Marijuana cultivation in California is sucking streams dry, says new report

The drought-stricken state is facing further water shortages due to unregulated marijuana farms
The Guardian (UK)
Saturday, March 28, 2015

With its dense forests, foggy climate and rugged coastline, California’s Humboldt County has long been synonymous with its biggest cash crop: marijuana. Cannabis has thrived here — both before and since the state legalized it for medical purposes in 1996. The industry has been booming in the last few years, and with little regulation it has had a huge impact on the environment. A report, published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, quantifies some of that impact for the first time. (See also: Is pot causing the California drought?)