Oregon's Unique Plan To Discourage Illegal Marijuana Grows: Make Landowners Pay For The Aftermath

Many U.S. states are having trouble with illegal cannabis operations. Oregon, well-known for producing high-quality marijuana, is undertaking an original approach.

The legislature in Oregon passed a bill that seeks to make landowners responsible for the aftermath, reported the Associated Press. 

Oregon is said to have fantastic growing conditions, which attracted criminal gangs from various countries, including Mexico and Russia, according to police reports. Just last year, the lawmakers seized 100 tons of illegal marijuana across the state.

The bill also prohibits the use of rivers or groundwater at illegal sites and criminalizes seizing identity papers of migrant workers who tend the plants or threats to report them for deportation. The measure gives authority to local governments to file a claim of lien against a property that’s been used for illegal cannabis operations if the owner doesn’t cover the cleanup expenses.

It is important to note that illegal cultivators tend to offer large sums of cash to lease or buy land, “sometimes hundred of thousand dollars for a single year,” says Sen. Jeff Golden (D) of Ashland. He indicated that landowners should take this offer as a sign that something is up.

Both the Senate and House approved the measure, which was followed by the signature of House Speaker Dan Rayfield (D) and it is expected that Gov. Tina Kotek (D) will sign the bill.

“The governor supports cracking down on illegal cannabis operations that have been prevalent in southern Oregon,” said Kotek’s spokesperson, Elisabeth Shepard.

However, not everyone agrees with the proposal. “This is just an assault on property rights here in the state of Oregon,” Sen. Dennis Linthicum (R) said.

Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler said that following a raid, neither landowners nor illegal growers clean up the land. He said they often leave tons of waste, including plastics and chemicals that damage the environment. Drying up the creeks to water illegal cultivation has also been known to happen.

Recent Cannabis Developments In Oregon

Last month, Gov. Kotek made a bold move to ensure tax compliance in the industry, by denying cannabis sales license renewal to companies that didn’t pay their taxes. 

“This will help ensure that all businesses are operating under the same rules and not getting any competitive advantage if they haven’t paid their taxes,” Kotek said.

This week, it was announced that Federal law enforcement is investigating Oregon's former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan (D), and all matters related to the controversial cannabis consultant job she took while working for the state.

Photo: Courtesy of Alex Person on Unsplash