Pubdate: Thu, 06 Jun 2013
Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA)
Copyright: 2013 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsreview.com/chico/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/559

DISASTER IN THE FOOTHILLS

We're Sick of Seeing Pot Farmers Ruining the Environment

We're getting pretty fed up with certain marijuana farmers. In
particular, the ones who are grading the foothills, eviscerating the
landscape, excavating giant holes, and then bringing in semi-truck
loads of soil in which to grow plants.

As reported in a recent story by News Editor Tom Gascoyne (see "Pot
grades," Newslines, May 30), what these growers are doing, without
permits, is illegal and extremely environmentally unsound. It's time
for these "farmers" to be called out. They may want to portray
themselves as nature-lovers and purport to be growing marijuana to
help people suffering from medical ailments. But, come on, we know the
real motivation here. It's money.

If it wasn't money, they'd be taking care to not harm the environment.
They wouldn't destroy trees and other vegetation. They wouldn't use
chemical fertilizer and pesticides that run off from clay soil and
pollute our creeks, rivers and other water sources, or their
neighbors' wells. How do these so-called compassionate growers
reconcile the fact that they are harming the natural
environment?

The truth is they don't care. They just want the biggest plants they
can get. To hell with their neighbors and the Earth.

To growers: If you want to be a real farmer, move to the valley. Or
find a new method of growing.

To buyers and co-op members: Know where your marijuana comes from and
the methods employed to grow it. Find a new supplier if you don't see
what you like.
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MAP posted-by: Matt