The following is a press release from the Inyo National Forest:
The Inyo National Forest and the Bishop Field Office of the BLM seek to provide a safe environment for the public, its employees, and natural resources. So while only a fraction of our public lands are affected by illegal marijuana cultivation, the agencies believe that safety risks are real and visitors and employees should be informed about them.
“The safety of public land visitors and our employees is our top priority,” said Forest Supervisor Ed Armenta. “Marijuana cultivation does occur on some public lands. It’s important for people to understand that they need to be aware of their surroundings.”
Marijuana cultivation makes many disturbance to natural resources, causes extensive and long-term damage to ecosystems, and impacts the supplies of public drinking water for hundreds of miles. Growers clear native vegetation before planting and sometimes use miles of black plastic tubing to transport large volumes of water from creeks that are often dammed for irrigation. The use of banned herbicides and pesticides by marijuana growers kill wildlife and competing vegetation. This loss of vegetation allows rain water to erode the soil and wash poisons, human waste, and trash from the grow sites into streams and rivers.
Here are some clues that you may have come across a marijuana cultivation site:
· Sometimes marijuana smells like a skunk on hot days.
· Hoses or drip lines located in unusual or unexpected places.
· A well-used trail where there shouldn’t be one.
· People standing along roads without vehicles present, or in areas where loitering appears unusual.
· Grow sites are usually found in isolated locations, in rough steep terrain.
· Camps containing cooking and sleeping areas with food, fertilizer, weapons, garbage, rat poison, and/or dead animals.
· Small propane bottles, used to avoid the detection of wood smoke.
· Individuals armed with rifles out of hunting season.
As soon as you become aware that you have come upon a cultivation site, back out immediately. Never engage the growers as these are extremely dangerous people. If you can identify a landmark or record a GPS coordinate, that’s very helpful. The growers may be present and may or may not know that you have found their grow site.
Get to a safe place and report as much detail about the location and incident as you can recall to any uniformed member of the Forest Service, BLM, or local sheriffs or police department. Leave the way you came in, and make as little noise as possible.
Packing a pistol, Wayne, won’t do much good. These guys usually have full or semi suto weapons. Best thing is to turn right around and beat it. Not literally Wayne, just get the heck out of there.
John Barton…So true….But better off to include a Ruger.40,as well as a fishing pole and a backpack.
@ Rob… that was a preemptive remark, on my part. Albeit premature… and not directed at you. The Mexican cartels are getting more involved in funding large scale grows on Public Land. I have actually read/heard warnings like “If you are walking in the forest and come across Tecate cans… Read more »
Bob – private security. I guess the councilman should have called the authorities to come along. He was obviously unprepared for the circumstances he was investigating.
Dave – racist? I don’t understand.
Actually, the suspect in this case was tending opium poppies. Though the councilman was looking for marijuana farms (Common in that area) he stumbled into a poppy crop (Not common in that area). His friend returned fire briefly, then escaped on a passing train of all things.
Oh, and the suspect in this case is caucasian so ya’ll can save your racist Mexican comments… although the cartels are getting more involved all over the Sate, too.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/nationalbreaking/ci_18779935 Here is one article. Do we need this to happen here before people take these illegal backwoods grows serious enough. I often hike, hunt and fish “off” the beaten path. In dry country it’s where you are going to find the fish and wildlife… used to be you didn’t… Read more »
You apparently haven’t read it. The councilman’s regular job was keeping track of that section of forest.
A Fort Bragg councilman was found murdered near an illegal pot farm he was investigating just this week.
What’s a councilman doing investigating an illegal pot farm?
That story stinks already.
Drunks seem to keep a lot of people employed, from cops to judges and everthing in between and those with a college degree who works in the courts. Stoners don’t act like drunks unless they are drunk too. Nor do they lose control of themselves like drunks do. To say… Read more »
Terribone…I’m sure if some had their way,and judging from your post,that includes you,anytype of Law Enforcement action,like the recent dope-growing bust ,is way out of line….almost like if these fields are seen,the cops should just smile,laugh and walk away….After all,according to some,marijuana is a “harmless medicine” for all the “patients”in… Read more »
@ Terribone… actually there have been quite a few instances where people were threatened, shot at, or otherwise intimidated away from illegal grows on PUBLIC LAND in the State of CA. It happens to hunters and hikers all the time in the Nor Cal. It’s only a matter of time… Read more »
removing the illegal grows in August doesn’t protect the public from being shot at in June & July. It would be better to catch these people in hopes they don’t return the following year.
