Why it matters: Oregon is facing a crisis of illicit cannabis growers who are leaving the land in terrible condition and prompting a possible crackdown by lawmakers. Landowners could be held responsible and forced to pay for the cost of cleaning up the polluted land or risk having property seized and migrant workers deported.
What they are saying: The Oregon Legislature is trying to pass the new bill to curtail the adverse effects of illicit growers who offer large amounts of cash upfront to lease or buy land and risk ruining the land for everyone.
The big picture: Many landowners are transferring their land to sketchy buyers or leasers, and foreign criminals from Russia to Mexico are looking to profit in the US cannabis market. In this economy, it is understandable why this is happening, but landowners could be held responsible and forced to pay for the cost of cleaning up polluted land or risk having property seized and migrant workers deported.
What to watch: The bill has passed the Senate and House, with the governor expected to sign next week. If it passes, landowners who lease to illegal cannabis growers and migrant workers could soon face civil fines and state capture for not cleaning up after them. With landowners potentially held responsible, this could deter sketchy buyers from leasing or buying land from landowners.
Give your take: The Oregon Legislature is taking a tough stance on illegal cannabis growers in the state, which shows that they care about protecting the environment and workers’ welfare. In the long run, I hope the bill will help deter landowners from leasing or selling their land to sketchy buyers and make landowners and growers more responsible for the environment and workers’ welfare.
