H. Res. 1540 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

December 8, 2010. 

Whereas Mexican drug trafficking organizations have established robust and dangerous marijuana plantations on 

Federal lands managed by the United States Forest 

Service and the Bureau of Land Management; 

Whereas the Office of National Drug Control Policy reported 

that 1,800,000 marijuana plants were eradicated from 

Federal lands in 2006, 2,890,000 marijuana plants were 

eradicated in 2007, and 4,000,000 marijuana plants were 

eradicated in 2008; 

Whereas former Director of National Drug Control Policy 

John P. Walters declared in 2007: ‘‘America’s public 

lands are under attack. Instead of being appreciated as 

national treasures, they are being exploited and destroyed 

by foreign drug trafficking organizations and heavily 

armed Mexican marijuana cartels who have turned them 

into ground zero for drug cultivation. These violent drug 

traffickers are endangering America’s outdoor enthusiasts and sportsmen, and the sensitive ecosystems of our 

wilderness.’’; 

Whereas the illicit drug trade undermines the rule of law and 

has a detrimental impact in communities across our Nation; 
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Whereas Mexican drug traffickers use the revenue generated 

from marijuana production on Federal lands to support 

criminal activities, including human trafficking and illicit 

weapons smuggling, and to foster political unrest in Mexico; 

Whereas drug traffickers have committed acts of violence 

against United States citizens and have fired upon law 

enforcement officers to protect their marijuana crops; 

Whereas, on October 8, 2000, an 8-year-old boy and his father were shot by drug traffickers while hunting in El 

Dorado National Forest; 

Whereas, on June 16, 2009, law enforcement officers with 

the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department were wounded 

by gunfire from drug traffickers during the investigation 

of a marijuana plantation on Bureau of Land Management property; 

Whereas drug traffickers place booby traps that contain live 

shotgun shells on marijuana plantations; 

Whereas the American people should not be subjected to violence while enjoying our Nation’s recreation areas; 

Whereas marijuana plantations pose a significant threat to 

the environmental health of Federal lands; 

Whereas drug traffickers spray considerable quantities of unregulated chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers; 

Whereas drug traffickers divert streams and other waterways 

to construct complex irrigation systems; 

Whereas it costs the Federal Government $11,000 to restore 

one acre of forest on which marijuana is being cultivated; 
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Whereas the Federal Government is fundamentally responsible for protecting our Nation’s Federal lands and the 

citizens who recreate on them; 

Whereas local law enforcement agencies are currently bearing 

the brunt of the burden of eradicating marijuana cultivation and enforcing Federal drug laws on Federal lands; 

Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration and law enforcement from the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Department of 

Homeland Security are providing valuable but inadequate 

resources in combating marijuana production on Federal 

lands; 

Whereas coordination among Federal agencies and among 

Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies is essential to curtailing marijuana growth on Federal lands; 

Whereas targeted joint law enforcement interdiction raids 

have brought forth significant but short-lived successes in 

combating marijuana production on Federal lands; 

Whereas Federal law enforcement should develop and pursue 

a balanced strategy that seeks to eradicate the illicit production of marijuana on Federal lands, and to investigate, detain, and bring drug traffickers to justice; and 

Whereas the creation of a long-term, Federal-led strategy is 

essential to eliminating illicit marijuana cultivation on 

Federal lands: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) declares that drug trafficking organizations cultivating illicit marijuana on Federal lands in the United 

States pose an unacceptable threat to the safety of law 

enforcement and the public; 
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(2) affirms that it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to confront the threat of illicit marijuana cultivation on Federal lands; and 

(3) calls upon the Director of the Office of National 

Drug Control Policy to work in conjunction with Federal 

and State agencies to develop a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to permanently dismantle Mexican 

drug trafficking organizations operating on Federal 

lands. 

Attest: 

Clerk.