Death Toll Revised Down to 24 After Monstrous Oklahoma Tornado…100+ Injured…Children Among the Dead…Stunning Pictures…Woman Finds Dog During Interview!

WATCH on TheBlaze TV: Latest Updates on Tornado Aftermath, Including Updates From Glenn Beck in Oklahoma

Crime

Budget Cuts Allow Mexican Cartels to Grow Pot in U.S. Parks

Aug. 7, 2012 1:05pm

Sylvia Longmire is a former Air Force officer and Special Agent, and former senior border security analyst for the State of California. She is currently a […]

Sylvia Longmire is a former Air Force officer and Special Agent, and former senior border security analyst for the State of California. She is currently a consultant and analyst, correspondent for Homeland Security Today magazine, and author of Cartel: The Coming Invasion of Mexico's Drug Wars."

[ x ]

DrugWarAnalyst@gmail.com

Author's Website

Ultra-violent Mexican drug cartels are growing marijuana in our national parks and forests across 16 U.S. states, and our federal government doesn’t care. At least, that’s how it comes across when one sees that President Obama’s proposed 2013 budget cuts the National Guard’s Counterdrug program almost in half.

One might ask, “What does the National Guard have to do with Mexican cartels and marijuana?” It’s true that the Guard is known to most Americans as the soldiers who provide assistance during natural disasters and riots, and many also know that thousands of Guard members have been deployed to our southwest border to assist the U.S. Border Patrol. But what a lot of people don’t know is that our National Guard is the spearhead for detecting and eradicating marijuana plantations—sometimes containing over 100,000 plants, worth up to $3,000 each—created and heavily guarded by Mexican cartels on US public lands.

There are generally two kinds of people who grow marijuana in the US. First, there are Americans, who cultivate it indoors or in relatively small patches for personal use or for sale at a dispensary in states where medicinal use is legal. Broadly speaking, this kind of marijuana is more specialized, of higher quality, and more expensive than bud grown in mass quantities.

That’s where the second group comes in. Mexican drug cartels are like the Walmart of pot growers; they grow marijuana in plantations that cover an estimated two million acres of U.S. forest, and are easily the biggest supplier of the finished product to American consumers. While mass outdoor-grown marijuana is cheaper than its indoor cousin, the quality is lower—something that doesn’t matter much to a cash-strapped college student.

While medicinal marijuana is legal under state law in 16 U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia, its manufacture and use is still illegal under federal law. If the federal government decides to investigate and prosecute dispensaries and the growers who supply them, it’s usually the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and local law enforcement who deal with them.

Marijuana grows being tended and defended by heavily armed Mexican cartel employees, however, are a different story. The grow sites are usually well hidden in the interior parts of parks and forests. Aerial reconnaissance and a trained and experienced eye are the surest ways to find them, although hikers have been known to stumble upon them on occasion. The National Guard has the helicopters and surveillance equipment and trained eyes to get this done.

They can’t do it alone, of course. Since the National Guard has no arrest authority, they rely on the cooperation of state and local law enforcement agencies to help them. Likewise, those agencies rely heavily on National Guard experience and equipment they don’t have. The cuts Obama is proposing for the next fiscal year are eliminating helicopters as an option for many states. They’re not being evenly distributed, with Oregon getting a 66 percent cut and Kentucky a 70 percent cut—two states where cartel-run marijuana grows are rampant.

In an April 2012 letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the US Senate Appropriations Committee, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley said of the cuts, “This level of funding would significantly reduce, if not eliminate, all counter-drug air support for law enforcement within Oregon… Unfortunately, the budget proposed by the Administration would effectively surrender our national forests in Oregon and along the west coast to these drug traffickers.”

Pro-legalization advocates have jumped on these budget cuts as a sign that Obama is easing up on his anti-drug policy; one journalist referred to it as a possible “pivot point” in his views against marijuana. But the cuts in these programs likely have nothing to do with the President’s views on legalization. The National Guard isn’t sent in to raid dispensaries or someone’s basement with a hydroponic and ultraviolet light setup. They’re trained to go in after multi-acre pot plantations worth millions of dollars that are being guarded by foreign nationals with automatic weapons—on U.S. soil, no less. Under the 2013 budget, that can’t effectively happen.

This is the same Administration that has claimed our southwest border has never been safer or more secure, and has not mentioned Mexico’s drug war or border security once in the last four State of the Union addresses. Yet, when confronted with solid evidence that Mexican cartels have a definitive and dangerous presence in our taxpayer-funded national parks and forests where families hike and camp, it seems uninterested in confronting the threat.

