A severe drought in New Mexico could severely impact cannabis growth and the state's farming industry.
One couple with plans to start farming cannabis in a rural area of the state estimates they will need approximately 30,000 gallons of water each year for the growth. With a backlog of applications for water permits, and an already-stretched utility, cannabis farming exacerbates the issues caused by the drought across the state, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 86% of New Mexico is experiencing abnormally dry conditions and has been for some time. Fifty-five percent of the state is in the D2 - D4 category, ranging from "severe drought" to "exceptional drought," with 22.5% of the state in "extreme" to "exceptional" drought conditions.
Cannabis production on a large scale can result in depletion of local water supply due to how water-intensive the plant can be, according to the Brookings Institute, a non-profit public policy organization. Cultivation of just one of the thirsty plants indoors can require about 450 gallons of water, with that amount doubling in outdoor cultivation.
Some of the state’s top crops—which farmers are struggling to cultivate in the current conditions—require much less water than cannabis. New Mexico’s famous chilies, for example, require 50 gallons of water per plant per year, according to KRWG.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has heralded projects that greatly expand the industrial, research, and agricultural footprint of cannabis in New Mexico. “I couldn’t be more excited about the development of another world-class research facility right here in New Mexico,” Lujan Grisham said in a press release announcing a $300-million investment in a research partnership into the plant, according to the Cannabis Business Times.
As of July 2021, there was a backlog of approximately 500 water-related permit applications in the Water Resource Allocation Program of the State Engineer’s Office. The average wait time for approval is approximately 8 to 10 months, and if rights are contested it can take up to two years, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.