Oregon county declares state of emergency over illegal marijuana grows

A county in southern Oregon is asking for more help to fund enforcement checks on hemp producers suspected of violating THC limits.

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners declared a state of emergency, saying that county and state regulators as well as law enforcement are overrun by unlicensed cannabis cultivators, The Associated Press reported.

The board asked for assistance in its fight against illicit operators in a letter sent to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and top lawmakers.

Commissioners called the situation an “imminent threat to the public health and safety of our citizens from the illegal production of cannabis in our county.”

Oregon marijuana regulators, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, started inspecting hemp grows in August to root out illegal cannabis growers.

In September, more than 100 licensed hemp producers in the region were found to be growing marijuana illegally, according to the OLCC.