CORTEZ — 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 this month after James McVaney, director of Industrial Hemp in Colorado, notified local hemp activists that feral cannabis was known to grow locally.
So many hemp reviews: Check out these clothes, beauty products and foods that are all made with hemp
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 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.
McVaney relayed that a drone would be the easiest and quickest method to locate potential seed sources.
Sharon Stewart, who organized the local Hemp Talks advocacy group, said she inquired about renting a drone aircraft to search for feral cannabis along riverbanks and gullies.
The effort was called off last week after it was determined it presented 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,” Stewart said.
