In the past, the only way that most growers in the U.S. could produce cannabis was indoors in order to avoid punishment from prohibitive federal laws. However, now that such laws are slowly being overturned on a state-by-state basis, that stigma is starting to diminish. This means that the need to grow medicinal marijuana indoors is beginning to diminish, as well.
Growing practices that benefit medicinal marijuana users and the planet are beginning to resurface, such as cultivating cannabis in a much more natural environment: the great outdoors. Sun-grown cannabis offers a variety of benefits, from energy conservation to an overall improvement of aroma and flavor.
1. Better for the Environment
According to Steve DeAngelo, Executive Director of Harborside Health Center, growing indoor cannabis in California consumes 8% of household electricity in the state. That percentage could be significantly decreased if more growers of indoor marijuana moved to sun-grown operations instead. As laws continue to reflect the views of the majority of the people who live in each state, more medicinal marijuana growers will feel secure about adopting outdoor growing methods. Once this transformation is underway, the environment will benefit greatly.
2. Better Economic Sense
Growing cannabis outdoors also makes better economic sense than indoor growing. Countless people agree that moving agriculture to an indoor environment is not a fiscally sound practice. For starters, sun-grown cannabis requires less energy, which subsequently saves growers money. That savings can then be passed on to consumers.
As Washington state Representative Joel Kretz has stated, “The waste of our clean hydropower, wind and solar electricity for a nonfood crop used primarily for recreation is simply unacceptable.” Kretz has also observed that growing cannabis outdoors could give an economic boost to the rural population in his state. Because growing outdoors costs less, growers would be able to produce greater quantities of medicinal marijuana, creating a win-win situation for growers, consumers, and the local community.
3. Better Quality Overall
While some people may be under the impression that marijuana grown hydroponically indoors tastes and smells better, many experienced growers say that this simply isn’t true. In fact, the terpenes found in outdoor plants are often as aromatic and flavorful as any plant grown indoors – and in many cases, outdoor plants actually taste and smell better than a lot of indoor strains. Overall, plants grown in the sun manifest more diversity of flavor and aroma than those grown in an indoor environment. This means that consumers have better options in terms of flavor complexity, aromatic diversity, and degree of potency; they have more quality choices available to them.
Cultivating sun-grown cannabis makes sense in a broad assortment of ways. Growing cannabis outdoors is easier on the environment than indoor growing practices. Consumers, growers, and others in the community benefit on an economic level. And perhaps most importantly, the people who rely on medicinal marijuana have a greater number of options available to them (and enjoyment level is enhanced, as well).
Countless people agree that moving this form of agriculture back outdoors is the best strategy for everyone involved.