https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/2017/10/13/tubbs-fire-damage/assets/images/DJI_0104-1254.jpg The wildfires in Northern California have already displaced thousands of people in the state. It's estimated that the fires have already destroyed over 8000+ buildings, including both homes and businesses in the area. Altogether, it's fueled over 1 billion in insured losses and taken the lives of at least 40+ people. ## Among those businesses that have been lost, *at least 34 cannabis farms are estimated to have been burned to the ground*. http://localtvwhnt.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/1927l9.gif?w=324&h=203&crop=1&zoom=2 And after the businesses suffered the loss, with the farms being burned down, they sought to raise money online for repairs. The California Growers Association recently launched a crowdfunding campaign effort via YouCaring to try and help raise funds for farmers in California who have lost all they had. ### However, after they had went on to raise tens of thousands from supporters, the site pulled the fundraiser entirely. https://d35gqh05wwjv5k.cloudfront.net/media/catalog/product/h/e/heavy-duty-flexible-sign-system-98056-lg.png WePay was the one responsible for putting a stop to the payment and initiating a refund of donations, after they had already raised roughly $13,000 for their cause. WePay says that they cannot process any payments related to the production and sale of cannabis, as *federal prohibition is still in place* despite California moving to embrace legalization. And under federal restrictions, they say that they are prohibited from carrying out that transaction, no matter how peaceful it might be. ## They don't want to engage in *money laundering*. http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2013/08/air-quotes.gif There are a number of states that have already made the move to embrace legalization but federal rules are still in place and what those states are effectively doing is engaging in civil disobedience. Those trying to raise funds were allegedly told that that they could raise funds and process payments *for victims of the fire, but not for funding things like lost cannabis crops specifically,* no "cannabis transactions" allowed. Though, WePay hasn't been very clear as to how the wildfire funds exactly constitute a *cannabis transaction*. Those in support of the fundraiser have criticized the move by adding that nowhere was it stated that those funds were going to purchase and replace cannabis crops. Though, it might be easy to see how they might make such an inference. ### The California Growers Association is now trying to raise funds directly through their websites, with the goal of trying to raise around $25k. Others in the cannabis community in California have also signaled that they are in the middle of trying to establish a non-profit organization that will be able to try and help raise funds for the cannabis farmers and their families who have been hurt by recent wildfires. https://steemitimages.com/DQmaW48YhsgLS2fxaYkXCuon3tFpQEEh1tSUCU3jjJXv7RT/%40doitvoluntarily.gif Pics: Derek Watkins/via The New York Times via WHNT via Seton.com via Reaction GIFs Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/14/us/california-fire-building-damage.html http://whnt.com/2016/08/17/fast-moving-california-wildfire-forces-82000-to-evacuate/ http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/what-the-california-fires-mean-for-the-weed-industry-w509769 http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/12/us/california-fires-updates/index.html http://www.npr.org/2017/10/19/558815623/california-fires-spare-most-vineyards-but-marijuana-crops-go-up-in-smoke http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/21/smallbusiness/crowdfunding-marijuana-fire/index.html http://www.sfweekly.com/news/wepay-wipes-out-marijuana-wildfire-relief-fund/ http://www.calgrowersassociation.org/calfireaid https://cannabisnow.com/crowdfunding-site-reverses-wildfire-fund-ca-cannabis-growers/ http://www.thecannabist.co/2017/10/18/crowdfunding-california-fire-marijuana/90332/ ## Related Posts: ## Many U.S. Fire Departments Now Using Drones To Help Them Fight Fires https://steemit.com/drones/@doitvoluntarily/many-u-s-fire-departments-now-using-drones-to-help-them-fight-fires