As Arizona continues to deal persistent drought, one cannabis company is taking action to address the state's lack statewide cannabis water use tracking, which it said could be from hundreds of millions to potentially more than a billion gallons.
D2 has launched ecopride.com as an educational platform for Tucsonans and all Arizonans to dive into water inventory challenges, risks of inaction, cannabis water tools, and actionable steps for involvement—fostering a informed path forward.
D2 Dispensaries said it is using precisely the water needed to supply its Tucson community by leveraging efficient indoor setups and innovative irrigation which has allowed it to cut its water usage by more than 40% in the last two years.
To promote education and accountability, D2 is openly disclosing that its production facility averaged 143,180 gallons total monthly last year for about 18,000 square feet of cultivation, and 32,000 square feet dedicated to extraction, manufacturing and kitchen needs. D2 pays monthly utility bills ranging from $2,000 - $2,200 for water, sewer, and environmental services at its production facility. D2 believes that Tucsonans will gravitate towards dispensaries who are transparent and share their water usage numbers and costs.
“Arizona’s water future hinges on informed stewardship, not guesswork,” said Moe Asnani, Co-Founder of D2 Dispensaries. “As someone who has lived in Tucson since 1999, it is tough to see how hard inflation has hit our community. We pay for our water and work hard to provide locally grown premium cannabis that won’t impact future water costs and quality of life for Tucsonans.”
Several states with legal cannabis set grow limits to align production with available resources. In Arizona, the absence of such caps has prompted calls for deeper analysis of expansion's effects on water supplies. D2 advocates for public education on these topics, especially amid statewide conservation efforts.
Recent trends show Arizona's cannabis output exceeding local demand, prompting broader conversations about balancing growth with environmental realities in this evolving sector.
“Water is life in the desert,” said Consuelo Hernandez, State Representative for Legislative District 21 who sponsored HB 2941 to control statewide cannabis water use. “Our water needs are growing everyday with agriculture, mining, chip manufacturing, AI data centers, and new residential and commercial development. I am not sure we can sustain overproducing a controlled substance that cannot even be sold outside Arizona legally.”
