How drug trafficking affects the environment

Narcotic substances are illegal in most countries. However, the drug industry has enormous proportions — which means that it cannot but affect the environment. We understand how

The carbon footprint of marijuana Marijuana is the most popular drug in the world. According to the UN, 192 million people use it. To grow marijuana, you need a whole infrastructure — which means a lot of electricity. Swansea University scientists estimate that cannabis production in the United States accounts for 1 per cent of the country's total energy consumption. 16.5 million tons of carbon dioxide are allocated from marijuana production for the year — this is comparable to the annual emission from 3 million cars. In addition, marijuana needs significantly more water for growth than, for example, tomatoes. Therefore, for example, in the dry season in California, where it is grown in large quantities, the cost of marijuana increases water scarcity. Scientists from the California Department of Fisheries and Wildlife estimate that its illegal outdoor cultivation has reduced water levels in some streams by a quarter. Marijuana is already legalized in whole or in part in many countries. Uruguay became the first country....