With the explosion of medical marijuana, patients must trust these massive grow houses to have very controlled environments to keep the cannabis as robust and healthy as possible. You would think that growers of this precious herb would want to utilize the best green practices. Perhaps they do, but it is quite challenging. High Times has the story:

“[These days] consuming cannabis can be just as harmful to the environment as driving a Hummer. Buds grown under high-intensity discharge lights can consume an astounding amount of electricity, stoking pollution and climate change. Using rockwool cubes that can’t be recycled, as well as potentially harmful pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers, can render your herb less groovy than you imagined. Tons of plastic baggies, canisters and cubes accumulate, previously used to house extracts, edibles or flowers. Driven by a green rush mentality, new-to-the-scene ganjapreneurs mimic wasteful mainstream products and trends (like Keurig cups), instead of embracing the eco-conscious cannabis consumer and promoting values of sustainability.”

Eating a brownie with pesticide sprayed marijuana isn’t a pleasant experience

In 2015, Colorado’s exploding marijuana industry was challenged by the use of pesticides, which are federally controlled. At that time, there were five banned pesticides discovered in Denver’s marijuana crops. Following publicity and a law suit about pesticide use in the burgeoning industry, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper stepped in. High Times reports:

“Governor Hickenlooper’s executive order directs the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDHE) to regard all off-label pesticide use as a public health risk, and orders the Colorado Department of Revenue to do the same… Governor Hickenlooper’s executive order, which also applies the Colorado Pesticide Applicators Act to marijuana growers, could not have come at a better moment.”

People want to support eco-friendly businesses. Here’s some help for your grow house.

High Times has the story:

Choose Sungrown Cannabis

… Boutique growers who lavish attention on their gardens will always yield a primo product, and there’s no replacing the sun’s energy intensity, which develops every cannabinoid and terpene to its fullest.

Avoid Plastic Packaging

Glass is the standard for high-quality cannabis packaging, which is ideal because it can be reused and recycled. Tins are also popular for housing flowers and edibles, while plastic baggies and vials cannot be easily recycled and don’t usually get re-used as often.

Select Durable Vape Pens

Shoddily-constructed vape pens have exploded and caused burns, and are responsible for pollution in the land of their manufacture, China. Choose high-quality, well-constructed vape pens that are highly rated instead of disposable, cheap units that end up in a landfill.

Go Organic!

After epic pesticide scandals in Colorado, more people are asking questions about the fertilizers and pesticides used to grow cannabis. Just like with organic food, choosing cannabis grown without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides is healthier for you and the Earth. Learn more about organic cannabis at Clean Green and Organic Cannabis Association.

Just Say No to Butane

A derivative of natural gas, the demand for butane drives pollution, climate change and drilling. Choose extracts made from ice water or CO2 and dab them on an e-nail instead. Or if you want to get really eco-friendly, smoke dry-sifted kief with a hempwick.

The medical marijuana train is unstoppable. The blessings of it for physical pain, glaucoma, cancer, PTSD and so many other emotional and physical torments are finally being recognized. With this type of market surge, you can bet that the pharmaceutical companies will want to produce their own synthetic or genetically modified strains. So, keep growing the wondrous herb and above all, save those precious seeds.

(Photo credit: Hightimes.com)

Sources:

HighTimes.com

Science.NaturalNews.com

TheCannabist.co

HighTimes.com

FoodForensics.com