See this article,
“Investigators uncover largest outdoor pot grow in Oregon’s history”.
On Wednesday, the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Oregon State Police SWAT team with air support from the Oregon Army National Guard, served a search warrant at the northeast Oregon location and arrested six suspects.
“The resources, time and effort these outdoor growers are committing to avoid detection and protect the site pose a significant risk and danger to the public and law enforcement officers,” said Fred Steen, a sheriff’s spokesman. Steen added that the grow was ongoing for a substantial period.
La Grande Police Sgt. John Shaul called the operation “staggering,” saying eradication of the plants took two days.
“Many people would be outraged at the damage to our public lands caused by illegal marijuana growers,” he said.
Investigators also found campsites and numerous weapons, including semi-automatic long barrel firearms and handguns. Food, water and other supplies were found at campsites that could sustain the growers for several weeks, according to deputies.
The United States Forest Service and OSP Fish & Wildlife will survey the site to determine the environmental damage and how to rehabilitate the altered terrain.
My understanding is that people want to grow on public land as opposed to private so their property won’t be confiscated when they are caught. It seems like a policy with bad unintended consequences. I’m with Fenwood and others who like the legalize-and-tax approach. Seems like it could save- and earn- substantially more federal dollars than, say, removing the Fiddlin’ Foresters website.. Maybe it’s time for national forest neighboring communities to rise up and say “enough,” before someone gets killed.
Sounds like a replay of DEA against Congress. DEA contends that the feed chemicals for meth (over the counter pseudo-fed and others) should be controlled. Congress says no way.
Forest Service (and other Executive Branch groups) say “enough already, crack down (pun intended) on these illegal grows.
Congress replies by cutting budget.
What is the policy regarding publishing links to Elected Representatives in whose districts, the illegal pot is being grown?