821: John Nores | Reclaiming America's Wildlands from the Drug Cartels

Cartel Sites

Cartel-run cannabis grow sites have evolved significantly. Lt. John Nores explains that these operations have moved from deep woods to private lands, making them more visible but also more dangerous due to increased armed presence 1. The cartels use highly toxic chemicals like carbofuran, banned in the U.S., to protect their crops, posing severe risks to wildlife and humans 1. The involvement of various cartels, including Asian and Mexican groups, has led to the takeover of remote counties with rich water resources, further complicating the issue 2.

The problem, though, is private land in plain sight, super hoop houses. You have far more armed growers, far more potentially dangerous growers that are cartel based than we did in the outdoors.

--- Lt. John Nores

These operations not only endanger local residents but also manipulate local politics and threaten farmers and ranchers at gunpoint 2.

   

Environmental Damage

Illegal cannabis grows cause significant environmental damage, particularly through water theft and pollution. John highlights that a single grow site can steal millions of gallons of water, exacerbating drought conditions in California 3. These operations also leave behind toxic chemicals and garbage, which can pollute the environment for years if not properly cleaned up 4.

If you leave all the stuff there, it's just going to pollute for years and years.

--- John Nores

Efforts to clean up these sites are crucial but challenging, requiring coordinated efforts from multiple agencies and specialized equipment 4.

   

Industry Challenges

The legal cannabis industry faces severe challenges due to the prevalence of illegal grows. John notes that legitimate growers struggle to compete with black market prices, leading many to leave the industry 5. The black market's saturation drives down prices and incentivizes illegal interstate transport, complicating regulation efforts 6.

If you don't pay for your water and you don't pay for your land, you can undercut on price probably pretty easily from the guy who has to pay for certifications and everything.

--- John Nores

Effective regulation is essential to ensure that legal cannabis is safe and environmentally sustainable, but current policies often fall short 6.

   

Safety Hazards

Illegal cannabis grows pose significant safety hazards to both the public and law enforcement. John recounts incidents involving heavily armed cartel members and booby traps designed to protect grow sites 7. These traps, including Vietnam-style Pungey pits, are often laced with toxic chemicals, making them even more dangerous 8.

This is a domestic ecoterrorist threat and these cartels are not messing around on any level.

--- John Nores

The presence of these hazards necessitates specialized training and equipment for law enforcement to safely dismantle these operations 8.