Invasion Of The Marijuana Growers

[KiotiKowboy]

In Northeastern Oklahoma, there has been a MASSIVE influx of marijuana growing operations. They come in with rolls of cartel cash, pay double for the land and then setup up unsightly compounds for their operations. Most of them erect rows of greenhouses and bring in countless small trailers for worker living quarters. Trash on the property is a standard feature.

Since these operations are "so-called" medical marijuana producers - they have some unusual protections. One of great interest is .... neighboring properties cannot spray fertilizers/herbicides if there is a chance of drift. It doesn't matter if you have operated a farm for decades - you have just lost your rights.

We recently had one of these (insert your favorite derogatory term here) purchase 20 acres that adjoins our land. We resolved ourselves to sell our recently completed new home and move across the state line where there is more legal protection. This was a painful and gut wrenching decision - but if we waited until the operation was up and going, we felt we stood to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in property value.

Unexpectedly (I'll just call it an answer to prayer) the buyer - who already knew he was unwanted - offered to sell ... at the right price. This was 3 times the property value but far less than we expected to lose if he stayed. As painful as it was - we paid and considered ourselves blessed.

If you live in Oklahoma and have property for sale near you - especially smaller parcels ... 10 - 40 acres ... consider yourself warned.

 

[Aquamoose]

I f’in do NOT like these folks. I would have made life living hell for them if they were next door to me.

 

[Bearsixty7]

Do you have a link to this law?

"neighboring properties cannot spray fertilizers/herbicides if there is a chance of drift"

I can't see that being law or enforced. To me it's the growers responsibility to buy enough land to have their own buffer zone if you will or to build sufficient barriers. IF the operation is in a green house, it should be protected anyway.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I don't have the link. This issue was discussed during a local political forum.

 

[grsthegreat]

Its not just them. If you spray any herbicide and it drifts and damages neighbors crops you can be liable. Heck, you can be sued for having red hair nowdays.

 

[4570Man]

Do you have a link to this law?

"neighboring properties cannot spray fertilizers/herbicides if there is a chance of drift"

I can't see that being law or enforced. To me it's the growers responsibility to buy enough land to have their own buffer zone if you will or to build sufficient barriers. IF the operation is in a green house, it should be protected anyway.

Couldn’t you say the same for the sprayer that they should’ve bought enough land to contain their spray?

 

[CobyRupert]

Can’t spread poison onto my neighbor’s land? What is this country coming to?

 

[WM75Guy]

If you are spraying, you have to keep it on your property. In Texas pesticide and herbicide use falls under the Agriculture Code, the definition of pesticide in the law includes both. There are administrative, civil, and criminal penalties for violations. This is the section where spraying on a windy day and causing drift could be a criminal offense:

(e) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) knowingly or intentionally uses, causes to be used, handles, stores, or disposes of a pesticide in a manner that causes injury to man, vegetation, crops, livestock, wildlife, or pollinating insects;

It is a Class A misdemeanor, unless you have a prior conviction and then it would be a state jail felony.

If I let something drift off my property and are sued in civil court, I could be found liable for damages. That is why I have drift coverage as part of my ag insurance policy.

 

[oosik]

My property is a mile west of the county road. Therefore - I have a mile long driveway. Just across the county road, from my driveway, is a twenty acre parcel.

I wasn't so concerned that these knotheads were setting up a MJ growing facility. Not until I witnessed the calibre of clients that came to this facility. Seems that half of them didn't know right from left and came down my driveway.

Then that GLORIOUS night. I was awakened by the sounds of sirens. Something had gone wrong and the entire mess burned to the ground. Nobody seemed hurt but all that remained - ashes. Thankfully - it never was reestablished.

Maybe they tried spraying something volatile/flammable - ??

 

[ChuckT]

Knotheads are, unfortunately, universal.