Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Warns of Toxic Waste at Abandoned Marijuana Farms
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA — The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) is raising alarms over what it calls a growing environmental and public safety threat from abandoned marijuana farms scattered across the state.
Officials Detail Toxic Waste and Chemical Hazards
During an Oklahoma House of Representatives interim study on Wednesday, OBN agents presented evidence showing the hazardous aftermath of illegal and abandoned grow operations.
Photos shared during the hearing revealed shocking scenes — illegal chemicals, raw sewage pits, acres of unsecured trash, and even contaminated water sources left behind at former cultivation sites.
OBN officials described the problem as a statewide crisis that now stretches beyond law enforcement into public health and environmental protection.
“We’re finding everything from foreign fertilizers and pesticides to barrels of toxic waste dumped directly into the soil,” one OBN investigator explained during the testimony.
Lawmakers Seek Long-Term Solutions
The House Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee hosted the study to explore potential policy solutions for cleaning up the hundreds of abandoned marijuana facilities now littering rural Oklahoma.
Legislators say the issue stems from the state’s once-booming medical marijuana industry, which saw thousands of new grow licenses issued — many of which are now vacant or operating illegally.
Committee members expressed concern that the cleanup costs will likely fall on local governments and taxpayers if no enforcement or remediation plan is created soon.
Environmental and Public Health Risks Grow
Environmental experts warn that chemical runoff from these abandoned sites could pollute local waterways and threaten nearby communities. Residents in several counties have already reported suspicious odors and dead vegetation near former grow operations.
OBN has requested additional funding and coordination with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality to assess and contain contamination.
Officials say it will take months — or even years — to properly clean up all the affected sites.
Oklahomans concerned about suspicious or abandoned marijuana facilities are urged to report them to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics tip line.
As lawmakers work toward new safety standards, residents are reminded to stay alert for signs of illegal activity and environmental hazards near their communities. Stay connected with NapervilleLocal.com for continuing coverage on Oklahoma’s environmental and public safety updates.
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