Migrant cannabis workers in Oregon: dire conditions amid the illegal cultivation boom

By Nicolas Jose Rodriguez

Thousands of immigrants working on illegal marijuana farms in southern Oregon are living in appalling conditions, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reported. Jackson County and Douglas County declare a state of emergency. County officials applied for government funds and other resources, including the use of the National Guardto enforce cannabis laws.

Oregon State Representative. Lily Morgan found that some of the workers have no identification papers, do not speak English, and have no food.

Photo by AlenaPaulus / Getty Images

Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler called Workers are forced to use holes in the floor for toilets, cook in unsanitary kitchens, and sleep in shipping containers.

The Oregon Labor Office is investigating wage complaints from workers on illegal cannabis farms and advocacy groups get involved.

“We have had several cases in Josephine County where they were threatened with headguns and told, ‘If you tell anyone, we will harm your family in Mexico,'” said Kathy Keesee-Morales, Co-director of Enter, an immigrant and farm worker advocacy group based in Medford, Oregon.

In September, $ 50 million of illegal marijuana was found at a Douglas County farm.

RELATED: Immigrants who work in the legal marijuana industry are denied citizenship

Douglas County’s Board of Commissioner Tim Freeman said the county was receiving a staggering number of calls about illegal marijuana growers. “People call and are scared (…) in many cases they’re scared of leaving their home,” Freeman said. He added that more than 300,000 illegally grown marijuana plants were confiscated in Douglas County last year.

Common problem

In Nevada County, California, authorities started a pilot program to use drones as a low-cost means of enforcing cannabis laws. In contrast to other tools such as helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, drones are inexpensive and time-saving. In Oregon, however, there are neither enough inspectors nor resources to control the situation.

RELATED: Forced Labor and Cannabis

“This summer was absolutely out of control,” said Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel. “We expect next year to be just as bad, if not worse.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.