Officials: pot garden discovered at Sierra Nevada National Park (at least $36 million). After the pot garden was discovered, a Sierra Nevada National Park exhibit closed. At least $36 million?? Read the story, and see photos and video here.
As wild as it may sound, the problem is occurring with increasing regularity. Just a week ago, firefighters in Santa Barbara’s Los Padres National park began battling an enormous wild-fire sparked by campers hired to manage another pot growing operation. As of last week, that fire had burned an area stretching more than 136 square miles.
Drug enforcement officials say the increasing problem stems from a crackdown across the border by the Mexican Army, which has pushed the armed drug cartels northward into United States territory. The number of operations uncovered usually increases this time of year due to the typical harvest dates of September through October.
This week’s bust in California is one of the largest yet, and is the first time Sequoia National Park had to close down an exhibit as a result of a drug bust. Sadly, that exhibit is a well-known cave, with a crystal-covered interior.
Authorities discovered the massive pot garden only about a half-mile away from the popular cave. Park Rangers repelled from helicopter to clear out the site, which included trash, propane tanks, and thousands of feet of irrigation hose. Much of the pot garden had already been harvested, but combined with the remaining plants was estimated to be worth at least $36 million.
Even though Sierra Nevada National Park is known for its gargantuan Sequoia trees, the cave itself also draws many visitors.
Beth Fritsch, who was visiting the park from Maryland, told the AP:
“I’m fine with the trees, but I really wanted to see the caves. It’s sad to see that this is happening now inside the national parks.”
Far from a mere inconvenience, though, the pot growing operation has environmental and financial consequences. Park officials say the estimated loss in cave ticket sales could rise to $35,000 before the investigation is complete.
Spokeswoman Adrienne Freeman, spoke about the damage to native species that can occur, saying:
“…what’s worse, this pot has been growing next to a sensitive area where there are dozens of species at risk that are only in this park.”
All of the materials discovered will be examined for fingerprints and other evidence that could lead authorities to the individuals responsible for the $36 million pot garden at Sierra Nevada National Park.
What are your thoughts on this problem? Voice your opinion in the comments section below.
I’ve included a CNN video about the issue below.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:01 am
“Drug enforcement officials say the increasing problem stems from a crackdown across the border by the Mexican Army, which has pushed the armed drug cartels northward into United States territory”
WTF?
It’s an increasing problem because people don’t want to go to prison!
If pot were legal (as it should be) there would not be any more “ilegal grow operations” on public lands than there are apple grow operations on public lands.
If pot were legal here (as it SHOULD be)there would be no Mexican drug cartel.
People would grow their own or buy HERE from people that grow, much like apples, there is no Mexican apple cartel for a simple reason, apples are legal here.
Once it’s legal 90% of the “drug problems” will just go away.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:02 am
Prohobition didn’t work in the past — just created a lucrative “off the grid” criminal enterprise with devastating consequences for society. Prohobition isn’t working today for the same reasons.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:13 am
I think you people should be thinking of how things were when alcohol was and still is a problem in our society. I have never met a killer on marajuana usually a couch potato or a very mellow person. If this was legalized across the U.S.of A. our country would be even richer than we could all imagine. Everyone would make out on this by far. A better economy for everyone…. not just the drug cartels. (who are richer than anyone) We are already in such a recession that its hurting our country tremendously yet we are letting it continue. WAKE UP AMERICA!!
August 31st, 2009 at 8:16 am
All of this could be avoided if they would just legalize pot. It would stop all of this, no more wild fires or mexican cartel, and if they taxed it like alcohol & tobacco the govt. would make so much money we could be out of this hole were in in a few years. Not to mention all of the jobs that would be created once it was made legal. There is all this talk about “going green”, I say if your gonna go green then GO GREEN! LEGALIZE MARIJUANNA!
August 31st, 2009 at 8:18 am
here’s an idea. why dont all of the people who think it should be legal write their congress and state officals. if everyone would ban together,then surly the goverment couldnt ignore all of us. put it on the ballot and let the people vote on it. that is what being an american is all about anyway right?
August 31st, 2009 at 8:30 am
KRob is crazy. Seriously, all your points are silly. Marijuana is not the problem. People that abuse anything are the problem. An overabused health care system because fat lazy people don’t want to stop eating processed foods because they’re tasty and don’t want to exercise put a huge burden on people that do. They also put major presure on insurance companies. We have to pay for their laziness. We have to pay for criminals to sit in prisons when they abuse alcohol killing innocent people on the roadways, abusing their wives and children, assaulting people on their weekend binges, and the list goes on and on. Marijuana doesn’t make people violent like alcohol, but that’s really not the issue. The reality is that anything can be abused, TV, pornography, video games, alcohol, food, marijuana. We go around in our society trying to blame “things” but inanimate objects can’t do anything. It’s people that are the problem. It’s like a friend told me once, guns don’t kill people, people kill people which is why he doesn’t keep people in his house. It’s a funny and simplistic way to think about it, but there needs to be some personal accountability in our world and country. I met a anesthesiologist and dentist a few weeks back that both smoke marijuana. Sure it would scare the hell out of me knowing that if I had not met them, but they are bright intellegent people who make good decisions daily. It’s the stupid people of the world that get on weed, abuse it (just like the fat lazy people do with food), and do absolutely nothing with their lives that you use as your example of reasons to not legalize. The stupids of the world weren’t going to do anything anyway. If it wasn’t marijuana that ruined their lives, it would be twinkies, casinos, cocaine, or some other thing to get distracted and destructive with. The pot smoking professionals of the world still function effectively because they know what it’s like to achieve something and be successful. Essentially, they have brains and use them. If you want to make something illegal, make ho-ho’s and sitting on your ass more than 4 hours a day illegal. Make alcohol illegal because it kills an innocent person every few minutes, maybe even seconds. Do something that really matters. By the way jackle, even prisons have medical treatment and doctors on staff, because not providing that would be inhumane. What? Should anyone with a waistline over 38″, blood pressure over 160/100, and over 200lbs be turned away when they have chest pain. Common, don’t be a retard. To me being obese should be against the law, taxed harder, or pay higher premiums, but they should still get treatment.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:34 am
Legalize cannabis and HEMP already, tobacco and alcohol are the killers. Along with McDonalds and speeding. Keith Robinson is an idiot.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:35 am
I never have really understood why alcohol is legal and pot isn’t. Pot affects a person less dramatically than alcohol does, and its natural! America seems to be driven by the thought that we are a christian, god fearing nation. BS. We don’t fear God, we fear the government. Here’s a thought for all you God fearing people, everything on this planet including the planet and the entire universe was created by Him. From the clouds to the birds to us humans and even the plant life. That’s right, plant life. God created that plant for a reason. And it is a naturally occuring substance also. Alcohol has to be distilled or brewed depending on the kind of beverage. Stop trying to rule us and legalize it. Not only would it be a big boost to the economy, but i guarantee that crime rates will go down. Also consider one of the main side effects of pot usage: the munchies! Might also help the economy by making food sales go up!
August 31st, 2009 at 8:36 am
The USA will not legalise Weed because of its ego. For many years now it has threatened to sanction and marginalise many caribbean countries who attempted to legalise it. So for USA to turn around and legalise it in their own countries would be very embarrassing after many years of campaigning against it. Notwithstanding if the US could swallow its pride and legalise the stuff the world would be a better place…that would be one less battle to fight…and I dare say a losing one at that.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:39 am
Binge drinking is the worst problem where i live, colllege students DIE every year from drinking , not pot, ppl who smoke pot can make it to a class at least dumbass.SELWYN SAMROO.