Pubdate: Tue, 01 Sep 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: Kathryn Phillips Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n495/a02.html POT FARMS' IMPACT NEEDS ATTENTION Re "State wants pot farms to become water-wise" (Page 1A, Aug. 30): It's encouraging that elected officials and regulatory agencies are finally seriously addressing legal cannabis cultivation's environmental impacts and trying to bring cultivators into compliance with existing law regarding water use. However, the focus needs to be broadened to include the breadth of environmental impacts. The photos accompanying The Sacramento Bee's article about the special enforcement program on cannabis cultivation were a stark reminder that cultivators clear cut large swaths of forest land, which breaks up forest ecosystems and damages wildlife habitat and corridors. Are the cultivators doing this in compliance with state laws? Is pesticide usage consistent with state law? In many cases, the answer is no. And the result is serious environmental damage at a time when, given the effects of climate change, intact forests and protected wildlife are more important than ever to ensure species survival. Kathryn Phillips, Sacramento - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom