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Study: Medical Marijuana Leaves Big Carbon Footprint

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A box is filled with marijuana plants at the San Francisco Medical Cannabis Clinic in San Francisco (AP)

A box is filled with marijuana plants at the San Francisco Medical Cannabis Clinic in San Francisco (AP)

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – A new study found indoor medical marijuana growers now account for 3 percent of California’s electricity usage, enough to power 1 million homes.

The plant itself may be green, but indoor pot farms produce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1 million automobiles, according to an independent analysis by Evan Mills, a researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

KCBS’ Susan Leigh Taylor Reports:

Mills’ findings (.pdf) are not surprising considering how much machinery is needed to ensure ideal growing conditions, said collaborator Scott Zeramby.

Zeramby, who owns Dirt Cheap, an agriculture equipment supply store in Ft. Bragg,  said his medical marijuana customers find grow lights are just the beginning.

“There’s a bunch of ancillary equipment—water pumps, fans, some people use air conditioning. There’s carbon dioxide generation equipment. It’s a pretty energy intensive process,” he said.

Zeramby questioned the cost effectiveness of growing almost any crop indoors, although he and Mills did not compare medical marijuana to other indoor growing operations.

“There’s an economy that seems to support the ineffeciencies,” he said, adding that privacy and security are what drive most marijuana growers inside.

And in an effort to control the climate precisely, Zeramby said many growers wind up with heating and cooling systems that work against each other and drive up energy use.

Less energy intensive techniques such as LED lighting are becoming more common, he said, but the fractured nature of the medical marijuana industry has made information sharing difficult.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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  • Johhny K

    Medical Marijuana is the biggest hoax that Pot Heads are actually getting away with. There are better, safer, legal alternatives than marijuana.

    • Archie

      Medical Cannabis is hardly a hoax. Cannabis is much safer than gin or bourbon.

      • Johnny K

        Who said Gin and Bourbon were medicine? Wow was that really your argument? Did you know that Marijuana raises your dopamine levels high enough to promote schizophrenia? Put the joint down and do some research.

    • Big G

      Do tell us smart one. Are you one of those guys that says anything without really doing your homewokrk? Jst asking!!!

    • Anthony Smith

      lol it is a legal alternative now the only problem is money hungry corps and govs are not able to send ppl into debt charging them for it. you speak as though you have a debilitating disease that you have found some drug other than weed for? Or are you just some healthy dude that has no idea?

      • Johnny K

        There is a medicine called Marinol.. Guess what is has the stuff that “Helps” without all the negative effects of THC. Ohh wait let me guess.. you need your weed for writers cramp?

      • TheDeacon

        This is for Johnny K. MARINOL does nothing for Chronic Nausea & Vomiting. I’ve tried it and it does not work and is way more expensive than real Medical Marijuana. Even if you live in an illegal State. That’s how expensive Marinol is. $800 for 60-5mg pills a month. Why do you care, we don’t even want you to use it if that’s you attitude. But you’re just spewing and it really makes you look like a stupid red neck. Not saying you are, just saying you make yourself look that way. Totally without compassion for your fellow man. Why are you so bitter?

    • TheDeacon

      There is NO Drug in today’s Pharmacopoeia that Controls Chronic Nausea & Vomiting. NOTHING! Inhaled Cannabis Vapors gives Immediate Relief from Chronic Nausea & Vomiting. If you do not like Cannabis fine. But you, nor anyone else, has the right to deny patients what can heal them. Cannabis KILLS CANCER via our Endocannabinoid System and the use of Cannabis. Google Anandamide and 2-AG (2-Arachidonoylglycerol) Chemicals made in YOUR BODY that mimic the same effects of the Cannabinoids from the Marijuana plant. THAT is how and why Cannabis is NON-TOXIC and therapeutic even when SMOKED!

    • TheDeacon

      What do you have that controls Chronic Nausea & Vomiting? For there is nothing listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia. Only Cannabis controls Chronic Nausea & Vomiting. Give it up Johnny K you and all other anti cannabis people have lost BIG TIME. Because CANNABIS KILLS CANCER See the PROOF for yourself http://www.lynnicewedewer.com/.

    • L Diggs

      idiot

    • TheDeacon

      Right that’s why Cannabis Oil KILLED the cancer in this 2 yr old boy’s brain when nothing else could. Can you not read?

    • spinaldamage

      You must not have ever been trully ill & r foolish and unknowing.Make pharmasuiticle co. rich pushing poisions.Poor john,what a fool.whats wrong if people have a smile on anyway.

      • The Deacon

        JOHNNY K HAS LEFT THE BUILDING LOL!!!

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  • David

    Not at all mentioned was the fact that almost all “indoor pot grows” ignore any “economies” because they are running on STOLEN POWER!

    • ET Phone Home

      Your statement is completely false. A minor percentage may steal power,but you must realize that stealing power was more for covering up electricity usage. Now growing is legal and there are very few “criminal” growers left. Please do a little research before you make such a prejudice statement

  • TheDeacon

    If only Cannabis were legal and treated like a commodity with Hemp and recognized as the Medicine it is we could grow outdoors where Cannabis leaves a very small carbon footprint. In fact Cannabis is easier on the soil than corn or soybeans. It would be an excellent rotation crop for fields if non THC containing Hemp were legal. The Medical Schools are not able to teach new doctors about the Endocannabinoid System and Cannabis/Cannabinoids and the Human Body. In the U.S. this is a totally new field. It is the future you wait and see.

    • Johnny K

      Tell me one medical benefit. Please!

      • TheDeacon

        1) CHRONIC NAUSEA & VOMITING. There is NOTHING for Chronic Nausea & Vomiting Control in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. What do you care if sick people use medical marijuana? They aren’t doing it in your house. What are you, an illegal drug dealer? Or just close minded and uneducated person who believes in Reefer Madness? Have a little compassion. Wait until you get cancer. Your attitude about Marijuana will let the Cancer Kill you. When you could let the Cannabis KILL the Cancer. This is FACT. See for yourself at http://www.lynnicewedewer.com.

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  • TwoCents

    Here’s a thought, legalize it so folks don’t have to hide it indoors.

    • Anthony Smith

      lol that 2 cents was worth 5 cents

  • rick martinez

    What about all the emissions from mutli million dollar corparations and water bottles and food in our supermarkets that are made in labs ( 90% of the food out there, excluding organics foods of course.) all the emissions from cars…..ect ect ect. It’s funny corporations do all of this too. this article is a joke. Watch big companies start selling weed and they will be doing the exact same thing on a much much bigger scale. Then it wouldn’t be a problem, if they were doing it? right!??

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  • Matt

    How do you create your statistics??? How many marijuanna growers did you personally interview? Why would anyone reveal that they are growing marijuanna?

  • Alane

    Legalize it, tax it, end of our economy problems. We would save billions on haseling small time growers or those that have the legal number of plants for thier script. It would give releif to the thousands, maybe millions people that would benefit from medical use but are afraid to use it now because of the legal hassel. There are fewer problems in society related to the use of marajuana than there are related to the use of alcohol, and alcohol is completely bad for you. At least marajuana has medicinal qualities. What are we waiting for? What are we afraid of?

  • TheDeacon

    Why doesn’t someone point out that the Endocannabinoid System in our bodies and the Unique Relationship it has for all kinds of health benefits unattainable by FDA Approved Scheduled Drugs, with the Cannabis plant. FLASH: CANNABIS KILLS CANCER!!! Why isn’t this being pursued to the fullest degree? Money in thr correct pockets. Corruption my friends.

  • Johnny K

    Show me one case where Cannibas kills Cancer. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha it may help with the muchies and keeping your food down while on Chemo, but the FDA approved drug Marinol does the same thing without the negative impacts to your lungs, and brain.

    • TheDeacon

      ONE? i WILL SHOW 7 Different Cancers that Cannabis has KILLED in One person by the name of Lynnice Wedewer. Just go to http://www.lynnicewedewer.com, and see for yourself http://www.lynnicewedewer.com. If anyone with Cancer reads this please go to Lynn’s site. She was admitted to a Cannabis vs Cancer Life-Long Research Program at the U of I. Lynn has been using Medical Marijuana to keep Cancer at bay in her body since she was 17. That was 32 years ago and she still is alive without an Immune System and most of her Lymph Nodes. Cannabis is Lynn’s Immune System. She is Prone to Cancer because her Endocannabinoid System (REMEMBER THIS MEDICAL FACT) which we and all multi-cell lifeforms have is damaged and the Cannabis provides her with a working Endocannabinoid System. Learn why we have it and how it protects us along with the use of Cannabis… not sure about you though. You seem to have Transcended even God and have all the answer’s but you’re really the Anti-Christ because Cannabis is PRO-LIFE. It not only Kills Cancer Marijuana KILLS FREE RADICLES in the body. Do you know what those are? Educate yourself go to http://www.lynnicewedewer.com, and learn. I do not expect you to post anymore until you have read her site. If after that you still do not believe then I say next time you are nauseated try medical marijuana and see how it effects you. But first you have to smoke it so your body will create more Cannabinoid Receptors by which you feel the temporary, harmless yet therapeutic psychoactive effect. Marijuana is safer than any FDA Approved anti anxiety medicine such as Valium and Xanax. Many people have OD’ed and died from these drugs but not 1 from Marijuana. How do you explain that? If you post without looking up http://www.lynnicewedewer.com, and reading it I, and everyone else will know you are just full of hot air, playing with the minds of people. You are evil.

    • Lynnice Wedewer Ph.D.

      Actually as a prfessional cancer survivior 8 times do you know how many people I watched die depending on the fake cannabis pills… they died those who took the natural plant lived… you cannot substitute that which God already made perfect

    • birddog

      want proof there’s a 2 year old boy in montana who had 21/2 inch brain tumor was on kemo in utah said he wouldn’t make it , boy hasnt ate for 40 days parents got a medical cannabis card for him gave him cannabis extract threw a feeding tube that went threw his belly into his stomach almost instantly started eating and got better brain tumor disappeared!!! look it up 2 year old given cannabis your a blind idiot do some research
      JOHNNY K then why would fda try to come up with a chemical copy of cannabis if cannabis doesn’t work? doh!! cause it does, its all about money and population control
      fish oil for example FDA didn’t approve if it until ll they came up with a prescription fish oil and it has side effects what a joke

  • Johnny K
    • Lynnice

      Cannabis Human The Naked Truth (Lynnice Wedewer, Ph.D.); Striping the human body and how it relates to the cannabis plant and how it meets God definition of crossing all barriers. To see the navigational index go online to http://cannabishuman.bizland.com/cannabishumannakedtruth/id107.html or http://www.cannabishuman.org main site.

      To see the Old Torah page which explains the mistranslation and refers to cannabis as sweet cane and Kaneh Bosm It states Kaneh-Bosm was mistranslated in King James to Calamus. See More: Cannabis Human page http://cannabishuman.bizland.com/cannabishumannakedtruth/id76.html

      God states: THOU HAST BROUGHT ME NO SWEET CANE CANNABIS http://cannabishuman.bizland.com/cannabisandreligion/id70.html

      • Lynnice

        God States in Matthew 11 IF YE WILL RECEIVE IT, THIS IS ELIAS – ELIJAH Elijah was the patron saint of cannabis known as the Green man. Matthew 11: 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. http://cannabishuman.bizland.com/cannabisandreligion/id72.html

  • Johnny K

    I see everyone blaming corporations, naming things that “are just as bad”. But I still have yet to see anyone name a benefit, i put those links there that show the link between pot and schizophrenia, and cancer.

    Please be ignorant enough to try and discredit Doctors. haha

  • Kazoo Joe

    Prohibition leads to waste, as in indoor growing. But the prduct is excellent. The energy usage of one weeks beer truck delivery could supply a medium sized grow.”Frankenweed” chemical pills touted by BigPharma absolutely prove the medicinal value of Cannabis.But drug warrior zealots just won’t let go of condemnation of the herb. See you in 2012.

  • L Diggs

    Johnny k is a sad sad misinformed individual…. by the way J sounds like everyone is more educated on the subject than you! Imagine that another sheep reading the newspaper and believing anything they tell him…. now that is what is really funny hahahahaha!

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  • TheDeacon

    From: DrRevLynn@aol.com
    To: DrRevLynn@aol.com
    Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 4:48 PM
    Subject: dear jonny

    Jonny, First I want to say I am sorry you have this attitude, indeed I am also sorry I did not see these comments sooner. Please let me introduce myself, I am Lynnice Wedewer, Ph.D. I am a 8 time professional cancer survivor. My first cancer was vaccine induced Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I have had multiple cancers and have had over the years many metastatic cancers. Currently I am walking my 8th journey with cancer and it is being cured with cannabis and a few supplements and a good multi-vitamin. This is absolutely true that cannabis can cure cancer. The only cancer I had that was not treated with cannabis was my first cancer 34 years ago, because it was not yet tried in my medical case.

    My first cancer was the vaccine induced Hodgkin’s lymphoma disease. This was considered the old timers disease, I was 14 years old with hybrid blood. It was the SV40 virus that started my history with cancer and vaccine laws that require mandated vaccines without testing.
    I was born in 1962. I was around 12-13 years old when I received a series of 3-5 vaccines in a gun. I received this vaccine contaminated with SV40 virus years after they already knew these vaccines were risky and causing issues. Over my life that first cancer wakes up in various parts of my body. They never killed it, only put it into remission (asleep). The cannabis helps my body keep it asleep. There are only a few things that can totally kill the SV40 virus, vitamin B 17 is one of them.