If the Obama Administration is serious about cracking down on Mexican drug cartels and their presence in the US, then it needs to increase, not slash, funding to the National Guard Counterdrug program—which the U.S. House Appropriations Committee actually recommended. Fortunately, there is still time to eliminate these cuts, as the appropriations process is ongoing. Sadly, the inaction of the federal government in confronting drug cartels here at home speaks volumes more than its words regarding the alleged safety and security of our southwest border.

Sylvia Longmire is a former senior border security analyst for the State of California. She is currently a consultant, correspondent for Homeland Security Today magazine, and the author of “Cartel: The Coming Invasion of Mexico’s Drug Wars”

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (29)

ENIGMA28724
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:59pm
Hey, it cuts down on smuggling and transportation costs, and helps fund the re-election campaign!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 6:11pm
Corruption fed steroids by a prez who is fostering the downfall of a nation and its people.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
M24
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:05am
What Has Happened To Ourselves and Our great Country ,Have We Know Pride, Know Integrity, We The People Are The Last Line Of Defence From Tyranny ,Chaos And a way of life That Cannot Be Found anyWhere on this Earth. The Citizens Of These Areas Where These Pot Farms Are ,I find it Hard To Believe That only Law Enforcement know where they are ,Citizens Help Clean Up Your Communities ,Dont Fall Victim To Drug Cartels Like Afghanistan Did It’s Not A Pretty Site, And Don’t Think it Can’t Happen. ( Pain Is Weakness Leaving The Body)

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
FatFreedom
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 8:19pm
When are we we finally going to fire the government from the things they do poorly, which is 90 % of everything they do?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
OniKaze
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 2:02pm
Marijuana… Not a big deal… But it being grown on U.S. land by Mexican cartels is un-acceptable.

If our government wants to stop us from “funding” the cartels by buying pot from them, then its simple.. allow for citizens to grow 1 to 2 plants in their own homes, and you will see the demand drop… Disappear? Maybe not, but definitely it will drop…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
AnOregonian
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:53pm
It’s a cabal of federal intrusion over land which should be left to the state, not guided by the stuffed suits from (the) District of Criminality. The BLM is an appendage of the USFS and more often than not is the agency which grants access to the resources of our forests. Without BLM blessing our forests remain locked up and for over two decades making many Oregon counties beholding to federal government handouts; all the while marketable trees wait for their day to burn with each fire season.

Locking the land up has had unintended consequences; currently, the invasion by international drug cartels who exploit the LAND which the forests themselves exist upon.

If the world made sense you’d think the national guard would have been deployed 10 years ago when this problem began; beings that it’s Mexican nationals and all. But with looming funding cuts. that it seems will not be happening anytime soon,

It’s simply time to cut more forest roads deeper into the wilderness and get the eyes of J.Q. Public back into the game. Hunting season is also harvest season, just sayin’…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Amarilloan
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:00pm
Eliminate the arguement about the “war on drugs”. Please fight the war on Americans which is being perpretrated by the Cartels and all other groups which are trying to legalize any kind of entry into OUR country. Mexico has become a war zone, and it is spilling out over America. The Federal Government needs to quit playing games with American lives and PROTECT OUR BORDERS! If they do that, then this drug thing with the mexican cartels will go away.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
matinva
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 8:16am
This president (small p intended) is turning our country over to everyone but US! WTF is wrong with people? This @$$hole clearly does NOT have the best interests of US citizens in mind and it’s way past time to get involved and vote this bastard out in November.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Al Otto
  Posted on August 8, 2012 at 11:52am
  Classic incompetence and lack of any leadership of Government… Illegals earning Profits Illegaly on Federal and State Protected lands…. you cant make this stuff up…. We have Ice Holes for leaders in America
  
  Report this comment
El Paso Girl
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:36am
Only in the USA.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
valleyfever
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:26am
What do we expect from a president who was/is a known pothead.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ContinentalArmy
Posted on August 8, 2012 at 12:59am
Simply put, Govt. Corruption at it’s Best!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ASE
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:19pm
If they are known to be violent – arm the agents with the best firepower available, stake the place out, and when these druggies approach, just gun them down at the slightest resistance.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Cybil
  Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:43pm
  Hec, just sick the IRS, NOAA and the Social Security Administration on them. Apparently they have a need for thousands more hollow-point bullets.
  
