Marijuana production uses 1 percent of all U.S. electricity
Unlike the smokable plant, marijuana production ain’t green.
The driver of this van has no idea he's killing baby polar bears.
Marijuana has a Godzilla-sized carbon footprint, with indoor production consuming one percent of all electricity produced in the United States, according to a study.
The resulting carbon dioxide emissions from all those power plants is equivalent to operating 3 million badly painted Volkswagen Microbuses (see photo).
Here’s some more interesting facts:
* Energy costs account for 25 percent of marijuana wholesale costs.
* The energy required to produce one joint is equal to running a 100-watt light bulb for 17 hours.
* A four-by-four-foot lighted “production module” uses the same energy as 30 refrigerators.
Of course, after reading all that, you’re probably wondering how much in energy costs the U.S. could save if we just let people grow marijuana outdoors.
The answer? $5 billion, or 2.5 million pounds of weed.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
115 comments Add your comment
Jesus
April 15th, 2011
1:58 pm
I remember this party where we were all so stoned off our a–es that I actually was able to convince my friends that I changed water into wine. What dumb a–es, ..but I miss them – they were good people.
Relationship Expert
April 15th, 2011
2:04 pm
Who would have though that April 1 would arrive twice in one year?
Immoral Prohibition Drives It Indoors
April 15th, 2011
2:06 pm
If it were legal, as if should be, it wouldn’t be grown indoors so much at all; Dr. Robert Melamede (PhD biology) is a good source on why cannabis is healthy and should be legal, by the way. That flower power van stuff is typical slander: cannabis is the most beneficial plant (food, fuel, textiles, medicine etc) on Earth, it is not only some hippie sacrement from the civil rights era.
ohiodemon
April 15th, 2011
2:08 pm
Ahhhh, more statistics about our favorite “evil” topic of the week.
The whole country is going to hell in a handbasket and we’re being asked to focus on a reasonably harmless, medically useful plant that’s been cultivated for many reasons, by many humans, for thousands of years. C’mon, folks, Thomas Jefferson grew a heap of hemp, but we aren’t taking his picture off the nickel, are we? (Hey, maybe that’s why we used to call ‘em nickel bags! )
In closing, 94% of all statistics are made up, and 82.5% of those are specifically designed to scare the intended audience…
ChaunceyTalent
April 15th, 2011
2:16 pm
interesting…
Whata Joke
April 15th, 2011
2:23 pm
Absolutely false-who published this silly articvle/ stoned obviously.
This “fact//percentage” is SO EXAGERRATED IOT MAKES ME LAUGH!!
The streets would be 6 feet deep in ganka if this were true!!
In Jamaica it is not even 1%1
IDIOT!
Senior hippie
April 15th, 2011
2:44 pm
Get over it America. Pot is here to stay. I’m a product of the 60’s. Loved it then, love it now. So all my 60ish pals hang out on weekends watching a race or grillin. Babyboomers just might have the numbers to vote it legal. If you politicians will step aside and stop trying to impress everyone with your squeaky clean lies maybe we could get it done. We know most of you probably smoke it too. Pot carries a stigma of long haired hippies on motorcycles, wild parties and orgies. I’ve seen it in the movies. So funny. We actually sit in the cubicle next to you, attend PTA meetings and occupy the front pew at church. I’m your grandpa or dad, or mama or aunt. I don’t have horns and I’m not running crazy thru the streets looking for something stronger. Just sitting back relaxing. I know cause I’m part of it. I’m ‘NORML’. Get over your fears and learn something. And dont trust all you read on the internet. Good grief you are gullible.
malaka
April 15th, 2011
2:47 pm
drug dealers and illegal drug users should be exterminated.
bigKok
April 15th, 2011
2:49 pm
keep on using your pot. It just shows who the losers are, plus you won’t be competing with me on good jobs. But you can still mow my lawn.
bigKok
April 15th, 2011
2:50 pm
it’s ganja, not ganka dork. ganka is what is between your legs