Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jun 2015
Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Copyright: 2015 The Sacramento Bee
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/0n4cG7L1
Website: http://www.sacbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/376
Author: Jim Wood
Note: Jim Wood, D-Healdsburg, represents the 2nd Assembly District.

ILLEGAL POT GROWS SPOIL NORTH COAST

Marijuana Growers Are Clear-Cutting Trees and Using Pesticides

Bill would expand statewide a pilot program to address environmental problems

In 1996, California voters decided that marijuana should be available 
for medical use. Since then, most of the state's medical cannabis has 
been grown in parts of Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties, 
known as the "Emerald Triangle."

Nearly 30 years ago, my wife and I moved to Northern California to 
start a business and raise a family. We chose to escape the hectic 
pace of life in Southern California to a place of breathtaking beauty 
by day and night skies full of stars we hadn't seen in years. While 
residents and visitors may come from different places, we all share a 
profound appreciation for the natural beauty of the North Coast  the 
majestic redwoods, beautiful rivers and abundant wildlife.

Sadly, there are threats to our natural treasures in the form of 
illegal marijuana growers trespassing on private and public lands. I 
have seen grow sites where scores of trees have been clear-cut and 
where illegal pesticides and rodenticides have been used to protect 
crops. And in the historic drought, watersheds are running dry from 
illegal water diversions.

Water is being held from traditional agriculture to ensure there is 
water in the streams for endangered fish, but instead it is being 
pumped onto illegal marijuana farms and poisoned by chemicals. Last 
year, Sproul Creek, in Humboldt County, ran dry for the first time 
and officials believe it was due in large part to illegal diversions 
of water for marijuana.

It is time to act, and act decisively. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown 
approved $1.8 million for a pilot program on the North Coast to 
address the environmental problems created by medical marijuana 
farms. My bill, Assembly Bill 243, would make this a statewide 
program, but that is not enough.

We can't solve this without addressing the source of potential damage 
caused by marijuana cultivation. AB 243 also creates a structure to 
tag permitted medical cannabis plants with a unique identifier for 
each plant. This will help state and local officials monitor the 
number of plants a watershed supports. If a watershed cannot support 
additional cultivation, no new plant identifiers would be issued.

The program also improves quality control and enforcement. In 
Colorado, a similar cannabis identifier program helps law enforcement 
distinguish permitted plants from illegal ones. Identifiers will make 
it easier to trace contamination and health hazards to their source.

AB 243, which passed the Assembly this month and is now before the 
Senate, protects consumers, while giving law enforcement another tool 
to combat illegal grows.

For nearly 20 years, we have allowed the medical marijuana industry 
to go largely unregulated. We have kicked the can down the road for 
too long. We must act now to protect the environment and protect our 
water for future generations.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom