How the LA fires will affect cannabis cultivation

It's devastating for Los Angeles and everyone in and around it – and it will hurt small mom-and-pop businesses, including those that produce cannabis.

Los Angeles is one of the pillars of the cannabis industry, with one of the largest concentrations of sales and some of the most important cultivation areas within 200 miles of downtown LA. And like the residents of the City of Angels, they are affected by the terrible fires that have suddenly swept the area. According to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, the Palisades fire alone, the largest of four life-threatening wildfires currently wreaking havoc across the county, may be the costliest wildfire in history. It burned more than 3,000 acres of land as well as numerous homes, businesses and landmarks in Pacific Palisades. But in the long term it will harm the region. Here's how the LA fires will impact cannabis cultivation.

Wildfire smoke can have significant and complex effects on crops, including cannabis, with both negative and positive effects depending on various factors. Wildfire smoke primarily impacts crops by reducing the availability of sunlight, which is crucial for photosynthesis.

This reduction in light can lead to stunted growth, lower yields and reduced nutrient quality in many crops. With cannabis, smoke exposure can result in significant crop losses. Some estimates suggest potential nationwide production losses of more than 25% in a single year.

The effects of smoke on cannabis are particularly severe compared to other crops in California. Cannabis cultivation is geographically more at risk of wildfires than any other agricultural crop in the state. This vulnerability has resulted in significant economic losses, with potential damage estimated at $1.44 billion in 2020 and $970.04 million in 2021. Wildfire smoke can also increase ground-level ozone, which is harmful to both human health and plant growth. Ozone can damage plant tissue when breathed and can affect both corn and soybeans. In corn, this can result in the remobilization of carbohydrates from the stalks to meet the bulking needs of the grain, potentially increasing the risk of weak stalks and preharvest lodging.

Another important topic is insurance. Jesse Redmond, managing director of Water Tower Research, expressed concern. “Wildfires highlight the ongoing insurance crisis in the cannabis industry. “Due to the federal status of cannabis, many growers remain underinsured or completely uninsured, leaving them without financial recourse in the event of a crop or facility destruction,” Redmond shared

The effects of smoke vary by culture:

• Cannabis: Highly susceptible to smoke damage, with significant economic losses.
• Corn: Due to its C4 photosynthesis and higher light saturation point, it is more affected by light reduction than soybeans.
• Potatoes: Black spots may appear on newly emerged leaves.
• Watermelons: May show premature chlorosis on older leaves and develop brown or black spots with white spots.
• Pumpkins and squashes may experience yellowing of older inner or crown leaves.

The damage caused by this fire will impact lives, businesses and crops in the area for many years to come.