December 7, 2011

Marijuana Cultivation on U.S. Public Lands

The hearing examines the exploitation of public lands as grow sites for marijuana and discusses barriers to the criminal prosecution of drug traffickers.  According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), more than 10 million marijuana plants were seized in 2010.  Almost 60 percent of the marijuana plants seized (5.9 million) were found on public lands, including national forests and tribal lands.

The hearing transcript is available here.

Opening Statements

CHAIRMAN (D - CA)

Dianne Feinstein

Sen. Feinstein’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery.

CO-CHAIR (R - IA)

Chuck Grassley

Sen. Grassely’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery.

Witnesses

Gil Kerlikowske

Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy

David Ferrell

Director of Law Enforcement and Investigations, U.S. Forest Service

Margaret Mims

Sheriff, Fresno County, California

Statement of Honorable Mike Thompson, U.S. Congressman from California, available here.