Water theft
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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] | ” |
Oregon bust
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.[2]}}