Federal authorities raid rash of illegal Colorado pot grows

Federal authorities say legalization has emboldened illegal pot growers into planting weed on Colorado’s sparsely populated federal lands, often for shipment to other states.

U.S. Attorney John Walsh said Thursday that investigators are cracking down on illegal growers after discovering large growing operations in national forests and other federal land in Colorado. Authorities have raided at least five marijuana grows on federal land and sixth on private property since late August. Investigators seized more than 20,000 pot plants, and more than 30 people face federal charges. Walsh says the arrested include Cuban and Mexican nationals.

The U.S. Justice Department has said it would not interfere with state marijuana laws as long as officials make efforts to keep the drug from criminal drug cartels, other states and from growing on federal land.