SACRAMENTO – (INT) – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has weighed in on the recreational marijuana debate.

A first-of-its-kind study that shows that water used for growing marijuana has a devastating effect on fish.

The study showed that during drought conditions, water demand for marijuana cultivation exceeded stream flow in three of four watersheds that were studied.

The study concludes that diminished stream flow from irrigating pot is likely to have lethal to sub-lethal effects on salmon and steelhead trout and will cause further decline of sensitive amphibian species.

Story Date: March 31, 2015