    • Lynnice

      Cannabis was proven to be another. In 1960, it was determined that the rhesus monkey kidney cells used to prepare the poliovirus vaccines were infected with the SV40 virus (Simian Virus-40). SV40 was also discovered in 1960 and is a naturally occurring virus that infects monkeys. In 1961, SV40 was found to cause tumors in rodents. More recently, the virus was found in certain forms of cancer in humans first discovered in 1976-1981, for instance brain and bone tumors, mesotheliomas, and some types of non- and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, it has not been determined that SV40 causes these cancers.

      In fact my medicals records should prove this is in fact true. It was at Wilson Junior High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa I received my shot in the dark. I did not want it and even begged not to have it, yet I was forced into the line at school to receive my vaccine gun shot and polio vaccines. I reacted badly, I got so sick.

      • Lynnice

        In 1960, it was determined that the rhesus monkey kidney cells used to prepare the poliovirus vaccines were infected with the SV40 virus (Simian Virus-40). SV40 was also discovered in 1960 and is a naturally occurring virus that infects monkeys. In 1961, SV40 was found to cause tumors in rodents. More recently, the virus was found in certain forms of cancer in humans, for instance brain and bone tumors, mesotheliomas, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and some types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, it has not been determined that SV40 causes these cancers.

        You may wonder if cannabis can cure then why did I even have cancer 8 times? Yes, I had more then one form of cancer in my lifetime. Because of the stigma surrounding cannabis no matter how much I realized my body “required” it so I did not develop cancer, as my body did not have it ability to do that on it’s own anymore, something broke that ability, I would quit taking it. I also realized and know that each time if I eat and smoke cannabis if I produce cancer, I will be cured of it.

      • Lynnice

        Sometimes I would get stubborn in my life and stop smoking it for great periods of time. Not once was I addicted to it. I could stop at any time I wanted. The problem was my body required cannabis to live and on a daily basis because of many reasons one being the lack of a properly working immune system or lack there of. I have no spleen. Cannabis stops body wasting in it’s tracks the ability of my body to produce cancer. You will see this in my medical record. If I smoked it I would remain cancer free until a period of time after I quit. If I continued I would get no cancer. (note the above medical record and dates for proof) When I was in remission months to years later I would stop. You have to remember at first I did not want to do it because of what “we all were taught” cannabis is a bad thing. You need to understand that each time I quit smoking cannabis because I did not want to take it for life, it was a matter of time and my body developed another form of cancer.

      • Lynnice

        I would like to teach you why cancer is indeed cured by cannabis. Believe me in the beginning I had the same attitude as you do now. Over the years I had to except that cannabis did and still does hold my cure. I knew many people would have a hard time excepting this to be true so I have taken pictures along the way so you can watch as it does cure it. I am not on radiation treatments nor am I taking chemo therapy. But I do also eat a good organic diet rich in colorful foods and raw vegetables and fruits and low protein (little to no meat). In other words all I have to do is support my body while the cannabis is healing it. Please review the images for yourself. Some may be shocking to see but well worth what you will learn. Click on any of the images to enlarge them http://www.lynnicewedewer.com/id11.html

        After seeing these images you have to ask yourself why is there not a cure for cancer? Why is cannabis illegal? Why is not cannabis used to cure all cancer patients? We promise to do no harm first, is that not the oath the medical community takes. Is this policy upheld? Then again ask yourself why? Money… you are correct.

  • TheDeacon

    In 1960, it was determined that the rhesus monkey kidney cells used to prepare the poliovirus vaccines were infected with the SV40 virus (Simian Virus-40). SV40 was also discovered in 1960 and is a naturally occurring virus that infects monkeys. In 1961, SV40 was found to cause tumors in rodents. More recently, the virus was found in certain forms of cancer in humans first discovered in 1976-1981, for instance brain and bone tumors, mesotheliomas, and some types of non- and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, it has not been determined that SV40 causes these cancers.
    In fact my medicals records should prove this is in fact true. It was at Wilson Junior High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa I received my shot in the dark. I did not want it and even begged not to have it, yet I was forced into the line at school to receive my vaccine gun shot and polio vaccines. I reacted badly, I got so sick.
    In 1960, it was determined that the rhesus monkey kidney cells used to prepare the poliovirus vaccines were infected with the SV40 virus (Simian Virus-40). SV40 was also discovered in 1960 and is a naturally occurring virus that infects monkeys. In 1961, SV40 was found to cause tumors in rodents. More recently, the virus was found in certain forms of cancer in humans, for instance brain and bone tumors, mesotheliomas, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and some types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, it has not been determined that SV40 causes these cancers.
    You may wonder if cannabis can cure then why did I even have cancer 8 times? Yes, I had more then one form of cancer in my lifetime. Because of the stigma surrounding cannabis no matter how much I realized my body “required” it so I did not develop cancer, as my body did not have it ability to do that on it’s own anymore, something broke that ability, I would quit taking it. I also realized and know that each time if I eat and smoke cannabis if I produce cancer, I will be cured of it.

