July 20 1999
From The St. Petersburg Times
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MARIJUANA-KILLING FUNGUS TOO RISKY

Whoever first said "the cure is worse than the disease" could have been talking about Florida’s history of trying to eradicate one environmental problem by creating a bigger one.

(Marijuananews note: Now if they will just apply the same measure to marijuana prohibition, they will have really learned something.)

Now the state’s new drug czar is suggesting we consider introducing a killer fungus that will destroy the state’s illicit marijuana crop. The problem is, we don’t know what else the fungus will kill.

State drug czar Jim McDonough has been holding meetings in Tallahassee trying to drum up support for the testing of Fusarium oxysporum, a soil-borne fungus. He wants tests to occur in a state quarantine facility in Gainesville, where other bio-control materials are evaluated for safety and effectiveness. Ag/Bio Con., the Montana company that is developing the marijuana killer, says the fungus "does not affect animals, humans or any other crops."

But scientists at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection suggest otherwise and are warning that there could be serious consequences for releasing the mycoherbicide. In a letter to McDonough, DEP Secretary David Struhs expressed grave concern over the possibility of the fungus mutating and attacking other plant species. "Mutation of the organism would not only threaten Florida’s natural environment, but would also put at risk our economically vital agricultural industry," Struhs wrote.

Due to Florida’s warm soil conditions, a fungus can survive for as long as 40 years.

The idea is shockingly dangerous and, even if it worked, wouldn’t affect a large portion of the marijuana grown in the state since much of it is grown indoors. When marijuana is cultivated outdoors it is often dispersed among crops and other plantings. Last year only 55,000 marijuana plants were confiscated throughout the state. Compare that figure to a state such as Hawaii where a half-million plants were confiscated in 1996.

The problem isn’t severe enough to warrant the risk of releasing a deadly marauding fungus, no matter how many laboratory tests ultimately say the organism is safe.

Florida’s past experience with introducing exotic species to tame an environmental problem have proved disastrous. The thirsty Australian melaleuca was introduced by government foresters to help drain the Everglades. Now, of course, we want the Everglades protected and rehydrated. Yet, like a pestilence, the melaleuca trees have spread all over South Florida, drinking precious water and slowly parching the river of grass.

Kudzu, a Chinese vine, was also brought here by the government, as a natural erosion ontrol. It’s exceptionally rapid growth of up to a foot per day has overtaken other species.

Florida’s warm climate makes it particularly vulnerable to unintended consequences of exotic botanicals. Introducing a killer fungus with a 40-year life span into this ecosystem in order to destroy a relatively modest marijuana crop is just not worth the risk.