Washington State Vineyards Go To Pot

A few years back, we went to Washington State and toured Yakima Valley's wineries. There were some established wineries, such as Hogue, but there were a number of new and upcoming brands as well. What is surprising is that law enforcement has found that vineyards are being used as a cover for marijuana operations. So, who is behind this? Law enforcement believes Mexican drug gangs, who find that smuggling the pot in from Canada or Mexico is too difficult:

Authorities believe some of the buyers are living in Mexico and their vineyards are producing tens of thousands of illegal marijuana plants - a crop that could easily surpass grapes in value this year.

Law enforcement officials in the Yakima Valley already have converged on seven vineyards that had been converted to marijuana operations this summer. At least five had been recently purchased - the buyers are still being tracked - and one had been leased to pot growers by an unknowing owner.

Pot growers aren't just hiding their crops in national forests and random cornfields any more, said Washington State Patrol Sgt. Richard A. Beghtol.

"They are able to amass a huge amount of money and using that money to go out and buy land to do their marijuana cultivation," Beghtol said. "It's their big moneymaker."

The valley, home to acres of fruit orchards and hop fields, has long been recognized as an important pipeline in the drug trade with easy interstate access to Seattle, Portland and points east.

Crackdowns at the Canadian and Mexican borders have made it more difficult to ship marijuana into the United States, prompting dealers to establish U.S. growing operations.

The thing that tips off the authorities that the vineyards might be used for something other than growing grapes? Water consumption since vineyards don't require regular watering while marijuana needs daily irrigation.