Politics
GOP Congressman Wants FBI To Investigate Illegal Marijuana Grows He Says Have ‘Overtaken’ His District Since California Legalized
A Republican congressman is asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to coordinate with other federal and local officials to crack down on illicit marijuana cultivation operations in his California district—claiming that the problem is tied to the state’s legalization of cannabis.
“Since California legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, parts of this once-quiet region, known for its natural beauty and agricultural communities, have been overtaken by a sprawling illicit marijuana industry,” Rep. James Gallagher (R-CA) wrote in a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel on Monday, saying the problem is particularly prevalent in Siskiyou and Shasta Counties.
“Entire rural properties are now covered with rows of makeshift, plastic-covered greenhouses, known as ‘hoop houses,’ where marijuana is cultivated using groundwater hauled in from nearby wells,” the congressman wrote. “The consequences have been devastating, with residents facing depleted water supplies and threats to their safety, while local farmers and ranchers contend with increased competition for groundwater and the risk of contamination to their agricultural land.”
Gallagher raised concerns about the cannabis grows’ potential ties to Chinese-linked organized crime networks, saying there are “serious concerns about who is actually financing and controlling these operations and whether the ownership arrangements are intended to conceal their involvement.”
The GOP lawmaker also said the marijuana cultivation operations use “highly toxic pesticides” that “threaten first responders and can contaminate local water supplies.”
“Marijuana contaminated with these toxic chemicals may also enter the illicit drug market without the testing required of licensed producers, which could unknowingly expose consumers to serious health risks,” he said, perhaps inadvertently highlighting a major benefit of legalization.
“The bottom line—our local sheriffs have worked tirelessly to combat these operations, but they need federal support to dismantle the criminal networks behind them,” Gallagher said.
He is asking FBI to specifically:
- 1) Direct the Sacramento Field Office, including its Redding Resident Agency, to work with the Siskiyou and Shasta County Sheriff’s Offices and Homeland Security Investigations to assess opportunities for a coordinated investigation into the criminal organizations financing and operating these illegal cultivation sites, including potential ties to foreign criminal networks. Where appropriate, coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding individuals involved in these operations who may be subject to removal under federal law.
- 2) Coordinate with EPA Region 9 and appropriate federal law enforcement partners regarding its ongoing investigation into illegal pesticides recovered at these sites, particularly to determine how these chemicals are entering the United States and whether their distribution is linked to broader criminal networks.
- 3) Provide my office with a briefing on the Bureau’s ongoing efforts in Northern California, including any additional resources or congressional assistance needed to address this threat, as well as the feasibility of securing additional federal funding for local marijuana eradication teams.
Gallagher entered Congress earlier this year following a special election to replace Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), who died of a heart attack.
During his time in the House, LaMalfa often put a focus on issues related to illicit marijuana operations—at one point posting a video of himself bulldozing illegal cannabis grows alongside law enforcement in California.
The then-congressman criticized the Biden administration’s move to federally reschedule marijuana, saying it would “prop up this immoral industry” and give a “green light to the evil that comes from drug use.”
He additionally sponsored legislation to combat the use of banned pesticides at illegal marijuana grow sites in states that have enacted legalization.
Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
