Farmers must adjust to the drought and climate change in the West. This summer, a cannabis consulting company in central New Mexico is researching the types of marijuana that can withstand the heat the best.
In Socorro, New Mexico, the Weeds. Cannabis Consulting company is conducting an experiment and has 400 plants with nine different strains. As previously reported by the El Defensor Chieftain, they want to find strains that grow well in a variety of soil and environmental circumstances.
Former legislative aide who worked on New Mexico’s marijuana law and one of the company’s founders, Matt Kennicott, says they’re varying the strains, soil mixtures, and watering techniques as part of the experiment.
We’re currently experiencing a drought throughout the West, but particularly in the Southwest. In addition, we have to deal with climate change,” Kennicott added. What impact do those various elements have on the development of cannabis plants in this area?
Kennicott describes the environment as hot and arid. The ability of strains to withstand heat and temperature changes can be tested in Socorro.
In Socorro, Kennicott observed, “some days you can have a day that’s 100 or more degrees, but in the evening it comes down to 70 or 60 or something degrees.”
At the conclusion of the growing season in the fall, the Weeds team, which includes Pat Davis of the Albuquerque City Council, anticipates having information on plant health, pH and nutritional levels, as well as other markers. They want to announce the findings early in 2019.