  • TheDeacon

    Sometimes I would get stubborn in my life and stop smoking it for great periods of time. Not once was I addicted to it. I could stop at any time I wanted. The problem was my body required cannabis to live and on a daily basis because of many reasons one being the lack of a properly working immune system or lack there of. I have no spleen. Cannabis stops body wasting in it’s tracks the ability of my body to produce cancer. You will see this in my medical record. If I smoked it I would remain cancer free until a period of time after I quit. If I continued I would get no cancer. (note the above medical record and dates for proof) When I was in remission months to years later I would stop. You have to remember at first I did not want to do it because of what “we all were taught” cannabis is a bad thing. You need to understand that each time I quit smoking cannabis because I did not want to take it for life, it was a matter of time and my body developed another form of cancer.
    I would like to teach you why cancer is indeed cured by cannabis. Believe me in the beginning I had the same attitude as you do now. Over the years I had to except that cannabis did and still does hold my cure. I knew many people would have a hard time excepting this to be true so I have taken pictures along the way so you can watch as it does cure it. I am not on radiation treatments nor am I taking chemo therapy. But I do also eat a good organic diet rich in colorful foods and raw vegetables and fruits and low protein (little to no meat). In other words all I have to do is support my body while the cannabis is healing it. Please review the images for yourself. Some may be shocking to see but well worth what you will learn. Click on any of the images to enlarge them http://www.lynnicewedewer.com/id11.html

  • TheDeacon

    After seeing these images you have to ask yourself why is there not a cure for cancer? Why is cannabis illegal? Why is not cannabis used to cure all cancer patients? We promise to do no harm first, is that not the oath the medical community takes. Is this policy upheld? Then again ask yourself why? Money… you are correct.

    They attempt to claim there are no benefits, is this true? Let’s look at facts, then you yourself make an educated guess.

    FACTS DIRECTED QUOTED FROM: Medical Marijuana Studies and US Department of Health and Governmental Patents:

    Marijuana Cannabinoid Cannabidiol (CBD)
    Cannabidiol (CBD), is a major constituent of medical cannabis. CBD represents up to 40% of extracts of the medical cannabis plant. Cannabidiol relieves convulsion, inflammation, anxiety, nausea, and inhibits cancer cell growth. Recent studies have shown cannabidiol to be as effective as atypical antipsychotics in treating schizophrenia. Because cannabidiol relieves the aforementioned symptoms, cannabis strains with a high amount of CBD would be ideal for people with multiple sclerosis, frequent anxiety attacks and Tourette syndrome. Cannabidiol is shown to decrease activity of the limbic system and to decrease social isolation induced by THC.

    In November 2007, it was reported that CBD reduces growth of aggressive human breast cancer cells in vitro and reduces their invasiveness. Cannabis keeps in check inflammation as cancer dies, controls nausea associated to cancer. In addition it causes T4 Cells to thrive.

  • TheDeacon

    Marijuana Cannabinoid Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (is the active alkaloid in Cannabis) A Harvard study released on April 17, 2007 shows that the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, cuts tumor growth in common lung cancer in half and significantly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread. In studies tumors were reduced in size and weight by about 50 – 60 percent as well as a significant reduction in protein markers associated with cancer progression.

    Researchers from Complutense University in Madrid have found that “the active component of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, causes cancerdefine cells to undergo a process called autophagy. This is the breakdown that occurs when the cell essentially self-digests.” THC causes brain cancer cells to undergo a process called autophagy in which cells feed upon themselves, according to the study

    Co-author of the Madrid study Guillermo Velasco and colleagues at Complutense University in Spain. After a 26- to 30-day THC treatment regimen. They found that THC eliminated the cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact. The team also made another discovery when they tracked the signaling route by which this process was activated.

    “We found that the anti-tumoral action of THC is based on its ability to activate an intracellular signaling pathway that promotes the activation of a cellular process called ‘autophagy’. The activation of this pathway leads to cancer cell death,” revealed Guillermo Velasco. The researchers declared that the work shows how “a new family of potential antitumoral agent” exists among THC and is related to cannabinoids.
    (April 2009 issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation)

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