Thirsty Crop, Drying Climate: The Water Cost Of Cannabis
ByTWC - Digital
April 29, 2026Updated: April 29, 2026, 11:49 am EDTPublished: April 19, 2026, 12:22 pm EDT

In the West, where droughts reign and water is already a fragile resource, cannabis farming has quietly become part of a much bigger conversation. Because cannabis is often grown in places with long dry seasons and droughts, like California and Colorado, the water demand takes a back seat to the water supply itself. The future of cannabis farming in drought-prone regions will likely depend on how well growers can adjust.