Pubdate: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 Source: Union, The (Grass Valley, CA) Copyright: 2011 The Union Contact: http://apps.theunion.com/utils/forms/lettertoeditor/ Website: http://www.theunion.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/957 Author: Lynn Skrukrud MARIJUANA BAD FOR ENVIRONMENT Pot - it may be natural, but that doesn't mean that it's good for the environment. We always hear that it's natural, so, "it's OK," but Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released a report recently saying that marijuana is anything but green. The report found that indoor cannabis production is responsible for one percent of the nation's electricity consumption. One percent may not seem like much but it equals $5 billion of energy expenditures per year. That means that indoor marijuana grows are using more energy than entire states. Smoking one joint is the equivalent of running a 100-watt light bulb for 17 hours, not to mention that each joint also releases two pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the air! Our environment is already teetering on a slippery slope. Indoor marijuana grows are highly unsustainable. Cutting out one percent of energy use and reducing carbon dioxide emissions would be a huge step in the right direction to help protect our planet from environmental harm. So, the next time you think about lighting up ... think twice. To view the report visit www.evan-mills.com/energy-associates/Indoor.html By Lynn Skrukrud of Nevada City - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom