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The modern cannabis industry has a significant environmental impact. Here is what we’re doing to help usher in a new era of sustainability.

Cannabis has a long history of human consumption – it’s one of humanity’s oldest cultivated crops. Cultivation flourished worldwide until the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.

Now, in the wake of widespread legalization and decriminalization, cannabis has gone from an illegal herb to a thriving, billion-dollar industry. 

But aspects of this Green Empire are making the environment go up in smoke. 

Modern cultivation practices have come a long way from the days when the Ancient Mesopotamians and colonial Americans grew cannabis.

Of course, outdoor grow operations still utilize fields and sun, but the recent rise of indoor and greenhouse cultivations creates significant sustainability challenges.

Cultivators must constantly refine their operations as the commercial cannabis industry continues to flower.

What are some of the sustainability challenges faced by the cannabis industry as it grows? 

As the cannabis industry slowly becomes more regulated, more brands and cultivators are adopting sustainable practices. 

Still, there are many roadblocks.

With prohibition still standing in the way of federal funding, research, and support, there has been a woeful lack of studies and information regarding modern cannabis cultivation and how it impacts the climate. 

But cultivation facilities open every day, and with no oversight, these facilities rarely implement environmentally friendly and sustainable production methods.

Naturally, with accelerated industrial growth comes a high carbon footprint.

Researchers began to see the urgent need to understand how modern outdoor, indoor, and greenhouse grow operations impacted the climate.

Their studies revealed that increased legal cultivation was beating the hell out of the environment.

In some instances, cultivation was depleting energy, overwhelming water systems with irrigation, and threatening air quality with increased carbon emissions. 

Cannabis production was choking out rivers and hotboxing our atmosphere. 

The study results aren’t shocking when you consider that cannabis is a resource-depleting, intensive process.

Brands and cultivators have taken note. Many are working together on comprehensive sustainability initiatives. 

We’re one of those brands. Sustainability has always been top-of-mind, but Lightshade has taken things to the next level over the last two years. 

We opened our state-of-the-art greenhouse operation in the summer of 2019. The Greenhouse comprises almost 2/3rds of Lightshade’s total cultivation footprint. And we’ve used significantly less lighting in the greenhouse because it harnesses the sun. 

The facility does not use mechanical cooling or dehumidification, two of the main drivers of carbon emissions in indoor cannabis cultivation facilities. 

In the fall of 2019, Lightshade’s owners brought in CSU grads Dan Banks and Nick Drury as their Vice President of Cultivation (Dan) and Senior Vice President of Cultivation (Nick). 

Dan and Nick understand industrial agriculture and horticulture science, and they’re using their knowledge to make Lightshade’s cultivation more sustainable. 

Our sustainability initiatives have increased substantially across all of our cultivation facilities yields in just under two years. Some of these initiatives include:

 “All of our flowering areas and cultivation across all of our facilities are in the process of switching from high-pressure sodium lighting to LED lighting,” notes Dan Banks. “That’s going to allow us to increase lighting intensity, especially in our indoor cultivation facilities, while at the same time lowering the amount of overall energy used.” 

Lightshade is now projected to increase its lighting intensity by a quarter with this LED overhaul. That amount will offset enough electricity to power up to over 300 homes.

Xcel is committed to reducing peak energy demand during the summer by decreasing the demand on the grid between 2 pm and 6 pm.

With this in mind, Lightshade switched their vegetative lighting cycles across all facilities, which typically consists of 18 to 20 hours of light with 4 to 6 hours of darkness, so that their downtime falls during those peak demand hours.

Lightshade also reduces the impact of flower lighting by utilizing the sun at the greenhouse, altering indoor light cycles to reduce consumption during peak times, and using dimmers to lower energy usage during early flower when lighting intensity does not need to be as high. 

Once we complete the LED overhaul this summer, we expect a reduction in power usage and waste (lighting fixtures, bulbs, and more) and increased lighting intensity and productivity.

Drury tapped another CSU graduate, Forrest Benson of Redstone irrigation, to help the Lightshade team design a custom modular drip system that would work with our palletized benching. Drury’s expertise in nutrient management and plant pathology was also crucial in revising the nutrient recipes and devising the water treatment protocols necessary to reuse the captured run-off. 

Of course, COVID slowed the progress of our sustainability initiatives. However, we were still able to compile a great deal of data on water usage and re-circulation at the greenhouse.

And those results reflected the system’s benefits when it came to recycling and treating captured irrigation water from the plants, which in turn increased water use efficiency while reducing the burden on the municipal water system.

1.2 million gallons is a significant water-use reduction. But we’ve still got room for improvement; please check back later this year for an update on total water usage at the greenhouse!

From our budtenders to our cultivation teams and executive leadership, we’ve empowered our employees to voice their sustainability concerns, ideas, and opinions. And we’re committed to educating others in our industry. 

