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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to this U.S. government map, there is feral hemp growing in you all\u2019s area,\u201d McVaney posted on the Hemp Talks Facebook page on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
A second map from pollenlibrary.com that McVaney later shared \u201cexplicitly shows that there is feral hemp in the Four Corners area,\u201d he posted to the social media group.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mind was expanded,\u201d said Stewart.<\/p>\n
Stewart said she inquired about renting a drone aircraft to search for feral cannabis along riverbanks and gullies. The \u201cditch weed\u201d could help to offset future access to viable hemp seed cultivars, she said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe simply didn\u2019t have enough time to locate a drone and plan a search this year,\u201d said Stewart.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Some 100 Colorado farmers were approved to grow close to 1,300 acres of industrial hemp this year.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n