This press release is simply government propaganda. Please, cite one incident where anyone on the Eastside has been harmed or otherwise placed in imminent danger as a result of these grows. Statistically, this is a non-issue. Sierra Wave is being used as a tool in this prohibition, and should be… Read more »
I can’t speak for the eastside but the pot growers in the mountains near Sequoia once shot at my friend and I while we were hiking apparently because we were close to their grow and didn’t know it. I really don’t care about people using marijuana. I don’t partake but… Read more »
Not on the East Side…yet.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/08/ft-bragg-councilman-killed-marijuana.html
Marijuana and the users who use/sell it are never going away. Just like prohibition didn’t work – so too, the “war on drugs”. We live in a “free” society – let people be free. When they harm others directly… enforce the law. It’s time to legalize weed and tax it.… Read more »
Wayne that comment about smokers smokin a joint before work, during lunch etcetera, etcetera is just stupid. Based upon prior comments I thought you were of the impression that people who smoked pot didn’t work or contribute to society at all. Functioning alcoholics wait until they are home, you are… Read more »
Great,huh?…Having to list warnings at the end of this story,in case your out in the wilderness hiking,fishing,trying to enjoy the day outside,either by yourself,or with friends and family,and you happen across a marijuana “grow farm” on public property.Just another reason why it’s a good idea to carry a pistol when… Read more »
Wayne are you speaking from experience, how else can you make that statement.???
And God bless the people that are forced to support you while you go through your life stoned…..
That is off the mark. What about all the functional alcoholics that work every day. You think that pot smokers are less capable than a drunk? You probably talk to ten stoners every day and don’t even know it. Further, all the illegal drugs are illegal because the drug dealers… Read more »
ALL GREAT POINTS..UNLESS YOU ARE DEPENDING ON A PUBLIC PENSION.
THAT REQUIRES THE LEGAL/COURT SYSTEM TO NEVER CHANGE
Yes, because that TOTALLY has something to do with this!! Get a life.
I don’t understand what your point is….
Most of the “funtional alcoholics” I have known in my life,they would get up in the morning,work their job,then come home and consume their alcohol…and would be wrong doing so,but also going out to taverns at night,and driving home,putting everyone at risk by doing so…On the other hand,most habitual pot… Read more »
I honestly believe you don’t know any FUNCTIONAL pot smokers. If in fact you know any at all, that is to say know any you are aware of.
Bob Loblaw…..HUH?
That is to say Wayne, the folks you mention are far from functional. They are quite apparently not functioning as they are engaging in risky, stupid behavior. By the “aware of” bit, I mean you surely know more people than you think who are “closet” marijuana users.
Pot smokers are no more competent than drinkers, thats for sure, and marijauana is accumulated in fat cells so is not cleared from the body as fast as alcohol. Why compare the two? Screwed up is screwed up. I’ve known a lot of people on prescription meds (not MJ) who… Read more »
The reason marijuana is stored in fat cells is because the human body recognizes THC as something that is good for the body. Alcohol, cocaine and meth to mention a few are cleared very quickly from the body because they are identified as a poison by the body. It only… Read more »
Give me a break!!!!
Destroy your life all you want….Problem is I have to foot the bill for it. How about we give no more money to no loads? Then the no loads can just disappear through attrition…fading away one by one.
Hey Wayne,,, just got my medical referal so now I’m literally setting up my new GROW ROOM right here in Bishop.. WoooHooo, can’t wait to Harvest time God Bless America LoL.
Thanks very much for doing that, I love the freedoms that our founding fathers fought and died for. No where in the Constitution does it prohibit your grow farm or your ability utilize your medication. This notion of making illegal God’s natural plants is rooted in racism and money. It’s… Read more »
We live in a police state..
They can’t handle the idea that the People voted to leagalize MMJ and will continue with their push to put people in jail for growing and posessing MMJ
Sad day in the USA and Taxifornia
One thing to be holding one of those MMJ cards handed out by some quack doctor….another thing to be growing your “medicine”on public land…with armed guards….and then selling it,don’t you think?
Kinda funny how you don’t get the same kind of “positive feedback”with that type of comment that you would up in Mammoth Lakes,isn’t it?..And Eamon,I am sure this is what our forefathers had in mind when they were fighting for,and losing their lives, to give us all the freedoms this… Read more »