New reports have surfaced from federal researchers and authorities regarding an increase in dangerous pesticides used on illegal marijuana crops. Since California took action and began working toward their new laws back on July 1st, there has been an increase in illegal marijuana growers.
As a result of this new research, they've found that these illegal growers are farming animals and poisoning water sources with their pesticide use.
Harmful Chemicals on the Rise
As first reported by the Associated Press, nine to every ten illegal marijuana farms that were raided in the state of California this year contained powerful and potentially lethal pesticides. Toxic fertilizers and fungicides are also being used in these crops.
The new stats have risen by a dramatic amount, as the use of these harmful chemicals is nearly six times higher than it was back in 2012. According to these researchers, the chemicals used can also pose a threat to the local environment.
Despite mostly being in greenhouses, these pesticides can poison local wildlife, and the chemicals can leak into local water sources. Once exposed to local water sources, the toxic water can harm fish and could potentially spread toxins to human water sources.
A few cases were found by researchers that the pesticides were being added directly to the irrigation waters, which would ultimately contaminate the soil.
Officials Scramble to Keep Up with Illegal Marijuana Growers
This year, officials are scrambling to keep up with all of the illegal farms sprouting up in the state of California. With the dramatic rise of chemical use, the cleanup projects are currently backlogged.
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In some cases, it could take up to eight years for one site to be cleaned up. So far in 2018, clean up crews have found 95 illegal marijuana growers and have removed 10-tons of harmful chemicals from these locations.
In total, the crews have worked at 160 sites and have seized more than 600,000 marijuana plants and 25,000 pounds of harvested cannabis.
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