Jimdamick
Well-Known Member
The wildfires in Northern California are proving to be far more serious than anyone had anticipated. So far, the fires are responsible for 37 deaths and has wrecked as-yet unknown havoc on the state’s economy. California’s fertile agricultural lands yield most of the country’s produce, nearly all of our domestic wine, and weed. Lots of weed.
The New York Times reports that Mendocino County has been particularly hard-hit by the 2017 fires. “At least seven farms had been destroyed,” writes the NYT, and that number is expected to rise once farmers return their lands after the fires recede.
The Times quoted Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Association. The dangers aren’t purely aesthetic, either. The smoke may have deposited contaminants onto the plants, rendering them unsuitable for consumption."
Weed farms that have survived the fires face another dilemma: the quality of their crops have suffered from the atmospheric effects of the fires. Soot carried through the winds can settle on the marijuana leaves, infusing the plant with the smell of smoke. “If it’s supposed to smell like lemon and it smells like wildfire, that’s going to be a significant detractor,” the Times quoted Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Association. The dangers aren’t purely aesthetic, either. The smoke may have deposited contaminants onto the plants, rendering them unsuitable for consumption.
All the factors combined point to a significant loss of revenue for California’s pot economy, the effects of which have yet to be calculated, but probably will run into the ten's of millions of dollars..
This natural disaster highlights a problem facing pot farmers: since cannabis is illegal at the federal level, many farmers have difficulty obtaining business insurance. A loss is devastating for their business because it cannot be recouped. Many farmers also had not yet harvested the plants, meaning that entire crops have been lost to the fire.
God damn this sucks.
The New York Times reports that Mendocino County has been particularly hard-hit by the 2017 fires. “At least seven farms had been destroyed,” writes the NYT, and that number is expected to rise once farmers return their lands after the fires recede.
The Times quoted Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Association. The dangers aren’t purely aesthetic, either. The smoke may have deposited contaminants onto the plants, rendering them unsuitable for consumption."
Weed farms that have survived the fires face another dilemma: the quality of their crops have suffered from the atmospheric effects of the fires. Soot carried through the winds can settle on the marijuana leaves, infusing the plant with the smell of smoke. “If it’s supposed to smell like lemon and it smells like wildfire, that’s going to be a significant detractor,” the Times quoted Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Association. The dangers aren’t purely aesthetic, either. The smoke may have deposited contaminants onto the plants, rendering them unsuitable for consumption.
All the factors combined point to a significant loss of revenue for California’s pot economy, the effects of which have yet to be calculated, but probably will run into the ten's of millions of dollars..
This natural disaster highlights a problem facing pot farmers: since cannabis is illegal at the federal level, many farmers have difficulty obtaining business insurance. A loss is devastating for their business because it cannot be recouped. Many farmers also had not yet harvested the plants, meaning that entire crops have been lost to the fire.
God damn this sucks.
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