Indoor and outdoor growers in Humboldt both hope that explaining the environmental damage of indoor grows will cause consumers to rethink their choices.  If buyers start realizing the value of organic outdoor marijuana, then prices for outdoor will rise and growers can farm in the sun.  Growers can choose the method that is easier on the earth and produces what most farmers I’ve spoken to feel is a better product.

KQED radio in the Bay Area just put out a excellent piece on the effects of indoor grows. Listen to it here on QUEST . The reporter describes how one of our local dispensaries produces all its own marijuana indoors at cost of around $4500 per month in electrical bills.

Once again, the Schatz chart below was referenced which shows how Humboldt County’s electrical use paralleled California’s for years but circa 2001, Humboldt’s use rose dramatically.  Probably in response to large amounts of indoor grows. As the authors of the study say, “By 2007, the last year we have data for, that extra consumption amounted to an average of 61 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month for each Humboldt County resident or 145 kWh for each household.”

Hopefully, as more consumers think about the choices they make when purchasing pot, indoor will be less in demand and outdoor prices will become more equivalent which will allow marijuana producers to choose growing in the sun rather than growing in unsustainable indoor plantations.

As the reporter, Lisa Morehouse told me, “”…I am having so many people tell me “I never thought of those issues before!”  I know for you all it’s kind of a “no, duh” message, but it’s so new for folks outside the industry.”

Now if we can just educate the consumer on the flavor, better quality, as well the superior environmental qualities of outdoor.