Oklahoma narcotics officers and area environmentalists are clashing over the state’s decision to begin spraying pesticides on wild marijuana plants in five counties. Authorities argue that the spraying will deter people from cultivating, selling, and smoking marijuana, but environmentalists are concerned that the chemicals could pose potential heath hazards to both the environment and the population.
Approximately 15 to 30 narcotics agents will begin spraying uncultivated marijuana plants with glyphosate, a chemical weed killer commonly marketed under the brand name “Round-Up. State officials claim that spraying is the most effective way to eradicate uncultivated marijuana.
“The herbicide has been tested, found to be safe and has a very low toxicity to wildlife,” said Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs spokesman Mark Woodward to the Tulsa World News. To enforce his position, Woodward noted a 1986 U.S. Department of Justice study that showed an individual could smoke 139 marijuana cigarettes treated with glyphosate a day and still be under the safe level in regard to the chemical. However, some area environmental activists are not convinced.
“[Glyphosate] can do a lot of damage to our bio-diversity; this can wreak damage on our wildflower population,” contested Noah Berry, vice president of EcoLaw Institute Inc., a state organization that works to strengthen environmental laws. Berry also cited a Journal of Pesticide Reform report from last year that claimed glyphosate exposure was the third most commonly reported of pesticide illness among agricultural workers in California.
“Maybe the state should get into the dandelion eradication business, if it’s busy work they want,” Berry suggested.
This will mark the third year the bureau has sprayed uncultivated marijuana crops.
For more information, please contact Michael Pearson of Oklahoma NORML @ (405) 840-HEMP.