The Wild West

Most domestically grown marijuana comes from California, where federal land covers nearly half of the state. The Forest Service has 20 percent, followed by the Bureau of Land Management with 15 percent and the National Park Service with 8 percent. Last year, eight of the Top 10 marijuana-producing forests in the country were in California, shown here with the number of plants Forest Service officials estimate they eradicated.

GROWING PROBLEM

Not only are forest service officials in California finding more marijuana plantations, but also the size of those plantations is growing.

Plants Per Garden
	California	National Average
1994	129	74
1995	353	46
1996	320	52
1997	408	71
1998	896	86
1999	1,002	101
2000	1,963	137
2001	2,294	145

Source: U.S. Forest Service

IN HARM'S WAY

This year was the most dangerous year on record for public land managers in California. One week in September offers a snapshot of the violence:

SEPT.13
Los Padres National Forest

A hunter discovers marijuana, is fired upon by three men with automatic weapons. He hides until dark and escapes.

SEPT.14
Sierra National Forest

Law enforcement officers find a gunshot victim near a 4,500-plant marijuana garden.

SEPT.16
Los Padres National Forest

Sheriff's deputies are fired upon after hiking to a clearing of marijuana. Five men flee through the brush.

SEPT.16
BLM public land, Shasta County

State and county law enforcement raid a marijuana garden, exchanging gunfire with growers, killing two growers.

SEPT.18
Mendocino National Forest

During a raid on a marijuana garden, growers beat a Forest Service canine and escape, leaving behind two assault rifles.

SEPT.19
Butte County

County deputies raiding a marijuana garden are fired upon. They kill two growers.

SEPT.19
Mendocino County

A Santa Rosa man is found dead in a marijuana garden, hacked to death with a machete.

ACROSS THE NATION

While California is experiencing the greatest threat, drug production on public land is increasing across the country.

1. Most domestic marijuana is grown on public land in California by Mexican cartels.
2. Major drug-smuggling routes along the Mexican border run through federal and tribal lands.
3. Ingredients for methamphetamine production are mainly smuggled from Canada to Mexican-run labs in California's Central Valley.
4. Most of the methamphetamine labs and dumpsites seized in national forests are found in Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest.
5. The Daniel Boone National Forest has led all National Forests in marijuana cultivation for 10 of the last 11 years.
6. High-grade marijuana known as B.C. Bud is smuggled in from Canada, through national forests and tribal lands.
7. Large scale marijuana production has been found in Alaska's Tongass National Forest.