Environment | Law | National

Yurok Tribe welcomes raid of marijuana farms on reservation






One of the marijuana farms that was shut down as part of Operation Yurok. Photo from Yurok Tribe

The Yurok Tribe is welcoming the raid of marijuana farms on and near its reservation in northern California.

The tribe is working with state and local authorities to shut down "dozens" of illegal farms in the area. Vice Chair Susan Masten said the operations are harming the environment and wasting water resources.

“The illegal plantations that we are targeting pose a severe threat to our natural resources, our water and our way of life,” Masten said in a press release. “It breaks my heart to see these 10,000 plant grows sucking our watersheds dry, while our community is on the brink of running out of water. It is unacceptable and it is immoral.”

"Operation Yurok" will continue throughout the week. Authorities hope to seize more plants than they did last year, when 15,000 plants were removed on and near the reservation.

Get the Story:
Marijuana raids underway on tribal land (KRCR 7/14)
Marijuana search warrants served in Weitchpec (The Eureka Times-Standard 7/15)

Relevant Documents:
Department of Justice Policy Statement Regarding Marijuana Issues in Indian Country (October 2014)

Join the Conversation

Related Stories:
Menominee Nation schedules referendum on legal marijuana (7/14)
Seneca Nation expresses interest in joining marijuana industry (7/14)
Chair of Pit River Tribe slams federal raid of marijuana operation (7/13)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation was initially resistant to marijuana farm (7/13)
Alturas Rancheria leadership dispute helped spur marijuana bust (7/9)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe will keep close watch on marijuana (7/9)
Authorities seize marijuana from tribal operations in California (7/8)
Tribes urged to proceed with caution in new marijuana industry (7/8)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe shares details of marijuana grow (06/24)
South Dakota official claims non-Indians can't use marijuana (6/23)
Editorial: Marijuana won't help Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (6/22)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe to sell marijuana by end of year (6/17)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe moves forward with legal marijuana (6/16)
Umatilla Tribes change marijuana use policy for casino employees (6/15)
Tribes take interest in growing marijuana for medical purposes (6/11)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation faces prosecution over marijuana plants (6/5)
Pinoleville Pomo Nation starts planting marijuana on reservation (6/4)
Tex Hall foresees marijuana as big business for Indian Country (6/3)
Tex Hall joins company to promote marijuana in Indian Country (6/1)
Voters of Red Cliff Band show support for some uses of marijuana (5/28)
Appropriations bill allows VA hospitals to recommend marijuana (5/26)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe issues statement on marijuana (05/13)
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe to launch marijuana business (5/12)
Washington governor signs tribal marijuana agreement bill (5/11)
Rob Williams: Marijuana generates a buzz in Indian Country (5/8)
Red Cliff Band asks voters about legal marijuana and hemp (5/8)
Interview with attorney about marijuana for tribes in Oklahoma (04/30)
Hoopa Valley Tribe maintains law against marijuana cultivation (4/29)
Workshop on tribal marijuana to be held in Wisconsin on June 4 (4/28)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe maintains strong stance on marijuana (4/28)
Youth of Hoopa Valley Tribe speak out against marijuana grows (4/27)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe might be interested in growing hemp (4/27)
Brandon Ecoffey: Oglala Sioux Tribe must act on legal marijuana (4/24)
Marijuana seen as new frontier in tribal economic development (04/23)
Kashia Band interested in timber not marijuana on new lands (4/22)
Colville Tribes schedule June 13 referendum on legal marijuana (4/21)
Santa Rosa Band enters deal to grow marijuana on reservation (4/21)
St. Croix Band debate over marijuana leads to restraining order (4/20)
Lakota Country Times: Oglala Sioux district endorses marijuana (4/15)
Warm Springs Tribes consider marijuana as economic opportunity (04/09)
Walt Lamar: Tribes weigh big issues with marijuana cultivation (04/06)
Bill against legal marijuana advances in Navajo Nation Council (04/03)