U.S. Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Scott Peters (D-CA) recently introduced legislation to combat using banned pesticides on illegal cannabis cultivation sites on public land while also targeting illegal marijuana grows.
The Targeting and Offsetting Existing Illegal Contaminants (TOXIC) Act raises criminal penalties for those who illegally grow marijuana on federal property using banned pesticides.
The lawmakers maintain investigations have determined growers frequently use banned pesticides to protect their crops, resulting in buyers consuming even small amounts of cannabis exposed to the banned pesticides and potentially facing deadly circumstances.
Bill provisions include authorizing $250 million over five years for the Forest Service to use Superfund toxic waste remediation to address environmental damages caused by the release of banned pesticides on federal lands for cannabis cultivation and increasing criminal penalties for using banned pesticides in illegal cannabis cultivation to maximums of 20 years in prison and $250,000 in criminal fines to establish parity with criminal penalties for smuggling banned pesticides into the United States.
“Illegal marijuana grows have brought dangerous cartels into our rural towns, terrorizing residents and decimating our landscape,” LaMalfa said. “The banned pesticides they use on their product seep into the soil and watershed, poisoning wildlife and endangering residents who inadvertently consume it.”
LaMalfa said the TOXIC Act is necessary to criminalize those who cause damage to public land with banned chemicals and help remedy the environmental impacts.
“While those who grow illegal cannabis often work with drug cartels seeking wealth and influence, our wildlife, habitats, and public health pay the price,” Peters said. “The TOXIC Act will direct the federal government to use all available resources to fix the harm caused by banned pesticides smuggled across our southern border.”