Pubdate: Mon, 11 Nov 2013
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2013 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Larry Waldron
Page: A9

PERILS OF GROWING POT

Environmental destruction is caused by marijuana production on public
and private forestlands in Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity counties.
Forest clearing, diversion of streams, construction of hundreds of
miles of eroding roads, unrestrained application of fertilizers,
herbicides and rodenticides wreak damage on the ecosystem reminiscent
of the worst logging practices of the past.

The scale and remote location of these illegal activities apparently
make them beyond the control of the various state and federal agencies
meant to restrict them. This situation is a persuasive argument for
the legalization of marijuana. Transferring its cultivation to
agricultural cropland more suitable for its production and managed by
legitimate businesses subject to regulation and taxation would be a
progressive step.

Of course these legitimate producers will resist regulation and do
their best to evade taxation, but what else is new?

Larry Waldron, Berkeley
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt