U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), along with fellow Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), introduced bipartisan legislation on Tuesday that addresses concerns about the illegal growth of marijuana on publicly owned lands.
“The illegal growth of marijuana on public lands has brought the dangers of international drug trafficking into our Utah parks and communities, and wrought havoc on our beautiful lands,” Hatch said.
Illegal marijuana farms have been a growing concern over the past few years – particularly in Utah, as DEA agents have seized hundreds of thousands of the plants within public areas, arresting hundreds of violaters, some with ties to dangerous international drug trafficking organizations.
In addition to the criminal element, there are many environmental issues involved, as the growers dig irrigation trenches diverting rivers and streams, pollute waters, and strip lands of trees and other vegetation. To protect the plants, many marijuana farmers surround them with traps, creating dangerous situations for parkgoers.
The Protecting Lands Against Narcotics Trafficking (PLANT) Act of 2015 creates laws to increase penalties for cultivating or manufacturing any type of controlled substances on federal land. It also creates a fund from the fines levied by the bill, which can finance land restoration projects in areas where damage has taken place.
“This important legislation will give prosecutors the tools they need to address these problems, protect hikers and explorers, and reduce the supply of illegal drugs that find their way into our neighborhoods and schools,” Hatch said.