Local hemp advocates floated the idea to hunt for feral cannabis seeds across the Four Corners via drone aircraft, but the measure was quickly grounded.
The idea took flight earlier this month after James McVaney, director of Industrial Hemp in Colorado, notified local hemp activists that feral cannabis was known to grow locally. He provided two online maps, including one from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“According to this U.S. government map, there is feral hemp growing in you all’s area,” McVaney posted on the Hemp Talks Facebook page on Oct. 1.
A second map from pollenlibrary.com that McVaney later shared “explicitly shows that there is feral hemp in the Four Corners area,” he posted to the social media group.
Sharon Stewart, who organized the local Hemp Talks advocacy group last fall, immediately scoffed at the idea of searching for feral hemp seed via a drone mounted with a video camera. Then McVaney relayed that a drone would be the easiest and quickest method to locate potential seed sources.
“My mind was expanded,” said Stewart.
Stewart said she inquired about renting a drone aircraft to search for feral cannabis along riverbanks and gullies. The “ditch weed” could help to offset future access to viable hemp seed cultivars, she said.
The effort was called off last week after it was determined to present too many liabilities. Stewart said local advocates were now focused on obtaining global infrared imagery to possibly revisit the idea next fall.
“We simply didn’t have enough time to locate a drone and plan a search this year,” said Stewart.
Earlier this year, two local farmers were approved to grow research test plots for hemp. Both initially had trouble obtaining seed since the plant remains classified as a controlled substance under federal guidelines. Seeds were eventually secured, but local germination rates were below 10 percent.
Some 100 Colorado farmers were approved to grow close to 1,300 acres of industrial hemp this year.
Under state law, hemp strains must contain less than 0.3 percent THC content, the active psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Recreational and medical marijuana THC levels can surpass 15 percent.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com