In response to escalating threats to public health, first responders, and the environment, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors has unanimously declared a local emergency due to the pervasive use of illegal, foreign-labeled pesticide fumigants at illicit cannabis cultivation sites throughout the unincorporated areas of Siskiyou County.
The resolution cites a disturbing rise in the use of highly toxic and unregistered pesticide products, most of which are labeled in Chinese and imported illegally. These substances, found routinely at illegal grow sites, include dangerous mixtures of insecticides (such as organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, and chlorinated hydrocarbons), fungicides, and herbicides. Many of these chemicals are classified as carcinogens under California’s Proposition 65, toxic air contaminants, or groundwater pollutants.
Certified laboratory testing of these Chinese-labeled fumigants has identified at least twenty-seven separate pesticide compounds.
Since 2023, Siskiyou County has conducted over 176 investigations, uncovering a vast and consistent pattern of illegal pesticide use at cannabis grow sites. According to the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), these hazardous products have been discovered in eighteen counties statewide, with Siskiyou County leading the state in the number, variety, and frequency of occurrences.
The pesticide containers lack proper regulatory labeling and safety information, violating both state pesticide laws and federal anti-smuggling statutes.
The County’s emergency declaration directs the formation of a multi-agency emergency response task force, starting at the county level, with requests from state and federal agencies in areas that are outside of the County’s authority and/or beyond the County’s capabilities due to resource issues or lack thereof. In addition to the state and federal agencies who are already assisting the County, such as but not limited to CalEPA, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Law Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) who provides law enforcement agencies funding for eradication efforts, the County is calling for investigative assistance from other federal and state agencies, such as the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) Law Enforcement Division. Despite the State of California’s familiarity with the dangerous and destructive illicit cannabis operations in Siskiyou County, the DCC Law Enforcement Division has yet to adequately conduct or support any criminal investigations in Siskiyou County.
“The toxic cocktail of illegal pesticides used during cultivation poses significant environmental and health risks to cultivators, law enforcement, firefighters, and the public. We are battling something far bigger than just an illegally grown plant. This is about environmental destruction, human trafficking, banned chemical fumigants, and transnational organized crime networks operating with impunity across rural America. If we don’t act boldly and get support from the State and Federal partners, the long-term consequences to public health and California’s ecosystems will be irreversible,” said Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue
The declaration also directs County departments to initiate a public health outreach campaign to warn residents and property owners about the severe dangers posed by illegal pesticide use. It urges the Governor of California to recognize this as a statewide emergency, requiring broader coordinated action.
