# Smoking Weed: Good or Bad For the Environment?

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/06/smoking-weed-good-or-bad-for-the-environment/
- Published: 2021-06-01T16:37:17-04:00
- Author: Eillin Delapaz

The present-day world is rough, fatiguing, and demanding. A statement on which many
working American adults will agree. The reasons are often many, but the biggest 
are stress, anxiety, and depression in many individuals. It is because of long working
hours, persistent deadlines, and those pesky monthly manager reviews for many employees.
For college-going scholars, stress is because of the never-ending tests, exams, 
and the struggle to get good grades.

A problem needs a solution for many. The issue of stress makes people turn to ways
to cope. Many turn to chemical drugs as doctors typically prescribe them. The most
common ones are anti-depressants, sleeping tablets, and many more. They are the 
most prominent solution but not often the best ones. Many users complain of various
side-effects, which can also be severe for many. There have been numerous cases 
where the users develop dangerous allergies to the skin, respiratory disorders as
a side-effect. Several times users file lawsuits against big pharmaceutical companies,
but they are hardly successful.

The above instances forced many to turn to other alternatives to cope up with the
increasing mental burdens. Some of the options range from alcohol, marijuana-based
products, smoking, [vaping](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/10/how-you-can-make-more-environmentally-conscious-decisions/),
and weed. Marijuana-based [products are often considered dangerous](https://trevinolaw.com/most-dangerous-consumer-products-of-2021-in-the-us/)
because of the possibility of addiction. Alcohol and Smoking addiction cause diseases
to the user’s respiratory organs and neural system. Weed is the most popular and
trusted option among all [Cannabis Ontario](https://cannabisontario.net/) products.

![A problem needs a solution for many The issue of stress makes people turn to ways
to cope Many turn to chemical drugs as doctors typically prescribe them The most
common ones are anti depressants sleeping tablets and many more They are the most
prominent solution but not often the best ones Many users complain of various side
effects which can also be severe for many There have been numerous cases where the
users develop dangerous allergies to the skin respiratory disorders as a side effect
Several times users file lawsuits against big pharmaceutical companies but they 
are hardly successful](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/
05/image2-1.jpg?resize=420%2C275&quality=52&ssl=1 "9 Awesome Things You Can Learn
About CBD - The Green Living Guy")

Studies conducted by Statista show that more than 25% of adult Americans consumed
weed in 2018. To put these figures into perspective, it is equal to the consumers
of Vaping and Cigars in the country.

## **What Makes Weed so Popular?**

Weed originates from the pointed leaves of the famous cannabis plant. The cannabis
plant first came in central Asia, and then due to the ongoing globalization, it 
was introduced in many other parts of the world. Africa, England, and America were
some of the major countries where the cannabis plant came into the picture. It was
well-received, particularly in the United States of America. The popularity was 
so much that many individuals started growing it illegally.

One of the reasons weed is so widely available is that the Cannabis plant is easy
to grow. It requires minimal maintenance and easy to implement agricultural practices.
Weed originates by various methods from the leaves of the plant. These can be artificial
or natural. The artificial extraction maintains the quality of the extract, and 
the natural process keeps the product organic. 

Image credits- [www.pixabay.com](https://pixabay.com/photos/herb-hemp-plant-cab-cannabinoid-2915337/)

Weed is the trendsetter since the start of the last decade. One of the main reasons
why it is so popular is that it is versatile. You can roll weed inside a fine paper
or keep it inside a vaping pen. 

Weed is arguably the most popular and controversial topic in the United States of
America at the same time. Now you mix the environment with it, then you get a volatile
cocktail. The balance is tough to maintain and often impossible to achieve. 

Some of the environmental benefits that come with [smoking weed](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/06/can-cannabis-cultivation-lead-to-additional-environmental-impacts/)
are-

## **Eco-Friendly**

The more the demand for weed, the more cultivation of the cannabis plant is required.
The extract of weed has [Hemp](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/02/hemp-is-good-for-the-planet-heres-how/)
as the main constituent. It comes from the stem and leaves of the cannabis plant.
The plant is biodegradable and requires less maintenance. The amount of water for
cultivation is much less than the other crops. It makes it [sustainable for the environment](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/10/forest-festival-to-explore-gatineau-park/).
Hemp is also handy as an alternative for many other products. Several industries
have actively used Hemp in products like paper, strings, and many more. One new 
trend is using Hemp as an alternative to plastic which can prove vital in the future.

## **Green Energy and Efficient Techniques**

With time the technology in agriculture has evolved. The focus is on being sustainable
and using eco-friendly practices. [As weed cultivation in the United States of America is legal](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/22/nyregion/marijuana-ny-nj-weed-pot.html),
it will only make the landowners use much more efficient techniques. These cannabis
plants are so efficient that they can be grown on your rooftops. Yes, you read that
right. The cultivation of weed does not require any complicated techniques, which
are a boon to the environment. After all, who does not like a rooftop garden?

## **Effective Way to Cope**

Adults crave an alternative that makes them relax and is not chemically based. One
of the biggest reasons why individuals look for an alternative to chemical-based
drugs is safety. As described above, chemical drugs may leave short/term side effects
on the consumer. These can be serious and cause severe consequences on the already
suffering patient.

Weed is organic and can have the same positive effects on the consumer. It interacts
with the receptors of the brain and causes an immediate soothing effect in the body.
The added benefit is no side effects on the consumers, irrespective of the age. 
Using weed as an alternative to chemical drugs can save much pollution. Pharmaceutical
companies are notoriously famous for causing air and water pollution through smoke
and waste effluents. Weed cultivation will help us achieve a balance between medicinal
benefits and the environment.

As there are always two sides to a coin, some of the disadvantages of smoking weed
are-

## **Air Pollution **

One of the most widely reported [disadvantages of smoking weed is air pollution](https://daily.jstor.org/the-environmental-downside-of-cannabis-cultivation/)
which comes from it. Weed, when taken through a vape pen, produces fumes that can
go into the atmosphere. These fumes vanish in minutes, but the effect on the air
around them is long-lasting. The fumes contain harmful fine particles and smoke,
which is disastrous for many in the close vicinity.

## **Harmful to Animals **

Smoking weed and cultivating it releases some harmful chemicals. Constituents in
the fumes contain chemicals like Bromethalin, which are a threat to animals. While
growing the cannabis plant, it secretes these chemicals in the soil. Scientific 
studies show that the chemicals can cause harm to the plants and rodents present
in the ecosystem.

## **Conclusion**

When the phenomenon of weed was new, many states declined to accept it legally. 
However, studies have shown proven instances where it helped consumers physically
and emotionally. It has made many states legalize the distribution and production
of weed and cannabis-based products. It is legal to grow cannabis plants federally
now, and most of the states legally allow individuals to smoke weed. However, in
the future, more focus should be laid on [eco-friendly practices](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/02/5-ways-to-grow-environment-friendly-weed/)
in weed cultivation. More studies in stopping the secretion of harmful chemicals
need to be there. It will be beneficial and expand the market of weed further.

_**Author: Kaitlin Justice**_

![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f30a82826ab5e40ae1efde55aa735f0579f0105f7692fc289aebf0d58584c37e?
s=300&d=monsterid&r=g)

 Eillin Delapaz

 [See Full Bio](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/eillin/) [  ](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/eillin/)