Difference between revisions of "Water theft"
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[[California]] Drug Enforcement Administration agent Curt Fallin observed in 2021: | [[California]] Drug Enforcement Administration agent Curt Fallin observed in 2021: | ||
{{cquote|By our calculation, the illegal grows in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties require an astounding 5.4 million gallons of water a day, every day.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/07/28/water-theft-drought-cannabis/</ref>}} | {{cquote|By our calculation, the illegal grows in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties require an astounding 5.4 million gallons of water a day, every day.<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/07/28/water-theft-drought-cannabis/</ref>}} | ||
| − | == Oregon bust == | + | == Blatant theft by illegal pot growers == |
| + | As reported by [[AP]]: | ||
| + | {{cquote|From dusty towns to forests in the U.S. West, illegal marijuana growers are taking water in uncontrolled amounts when there often isn’t enough to go around for even licensed users. Conflicts about water have long existed, but illegal marijuana farms — which proliferate despite legalization in many Western states — are adding strain during a severe drought. ... | ||
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| + | “Because peak water demand for cannabis occurs in the dry season, when streamflow is at its lowest levels, even small diversions can dry streams and harm aquatic plants and animals,” a study from the [Cannabis Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley] said.<ref>https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-and-nature-oregon-droughts-marijuana-333e813d352fd2343e3adfe4f954e61a</ref>}} | ||
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| + | == Oregon bust 2022 == | ||
An illegal [[cannabis]] operation in [[Oregon]] stole more than 1 million gallons of water in the summer of 2022, before it was busted in August: | An illegal [[cannabis]] operation in [[Oregon]] stole more than 1 million gallons of water in the summer of 2022, before it was busted in August: | ||
{{cquote|Investigators said a massive illegal marijuana grow east of Medford used more than 1 million gallons of water this season before getting busted Wednesday. | {{cquote|Investigators said a massive illegal marijuana grow east of Medford used more than 1 million gallons of water this season before getting busted Wednesday. | ||
Revision as of 08:08, August 21, 2022
Water theft is a crime committed mostly by cannabis growers in California and other regions where water is scarce. Cannabis requires enormous amounts of water, typically double what commodity crops use. California Drug Enforcement Administration agent Curt Fallin observed in 2021:
| “ | By our calculation, the illegal grows in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties require an astounding 5.4 million gallons of water a day, every day.[1] | ” |
Blatant theft by illegal pot growers
As reported by AP:
| “ | From dusty towns to forests in the U.S. West, illegal marijuana growers are taking water in uncontrolled amounts when there often isn’t enough to go around for even licensed users. Conflicts about water have long existed, but illegal marijuana farms — which proliferate despite legalization in many Western states — are adding strain during a severe drought. ...
“Because peak water demand for cannabis occurs in the dry season, when streamflow is at its lowest levels, even small diversions can dry streams and harm aquatic plants and animals,” a study from the [Cannabis Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley] said.[2] |
” |
Oregon bust 2022
An illegal cannabis operation in Oregon stole more than 1 million gallons of water in the summer of 2022, before it was busted in August:
| “ | Investigators said a massive illegal marijuana grow east of Medford used more than 1 million gallons of water this season before getting busted Wednesday.
News of the alleged water theft comes as legal farms, vineyards and orchards are struggling with a multiyear drought and irrigation water shortages in Jackson County.[3] |
” |
Quotes
| “ | In the West, whiskey is for drinking, and water is for fighting over | ” |
References
- ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/07/28/water-theft-drought-cannabis/
- ↑ https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-and-nature-oregon-droughts-marijuana-333e813d352fd2343e3adfe4f954e61a
- ↑ https://www.mailtribune.com/top-stories/2022/08/11/police-illegal-pot-grow-used-1-million-gallons-of-water/