Cannabis growers say they are becoming scapegoats as the North Bay faces a serious drought.
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted recently to delay a proposal that would have expanded the amount of cannabis that can be grown in the county, after facing pressure from mostly rural residents who blame the crop for draining their wells dry.
But legal cannabis growers say the accusations that they overuse water are unfair.
"The idea that cannabis is somehow overly consuming or consuming more than it is due from a water perspective really just doesn’t examine the facts," said attorney Erin Carlstrom, who represents cannabis growers.
The county is once again experiencing a drought emergency, with rainfall at less than 40% of average in some areas.
"Unlike any other agricultural crop, cannabis already has to register and report and track its water consumption - every outdoor facility, every indoor facility," she said. "When you’re analyzing a permanent farm that’s going through between seven and 10 state and county agencies, the facts just really don’t bear out."
The county unanimously voted to delay the proposal until at least 2022 and will study the issue in the interim.
Related