  Report this comment
bolec slodkie
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 10:07pm
There was just a “Longmire” episode on this. http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/23/exclusive-new-longmire-clip
Soon, the investigation takes the Sheriff’s department into a world where the Mexican drug cartel is local, marijuana is grown, and everyone wants a piece of the pie.
Interesting coincidence.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
I Aint PC
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 7:35pm
When January arrives, and Obama is out of a job, maybe Mitt could appoint Obama as drug czar and let him be in charge of the drug trade. If Obama does as well with that job, as he has our economy, the drug business will be out of business.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
nosharia
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 7:30pm
Next time you go camping…take a big jug of Roundup.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
republic2011
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:26pm
When I was a kid, I used to watch stuff like this in Guatemala on the local news.. Thought it would never happen in the States… Boy, was I naive. For years, people from countries all over the world have come the US to escape this type of utter corruption. Now, many of them, that I personally know from down south, ex-communist countries, still communist countries, etc. are saying.. “where else can we run to, if the US falls?”. They are seeing the signs… Wake up America, you need to see the signs too.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
KidCharlemagne
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 6:15pm
I’d be more inclined to say that this is the least of our worries these days:

YouTube: “US Military Helping Afghan Farmers Grow Opium Poppies”

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
turkey13
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 5:34pm
Now we know why the government had put up signs warning folks not to go into parks and rest areas along the border. We probably are getting a kickback from the cartels. I read that Harry Ried had an extra 3.5 million put in his off shore accounts last year.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Amarilloan
  Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:06pm
  Harry Reid has offshore accounts? How many levels of hypocrisy are there in this guy?
  
  Report this comment
South Philly Boy
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 5:27pm
Obummer’s STASH

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Kupo
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 5:26pm
Once again, a problem that could be largely reduced if not outright eliminated were marijuana to be legalized.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
wildbill_b
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 5:15pm
The Answer is fairly simple. First. The government has no authority whatsoever to make laws restricting the USE of pot. They could require that it be grown however. Oh wait. They did that until 1950. By passing unlawful statute the government has set itself up to fight a WAR it creates. By pretending that they can make pot unlawful they create a blackmarket niche for it. Because it IS blackmarket now the price goes up, causing MORE crime that you can use as an excuse to hire more police to impose unlawful statute on a supposedly free people. You also create the incentive for ORGANIZED GANGS to traffic it, creating MORE crime, which you can use as an excuse for MORE police and absurd statute that protects no one, but requires you WAIVE your inherent RIGHTS. Since the Federal government has no jurisdiction over any land NOT granted TO THEM by the states all the land they CLAIM as National Parks is actually property of the state in which it exists. See USAM 664, U.S. Constitution Art. 1:8:17, Art. 4:3:2, and JURISDICTION OVER FEDERAL AREAS WITHIN THE STATES (1956) I have it complete in two parts at lojack12.com/Constitution/fedjur1.html and fedjur1.html A complete exposure BY the Federal Government as too the fact that BLM is powerless. Peace.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Kupo
  Posted on August 7, 2012 at 5:28pm
  It’s the 1920′s all over again, except now instead of Al Capone we have the Mexican drug cartels. There’s really very little difference.
  
  Report this comment
- BlessedONE333
  Posted on August 8, 2012 at 4:28am
  exactly! but lets put some players in your analysis:
  
  WHO is making money? The members of the NWO – the shadow government etc
  
  when did you see glenn beck ever teach on how much money soros makes with is cartel hispanic murderers? ZERO none.
  
  why? find that out and you will understand why the BLM is not interested in really arresting the cartel. lol
  
  Why doesn’t anyone ever figure out that the only reason the ‘drug wars’ are created is to fuel the drug money creators.
  
  The drug companies like BIG PHARMA create poison – per satan’s rule as it is described in the bible
  
  but GOD’S MEDICINE is treated like it was the enemy, all while more people die of cancer every year and our nation fights the ‘drug war’ on this side of the border and the other.
  
  why?
  
  MONEY – MONEY – MONEY
  
  FOLLOW THE MONEY
  
  it is by this drug money that the NWO have created the ufo’s they will use against us soon. it is by this drug money that they fund their dozens of liberal organizations destroying this world. [not just America]
  
  the US army has protected heroin dealers in afghanistan, do you really think they don’t protect their own interests on this contenent?
  
  wake up people – and don’t believe the PRAVDA -WEST main stream media liars
  
  EVEN GLENN BECK’S BLAZE IS A LIAR and a fraud at times
  
  how come beck never supports cannabis for medicine? oh because he is ignorant of truth
  
  Report this comment
- Amarilloan
  Posted on August 8, 2012 at 1:05pm
  I agree. However, the Federal government needs to become partners with the States and actually stop illegal entry into the United States by foreign nationals. This is what is needed to stop the violence associated with the drug cartels, or at least contain it out of our country.
  
  Report this comment
AnOregonian
Posted on August 7, 2012 at 4:41pm
The BLM needs to get out of our state. Our National forests are mismanaged and an active policy is to deny the public access to our lands, These cartel grows are pervasive where logging roads should be.

But there is always more to the story?

http://themurderofdavelewis.webs.com/

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on August 8, 2012 at 12:26pm
  National Forests are managed by the National Forest Service not the Bureau of Land Management while the National Parks are managed by the National Parck Service.
  
  Now try to figure out why we have 3 agencies doing pretty much the same thing.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.