Land Use

Cannabis farms leave lasting imprints. We measure impacts.

 

Cannabis agriculture influences a region's resources, economy and communities for generations. Using maps and satellite images, we can measure deforestation, habitat vulnerabilities, and wildfire risk. By analyzing trends, we connect land use policies to the health of forests, habitats and communities.

What we’ve learned

  • Cannabis farms in California’s Emerald Triangle tend to cluster in ecologically sensitive areas near unpaved access roads, steep slopes, and aquatic habitat.
    Butsic et al. 2017Butsic and Brenner 2016
  • Rapid expansion of small cannabis farms has led to fragmented habitat in biodiverse forests of southern Oregon. Our results suggest impacts on mammals, fish, and other wildlife.
    Parker-Shames et al. 2021
  • The area of cannabis cultivation nearly doubled during a period of rapid regulatory change from 2012-2016. Sites near high-quality salmon habitat, far from paved roads and on steep slopes, also increased.
    Butsic et al. 2018
  • A small number of large cannabis farms comprise the majority of permitted cultivation area in California. These larger farms tend to be newer and sited in areas more favorable to meeting environmental regulations. In Humboldt County, farm size increased despite policies to encourage small farms.
    Dillis et al. 2021Schwab et al. 2019
  • Cannabis farms are more likely to be located in high to very high fire hazard severity zones than any other type of agriculture in California.
    Dillis et al. 2022
  • Land use policies control who grows cannabis where and how, especially at the local and county scale.
    Polson 2015

Science and Policy Briefs

OPEN PDF

Transformation of Unlicensed Cannabis Cultivation Since Legalization

This brief outlines the transformation of unlicensed cultivation since legalization based on over 150 extended interviews with people involved with cannabis cultivation in three regions of California.

OPEN PDF

English – Outcomes of Local Cannabis Cultivation Bans on California Communities

Local commercial cannabis cultivation bans add administrative cost and lead to economic and social inequities.

Researchers

Photo of Michael Polson

Michael Polson

Director

Associate Research Scientist

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Hekia Bodwitch

Researcher

Postdoctoral Fellow

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Phoebe Parker-Shames

Researcher

Wildlife Ecologist

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Christopher Dillis

Researcher

Postdoctoral Reseacher

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Margiana Petersen-Rockney

Researcher

Assistant Professor

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Laura Herrera

Researcher

Fiscal Grant Manager, Instructor

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Jennifer Carah

Researcher

Senior Scientist

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Jeff Vance Martin

Researcher

Research Social Scientist

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Christy Getz

Researcher

Associate Cooperative Extension Specialist

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Genoa Starrs

Researcher

Geographic Information System Programmer

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Seth LaRosa

Researcher

PhD Candidate

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Jeremy Sorgen

Researcher

Assistant Research Professor

Mary Power

Researcher

Professor, Integrative Biology and Faculty Manager, Angelo Coast Range Reserve

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Stephanie Carlson

Researcher

Professor and A.S. Leopold Chair in Wildlife Biology

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Nathan Sayre

Researcher

Faculty

Photo of Justin Brashares

Justin Brashares

Researcher

Professor of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation

Joanna Hossack

Cannabis Law Specialist

Attorney

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Van Butsic

Researcher

Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist and Adjunct Professor

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Ted Grantham

Faculty Director

Associate Professor of Cooperative Extension

Eric Biber

Researcher

Edward C. Halbach, Jr. Professor of Law

Related Publications

Map of tribal locations throughout California on blue background.

2025

Cannabis Impacts on Native Lands: On the Need for Inclusion of Native Perspectives in Extension Work

Sorgen, J., LaRosa, S., Sowerwine, J., Butsic, V., Nelson, P., McCavour, M., Gaughen, S., Starkey, A.

Journal of Extension

2025

Tribal sovereignty in land use decision making: Evaluating cultural resource law in California

Sorgen, J., Nelson, P., LaRosa, S., Butsic, V., Gaughen, S., Starkey, A.M., McCavour, M., Geary, R., Sowerwine, J.

Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space

2025

Wildfire impacts and mitigation strategies among California cannabis producers

Martin J.V., Dillis C., Starrs G., Schell D., Grantham T.E., Butsic V.

Wildfire impacts and mitigation strategies among California cannabis producers

2024

California Cannabis Research Briefing, Meeting Summary

Kulik, M.C., Lee, Y.O., Butsic, V., Cermak, T.L., Cooper, Z.D., Corva, D., Marcotte, T.D., Uskup, D.K., McKnight, T.R., Balla, A.

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

2024

Final Report to DCC – Transformation of Unregulated Cannabis Cultivation Under Proposition 64

Polson, M., Laudati, A., Sayre, N.

2024

A theory of geo-social marginalization: A case study of the licensed cannabis industry in California

Dillis, C., Petersen-Rockney, M., Polson, M.

Journal of Environmental Management

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