Mendocino County supervisors won't be declaring a state of emergency in response to the massive marijuana gardens being grown on public lands, a tactic requested by county residents fed up with being unable to safely use forest land.
Instead, they will invite five other counties to participate in a December symposium aimed at creating a regional effort to to eradicate marijuana in the Mendocino National Forest.
"We're trying to take the bull by the horns," said Sheriff Tom Allman, who is organizing the effort.
Allman and supervisors will invite officials from the other counties that contain portions of the 913,306-acre Mendocino National Forest, along with state and federal officials. The counties are Lake, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn and Colusa.
Allman said he is also planning a multi-county law enforcement eradication operation, beginning next spring. Details were not available.
About 75 percent of the marijuana seized by the state's Campaign Against Marijuana Planting last year was on public lands.
Law officials say most of the pot appears to be grown by Mexican nationals possibly affiliated with drug cartels.
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