Considering British Columbia just went through it’s own bout with forest fires, we’re really feeling for Californians right now.
The state is currently dealing with one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent years, where fire has burned more than 191,000 acres of land.
A look at California’s statewide fire map reveals a grim picture: While fires are presently burning across the state, northern California has been hit the hardest, with nearly two dozen fires burning near the counties of Mendocino, Sonoma, and Napa.
The fires edge on an area that cannabis growers call ‘The Emerald Triangle’. It’s the largest cannabis-producing region in the United States.
The fires struck at a particularly bad time as farmers were preparing to harvest their crops.
Entire farms have already been destroyed, and many farmers fear that they will go out of business because federal laws that prohibit cannabis make it impossible for farmers to insure their crops.
The state’s recent move to legalize adult-use marijuana saw many of these farmers spending millions on preparing their farms for state regulation.
It’s not expected that the fires will affect the supply of cannabis in the state, but farmers whose crops were spared are still concerned about the effects of smoke on their plants.
There are between 10,000 and 15,000 cannabis farms in California.
According to CNN, this season’s fires have already caused 26 deaths.
