In a remote wilderness tucked deep inside the border of Northern California and Oregon - known as the Emerald Triangle - marijuana flourishes. Farmers in this area can earn millions in a single summer, but with that kind of reward comes huge risk. Growing marijuana here is a cutthroat business -- where only the best survive.
WEED COUNTRY, a new six part series premiering tonight, February 20 at 10 PM E/P on Discovery Channel, will go inside the world of growers and dealers looking to engineer some of the most powerful marijuana on earth and doing their best to keep out of jail.
Today 18 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical marijuana. Washington state and Colorado recently approved marijuana for recreational use and at least 10 more states are expected to consider similar legislation this year. But for the pot farmers in states that have harsh laws, the risks are great. A marijuana farm with over a thousand plants could land someone in jail for up to 40 years.
Many of the growers believe it's their duty to supply the plant for much needed medicinal purposes. "Any other flower that had these medical properties would be treated as the greatest discovery to happen in this century," said Nate Morris, who began growing marijuana at just 14-years-old and hopes to turn the plant into a medical game changer.
However, in the eyes of the government, Nate and his fellow growers are felons committing serious crimes and the idea of medical marijuana is a scam. "Kids are getting a hold of it and that's one of my big concerns. It is a problem of epidemic proportions," said Jon Lopey. Sheriff Coroner of Siskiyou County, California.
Heavily armed with weapons and helicopters for aerial surveillance, these hardline law enforcers will stop at nothing to take down the growers' operations and cut off their supply chains. As the pressure intensifies, turf wars and battles erupt between neighbors. Will the growers win the fight to change hardline political and social attitudes? Or will the authorities be able to bring them down once and for all?
Also airing on
Discovery Channel tonight, Feb. 20, at 9 PM E/P is POT COPS, a new series that shows the real-life battle the authorities face while chasing down the growers.
WEED COUNTRY is produced by All3Media America. For Discovery Channel, Executive Producer is John Moffet and Associate Producers are Zander Kanefield and Sydney Clover. For All3Media America, Executive Producers are Stephen Lambert, Eli Holzman, Bill Pruitt and Steve Mellon. To learn more, go to
www.discovery.com, on Facebook at
Facebook.com/discovery and on Twitter @Discovery.
About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 210 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 209 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying
Curiosity through 149 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN:
Oprah Winfrey Network, The
HUB and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3.
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