More federal help in stopping marijuana growths on public lands is being requested by members of Congress, including Nevada County’s representative, Doug LaMalfa. One of the big concerns is environmental damage. Sheriff Keith Royal says they’ve been very busy responding to complaints about growths on private properties, as to compliance with the current medical marijuana ordinance. But he says flyovers of public lands in the county will begin in the next couple of weeks…

click to listen to Sheriff Royal

Royal says it’s been mostly nuisance complaints regarding private gardens, including too many plants. But he says many growers are also causing damage…

click to listen to Sheriff Royal

Royal says he’s not sure if the flyovers will find much damage on public lands, with people getting more comfortable growing on their own properties, now that recreational marijuana has been legalized. Other concerns about public pot growths include the use of illegal pesticides that pollute waterways and poison wildlife. And many of these growths are run by armed drug cartels that pose a danger to hunters, fishermen, and recreationists, as well as employees with the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.