefficient electric generators used to avoid conspicuous utility bills.

Still, the annual energy use from indoor marijuana cultivation pales in comparison to other industries and activities. Mills' report explains that "the approximately 22 billion kilowatt-hours/year estimated for indoor Cannabis production is about one-third that of US data centers or one-sixth that of US household refrigerators."

The U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control noted in 2011 that "approximately 4.5 percent of the domestic marijuana eradicated was from indoor grow sites" in 2010. California led the naton with the greatest number of indoor plants eradicated by law enforcement, while Florida "had more actual grow sites seized than any other state, including California."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27...32035.html

Lmao

**Pope Barbie Imaculata**

Make it legal so we can all grow it outdoors and it will have a negative carbon impact. Our pretty weed trees will suck up carbon and produce oxygen.

**Jade budda**

barbsat Wrote:

Make it legal so we can all grow it outdoors and it will have a negative carbon impact. Our pretty weed trees will suck up carbon and produce oxygen.

**Spread** · **Spread** More Washboard User ID: 116218 08-28-2012 09:25 AM **Posts: 11,723**

barbsat Wrote:

Make it legal so we can all grow it outdoors and it will have a negative carbon impact. Our pretty weed trees will suck up carbon and produce oxygen.

Those lamps dont use that much electricity though, wouldn't what little carbon created still be offset by the plants? chuckle

**Pope Barbie Imaculata**

Spread Wrote:

barbsat Wrote:
Make it legal so we can all grow it outdoors and it will have a negative carbon impact. Our pretty weed trees will suck up carbon and produce oxygen.
Those lamps dont use that much electricity though, wouldn't what little carbon created still be offset by the plants?

They use a lot of electricity. 1,000 watt metal halide bulbs burning 16 hours a day ain't cheap. Then come artificial fall you start with High pressure Sodium to mimic the early morning and late afternoon rays that trigger budding.

You can use mercury vapor bulbs but even they use a hell of a lot.

**Spread** · **Spread** More Washboard User ID: 116218 08-28-2012 09:46 AM **Posts: 11,723**

barbsat Wrote:

Spread Wrote:
barbsat Wrote:
Make it legal so we can all grow it outdoors and it will have a negative carbon impact. Our pretty weed trees will suck up carbon and produce oxygen.
Those lamps dont use that much electricity though, wouldn't what little carbon created still be offset by the plants?

They use a lot of electricity. 1,000 watt metal halide bulbs burning 16 hours a day ain't cheap. Then come artificial fall you start with High pressure Sodium to mimic the early morning and late afternoon rays that trigger budding.

You can use mercury vapor bulbs but even they use a hell of a lot.

You're only running an HPS for 75 days tops during flowering and that's rare, most strains are 50 - 60 days avg. Use t9's for rooting and veg. They dont use that many watts. LED panels use even less power. Yeah I want it legal but the last thing I want is a carbon tax on indoor grown herb.

**Pope Barbie Imaculata**

Spread Wrote:

barbsat Wrote:
Spread Wrote:
Those lamps dont use that much electricity though, wouldn't what little carbon created still be offset by the plants?

They use a lot of electricity. 1,000 watt metal halide bulbs burning 16 hours a day ain't cheap. Then come artificial fall you start with High pressure Sodium to mimic the early morning and late afternoon rays that trigger budding.

You can use mercury vapor bulbs but even they use a hell of a lot.
You're only running an HPS for 75 days tops during flowering and that's rare, most strains are 50 - 60 days avg. Use t9's for rooting and veg. They dont use that many watts. LED panels use even less power. Yeah I want it legal but the last thing I want is a carbon tax on indoor grown herb.

I didn't know the tech had advanced so far. My mind is stuck back in the 80's when I grew outdoors. Then the laws changed and if they caught you with even one plant they would confiscate your land.

I tried growing one plant in a room I built in a barn. Used one Mercury vapor lamp. I learned fast I didn't have a green thumb indoors like I did outdoors.

That weed I grew back then was the best I ever smoked. A nice Afghani Indica strain mixed with African ganji. You could see crystals in the buds.

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 116994 08-28-2012 10:09 AM

just look what could happen to you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CANBdLJST...re=related

**Spread** · **Spread** More Washboard User ID: 116218 08-28-2012 10:11 AM **Posts: 11,723**

Barb if you get the chance go tour the hydroponic garden at Epcot, It will blow your mind what is possible.
[Image: 1E29_503C7C30.jpg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaWDOJlkscM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ipy1tF5DU-Y

**mudma**

My friend allways used dayglow fluorescent tubes for growing the "veg" then when it comes to forcing or budding he used sodium bulbs,i hear he is switching to leds now tho as rhey run alot mor efficient and cooler

**Spread** · **Spread** More Washboard User ID: 117144 08-28-2012 11:41 PM **Posts: 11,723**

**It's Hot Here**

barbsat Wrote:

Make it legal so we can all grow it outdoors and it will have a negative carbon impact. Our pretty weed trees will suck up carbon and produce oxygen.

^^^THIS^^^ Jhikpghf

**Geogal**

barbsat Wrote:

Make it legal so we can all grow it outdoors and it will have a negative carbon impact. Our pretty weed trees will suck up carbon and produce oxygen.

THey actually are a VERY high O2 producer

**Janie Jones**

Geogal Wrote:

barbsat Wrote:
Make it legal so we can all grow it outdoors and it will have a negative carbon impact. Our pretty weed trees will suck up carbon and produce oxygen.
THey actually are a VERY high O2 producer

I have heard that. Also that along with sunflowers hemp/marijuana are the highest absorbers of radiation.

Anybody got any further info or details on that?

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 46881 08-29-2012 09:01 PM

It's currently illegal so people have to hide it indoors. If it were legal, it would almost all be grown outdoors or in greenhouses and would be an environmental BENEFIT.

Per usual, the government f*cks everything up, makes problems worse, then blames everyone else for it. Hope they all f*cking die of pancreatic cancer.