Cold, Soggy Weather Could Drive Marijuana Growers to Lower Elevations in Washington State

A busted marijuana grow in Skamania County in 2009.

The Colombian Newspaper is reporting that local officials in Skamania County in Washington State are concerned for the safety of hikers and outdoor enthusiasts after the federal government issued a warning last week regarding dangerous marijuana cultivators moving to lower elevations in the area after a damp, cold spring.

Undersheriff Dave Cox, whose jurisdiction includes a huge piece of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest where several marijuana grows were found in very isolated areas last year, says that he's worried the harsh weather could force the cultivators into areas of the Forest that are used for recreation.

“We had a really cold spring, and with the snow level as low as it’s been, it will shorten up the growing season a bit,” Cox said in an interview with Colombian Reporter Tom Vogt. “It will force growers into areas lower than they usually would like. They may not have access to areas they have had in the past, where they can get deeper into the forest.”


Cox says people should be fine as long as they stick to established trails and that the warning mostly pertains to hunters.

“If folks travel off the trails, if they do cross-country kinds of things, they may run into” marijuana grows, Cox said. “If people recreate in the forest, we suggest they stay on trails used by the public.”

You can read the full story from The Columbian here.

Related articles

• Safety in the National Forests: What to do if You Encounter a Marijuana Cultivation Site (yubanet.com)