The Blind Men and the Elephant: Measuring the Environmental Impact of Cannabis

The article discusses the environmental impact of cannabis cultivation. Amidst the increasing interest in understanding the nexus between cannabis production, use, and the environment, it highlights the scarcity of research in this area and the lack of comparable data that could provide some indication of global-level impact. Various, often local and isolated studies, shed light on specific elements of the environmental footprint of cannabis, from the use of water to the health-related risks of pesticides, and from deforestation to the carbon footprint of (licit) indoor cannabis in North America. These (pilot) studies, early assessments, and surveys are applaudable and useful, but—even taken together—don’t manage to hide the extraordinary research gap when it comes to the nexus between cannabis and the environment. Scholars generally agree on the need for more peer-reviewed articles, comparable data and analysis. The preliminary state of the scientific debate on cannabis and the environment warrants caution. Like the blind men in the famous parable, there is a danger of claiming absolute truths in the face of very limited data, incompatible studies and subjective interpretations of available data. And even if more research and data help to unpack the complex interlinkages between cannabis and the environment, the findings may be interpreted differently according to the various economic or policy-related agendas and interests involved.