Banks and Drury represent Lightshade as participants in the Denver Cannabis Sustainability Work Group (DCSWG). As part of those efforts, they provide feedback and updates for the City of Denver’s Cannabis Environmental Best Management Practices Guide. The guide is updated annually and gives cannabis producers insights and resources to help their operations be more sustainable. 

Banks serves as the Co-Chair of the DCSWG’s Commercialization Committee, which brings together cultivators and sustainability-focused businesses to increase cooperation and make sustainability resources more available to other cultivators.   

The possibilities for sustainability-focused improvements are endless right now, and the future of sustainability in the cannabis industry looks bright. 

Lightshade is proud to be a part of this growing industry and help mature its processes. We can help humans and our planet and still produce premium flower!

Here’s a selection of vegan and gluten-free cannabis products you can find at Lightshade Colorado dispensaries. 

There are few more satisfying ways to indulge in cannabis than with an infused edible (or two – just remember, start low and go slow). For many cannabis connoisseurs, edibles offer a unique quality that isn’t always obtainable through smoking or vaping.

But for those of us who have dietary restrictions, it can sometimes be challenging to track down the perfect cannabis-infused snack that’s both tasty and aligned with our health goals. 

Vegans and folks who try to stick to a plant-based diet need to avoid the all too common baking staples of butter, milk, and eggs; gluten-free folks need to duck even the faintest trace of wheat (no shared equipment, please!). Sugar presents its own host of health problems for people with diabetes or heart issues and anyone cutting down on empty calories.

Fortunately, there’s a growing marketplace of delicious and good-for-you ways to indulge in cannabis-infused treats. We rounded up some of our favorites–take a bite!

With so many excellent edible options, it’s impossible to choose just one! That’s why we’d love to see you come in for an in-person snacking session–our budtenders are happy to recommend the perfect health-conscious edible to suit your mood.

Visit your favorite Lightshade location today and explore our selection of recreational and medical cannabis vegan and gluten-free products!

It’s Women’s History Month, and we want to highlight the women of Lightshade!

March is Women’s History Month, an annual celebration of women’s achievements and a time to honor their essential role in history, not only in the United States but also globally. 

Women’s History Month is the perfect opportunity to shed light on women’s essential cannabis industry contributions. 

We’re proud to have a strong group of women on our team, so we decided to ask some of them about their role in the cannabis industry and why our favorite plant is beneficial for women. 

Keep reading to learn what they had to say! 

What does it mean to be a woman in the cannabis industry?

Being a woman in the cannabis industry is about being assertive and strong. It’s also about vulnerability and compassion. Women in cannabis are on the front lines of an ever-changing industry. And we’re making a difference every single day.

From a woman’s perspective, where do you want to see our industry go? 

I’d like to see more women involved at all business levels. 

The cannabis industry continues to evolve and change daily. We must embrace change to impact the industry and the people surrounding us positively! 

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

Women’s History Month is a celebration of all women! 

We’ve come so far as a society, and if that’s not something to celebrate, then I don’t know what is! 

Women are powerful as heck!

Is there anything else you’d like to say? 

Lightshade is terrific! They do a fantastic job of embracing our strong female personalities. I am lucky and grateful to work for a company like ours.

The conversations sparked between all of us are what I love about this month. It’s not just about how wonderful women are; it’s also about how wonderful we are when we do this world together.

For the first time, I feel like I’m helping to change the world! 

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

It means that at some point, not everyone was thought to be equal. No matter race or gender, every person can do anything they set their minds to, and they should all be treated equally! 

A look back through history shows women’s strength and ability to attain their goals. 

Is there anything else you’d like to say? 

The world still has a long way to go, but I’m happy to be part of an industry that treats people equally. I’m proud to be surrounded by the fantastic team I see every day!

We want to know about the women you’re honoring this Women’s History Month! Drop by and tell us!

It’s Black History Month, and we want to highlight the vital work of Black professionals, educators, activists, and legislators in our community.

It’s a sad fact that Black Americans are the group most damaged by America’s remaining anti-cannabis legislation.

According to the ACLU, Black people are almost four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than their white counterparts. Even as a growing tide of legalization turns our favorite plant from an illegal drug into an acceptable source of medical relief and enjoyment, the lingering effects of America’s War on Drugs are still painfully apparent.

As more and more states legalize cannabis, the industry has a responsibility to create more Black leadership opportunities. That’s why, this Black History Month, we want to highlight the vital work of Black professionals, educators, activists, and legislators in the world of cannabis and beyond.

With only two states remailing where all uses of cannabis are illegal, the industry is experiencing an unprecedented boom. As Colorado moves to expand the state licensing procedure in 2021, we believe that these leaders will continue to provide critical support to an industry-wide push to increase BIPOC access to the profitable world of legalized cannabis within Colorado and beyond.