The living soil method. (Submitted photo/Macrodose Photography)

By Jennifer Olson

living soil

Cultivating cannabis in a time of drought and climate change

May 6, 2024 | 4:29 PM

Just like with any other agricultural crop, it’s imperative to examine the environmental effects of cannabis cultivation on surrounding ecosystems.

Many indoor cannabis facilities, especially those using hydroponic systems of cultivation, use significant amounts of water. This raises concerns as climate change and global droughts persist. Communities in British Columbia have spoken up about the potential negative impacts of cannabis production.

“The biggest concern that I’ve heard from municipalities on the subject of cannabis and
sustainability is water use, specifically the groundwater drawn for indoor production facilities,” stated Vancouver’s Jaclynn Pehota, cannabis land-use expert and executive director of the Retail Cannabis Council of B.C.

“That is a big consideration, and we’ve seen a big move away from hydroponics–it is no longer the preferred method of growing. We’ve seen a significant move towards the organic living soil cultivation method, which uses much less water. Water consumption for cannabis production is definitely impactful, especially in places that have a sensitivity around water because of the ongoing droughts across B.C.”

The living soil method involves creating a diverse ecosystem within the soil that mimics the microbiology of soil in nature. Soil quality is maintained through the use of compost, cover crops, beneficial microorganisms and natural amendments. A symbiotic relationship is formed between the soil, microorganisms and the plants. This improves and enhances plant vitality, flavour and overall quality while minimising the need for synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.

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Living soil is potentially the most environmentally sustainable method of producing light-assisted cannabis.

“The other big sustainability topic is what producers are feeding the plant,” Pehota continued.

“The nutrients, depending on what you’re using, have an environmental impact. Inputs such as potash, nitrates and other fertilisers are going to have an ongoing impact. I think that contamination from those nutrients in neutral growing mediums that are then discarded is a consideration. What does everyone do with that soil? I’ve seen piles of dirt dumped outside of facilities. It looks like dirt, but it’s actually contaminated. It’s not even technically soil because it’s dead (lacking microorganisms) and it’s also full of a bunch of salt-based nutrients. So that’s something to be concerned about.”

Pehota stressed the importance of adopting sustainable cultivation practices such as the
organic living soil method, especially in a province continually facing water scarcity. Proper nutrient management and soil disposal practices could be adopted by all producers to prevent environmental contamination.

Like other agricultural industries facing scrutiny from scientists and environment advocates alike, the cannabis industry isn’t exempt from mitigating its ecological footprint and safeguarding surrounding ecosystems.

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